6 Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where they originally lived. 7 Their leaders were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the number of the men of Israel who returned from exile: 8 The family of Parosh 2,172 9 The family of Shephatiah 372 10 The family of Arah 652 11 The family of Pahath-moab (descendants of Jeshua and Joab) 2,818 12 The family of Elam 1,254 13 The family of Zattu 845 14 The family of Zaccai 760 15 The family of Bani 648 16 The family of Bebai 628 17 The family of Azgad 2,322 18 The family of Adonikam 667 19 The family of Bigvai 2,067 20 The family of Adin 655 21 The family of Ater (descendants of Hezekiah) 98 22 The family of Hashum 328 23 The family of Bezai 324 24 The family of Jorah 112 25 The family of Gibbar 95 26 The people of Bethlehem and Netophah 188 27 The people of Anathoth 128 28 The people of Beth-azmaveth 42 29 The people of Kiriath-jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth 743 30 The people of Ramah and Geba 621 31 The people of Micmash 122 32 The people of Bethel and Ai 123 33 The people of West Nebo 52 34 The citizens of West Elam 1,254 35 The citizens of Harim 320 36 The citizens of Jericho 345 37 The citizens of Lod, Hadid, and Ono 721 38 The citizens of Senaah 3,930 39 These are the priests who returned from exile: The family of Jedaiah (through the line of Jeshua) 973 40 The family of Immer 1,052 41 The family of Pashhur 1,247 42 The family of Harim 1,017 43 These are the Levites who returned from exile: The families of Jeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodaviah ) 74 44 The singers of the family of Asaph 148 45 The gatekeepers of the families of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai 138 46 The descendants of the following Temple servants returned from exile: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 47 Keros, Siaha, Padon, 48 Lebanah, Hagabah, Shalmai, 49 Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, 50 Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, 51 Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, 52 Besai, Meunim, Nephusim, 53 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 54 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, 55 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 56 Neziah, and Hatipha. 57 The descendants of these servants of King Solomon returned from exile: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, 58 Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel, 59 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-hazzebaim, and Ami. 60 In all, the Temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants numbered 392. 61 Another group returned at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel. 62 This group included the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda-a total of 642Â people. 63 Three families of priests-Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai-also returned. (This Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai of Gilead, and he had taken her family name.) 64 They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 7:6-64
Commentary on Nehemiah 7:5-73
(Read Nehemiah 7:5-73)
Nehemiah knew that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upon the inhabitants than upon its walls. Every good gift and every good work are from above. God gives knowledge, he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all must be to him. What is done by human prudence, must be ascribed to the direction of Divine Providence. But woe to those who turn back from the Lord, loving this present world! and happy those who dedicate themselves, and their substance, to his service and glory!