Nehemiah 6
6Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates.H5571H2900H1654H6163H3499H341H8085H1129H2346H6556H3498H1571H5704H6256H5975H1817H81792So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me,H5571H1654H7971H559H3212H3259H3162H3715H1237H207H2803H6213H74513so I replied by sending this message to them: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?"H7971H4397H559H6213H1419H4399H3201H3381H4399H7673H834H7503H33814Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.H7971H702H6471H1697H7725H16975The fifth time, Sanballat's servant came with an open letter in his hand,H7971H5571H5288H1697H2549H6471H6605H107H30276and this is what it said: "There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king.H3789H8085H1471H1654H559H3064H2803H4775H3651H1129H2346H1933H4428H16977He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, 'Look! There is a king in Judah!' "You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me."H5975H5030H7121H3389H559H4428H3063H8085H4428H1697H3212H3289H31628I replied, "There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing."H7971H559H1961H1697H1961H559H908H38209They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.H3372H559H3027H7503H4399H6213H2388H302710Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, "Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight."H935H1004H8098H1121H1806H1121H4105H6113H559H3259H1004H430H8432H1964H5462H1817H1964H935H2026H3915H935H202611But I replied, "Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won't do it!"H559H3644H376H1272H935H1964H2425H93512I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.H5234H430H7971H1696H5016H2900H5571H793613They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.H7936H3372H6213H2398H7451H8034H277814Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me.H430H2142H2900H5571H4639H5031H5129H3499H5030H337215So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun.H2346H7999H6242H2568H435H2572H8147H311716When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.H341H8085H1471H5439H7200H3966H5307H5869H3045H4399H6213H43017During those fifty-two days, many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and the nobles of Judah.H3117H2715H3063H1980H7235H107H2900H2900H93518For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him because his father-in-law was Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah.H7227H3063H1167H7621H2860H7935H1121H733H1121H3076H3947H1323H4918H1121H129619They kept telling me about Tobiah's good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me.H559H2896H6440H3318H1697H2900H7971H107H3372
Nehemiah 7
7After the wall was finished and I had set up the doors in the gates, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed.H2346H1129H5975H1817H7778H7891H3881H64852I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.H251H2607H2608H8269H1002H6680H3389H571H376H3372H430H72273I said to them, "Do not leave the gates open during the hottest part of the day. And even while the gatekeepers are on duty, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve at sentry posts and some in front of their own homes."H559H8179H3389H6605H8121H2527H5975H1479H1817H270H5975H4931H3427H3389H376H4929H376H10044At that time the city was large and spacious, but the population was small, and none of the houses had been rebuilt.H5892H7342H3027H1419H5971H4592H8432H1004H11295So my God gave me the idea to call together all the nobles and leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens, for registration. I had found the genealogical record of those who had first returned to Judah. This is what was written there.H430H5414H3820H6908H2715H5461H5971H3187H4672H5612H3188H5927H7223H4672H37896Here 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.H1121H4082H5927H7628H1473H5019H4428H894H1540H7725H3389H3063H376H58927Their 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.H935H2216H3442H5166H5838H7485H5167H4782H1114H4559H902H5149H1196H4557H582H5971H34788The family of Parosh 2,172H1121H6551H8147H505H3967H7657H81479The family of Shephatiah 372H1121H8203H7969H3967H7657H814710The family of Arah 652H1121H733H8337H3967H2572H814711The family of Pahath-moab (descendants of Jeshua and Joab) 2,818H1121H6355H1121H3442H3097H505H8083H3967H8083H624012The family of Elam 1,254H1121H5867H505H3967H2572H70213The family of Zattu 845H1121H2240H8083H3967H705H256814The family of Zaccai 760H1121H2140H7651H3967H834615The family of Bani 648H1121H1131H8337H3967H705H808316The family of Bebai 628H1121H893H8337H3967H6242H808317The family of Azgad 2,322H1121H5803H8147H505H7969H3967H6242H814718The family of Adonikam 667H1121H140H8337H3967H8346H765119The family of Bigvai 2,067H1121H902H505H8346H765120The family of Adin 655H1121H5720H8337H3967H2572H256821The family of Ater (descendants of Hezekiah) 98H1121H333H2396H8673H808322The family of Hashum 328H1121H2828H7969H3967H6242H808323The family of Bezai 324H1121H1209H7969H3967H6242H70224The family of Jorah 112H1121H2756H3967H8147H624025The family of Gibbar 95H1121H1391H8673H256826The people of Bethlehem and Netophah 188H582H1035H5199H3967H8084H808327The people of Anathoth 128H582H6068H3967H6242H808328The people of Beth-azmaveth 42H582H1041H705H814729The people of Kiriath-jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth 743H582H7157H3716H881H7651H3967H705H796930The people of Ramah and Geba 621H582H7414H1387H8337H3967H6242H25931The people of Micmash 122H582H4363H3967H6242H814732The people of Bethel and Ai 123H582H1008H5857H3967H6242H796933The people of West Nebo 52H582H312H5015H2572H814734The citizens of West Elam 1,254H1121H312H5867H505H3967H2572H70235The citizens of Harim 320H1121H2766H7969H3967H624236The citizens of Jericho 345H1121H3405H7969H3967H705H256837The citizens of Lod, Hadid, and Ono 721H1121H3850H2307H207H7651H3967H6242H25938The citizens of Senaah 3,930H1121H5570H7969H505H8672H3967H797039These are the priests who returned from exile: The family of Jedaiah (through the line of Jeshua) 973H3548H1121H3048H1004H3442H8672H3967H7657H796940The family of Immer 1,052H1121H564H505H2572H814741The family of Pashhur 1,247H1121H6583H505H3967H705H765142The family of Harim 1,017H1121H2766H505H7651H624043These are the Levites who returned from exile: The families of Jeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodaviah) 74H3881H1121H3442H6934H1121H1937H7657H70244The singers of the family of Asaph 148H7891H1121H623H3967H705H808345The gatekeepers of the families of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai 138H7778H1121H7967H1121H333H1121H2929H1121H6126H1121H2410H1121H7630H3967H7970H808346The descendants of the following Temple servants returned from exile: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,H5411H1121H6727H1121H2817H1121H288447Keros, Siaha, Padon,H1121H7026H1121H5517H1121H630348Lebanah, Hagabah, Shalmai,H1121H3838H1121H2286H1121H801449Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,H1121H2605H1121H1435H1121H151550Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,H1121H7211H1121H7526H1121H535351Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,H1121H1502H1121H5798H1121H645452Besai, Meunim, Nephusim,H1121H1153H1121H4586H1121H5300H530453Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,H1121H1227H1121H2709H1121H274454Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,H1121H1213H1121H4240H1121H279755Barkos, Sisera, Temah,H1121H1302H1121H5516H1121H854756Neziah, and Hatipha.H1121H5335H1121H241257The descendants of these servants of King Solomon returned from exile: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,H1121H8010H5650H1121H5479H1121H5618H1121H651458Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,H1121H3279H1121H1874H1121H143559Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-hazzebaim, and Ami.H1121H8203H1121H2411H1121H6380H1121H52660In all, the Temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants numbered 392.H5411H1121H8010H5650H7969H3967H8673H814761Another 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.H5927H8528H8521H3743H114H564H3201H5046H1H1004H2233H347862This group included the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda—a total of 642 people.H1121H1806H1121H2900H1121H5353H8337H3967H705H814763Three 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.)H3548H1121H2252H1121H6976H1121H1271H3947H1323H1271H1569H802H7121H803464They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests.H1245H3791H3187H4672H1351H355065The governor told them not to eat the priests' share of food from the sacrifices until a priest could consult the LORD about the matter by using the Urim and Thummim—the sacred lots.H8660H559H398H6944H6944H5975H3548H224H855066So a total of 42,360 people returned to Judah,H6951H259H702H7239H505H7969H3967H834667in addition to 7,337 servants and 245 singers, both men and women.H5650H519H7651H505H7969H3967H7970H7651H3967H705H2568H7891H789168They took with them 736 horses, 245 mules,H5483H7651H3967H7970H8337H6505H3967H705H256869435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.H1581H702H3967H7970H2568H8337H505H7651H3967H6242H254370Some of the family leaders gave gifts for the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 gold coins, 50 gold basins, and 530 robes for the priests.H7117H7218H1H5414H4399H8660H5414H214H505H1871H2091H2572H4219H2568H3967H7970H3548H380171The other leaders gave to the treasury a total of 20,000 gold coins and some 2,750 pounds of silver for the work.H7218H1H5414H214H4399H8147H7239H1871H2091H505H3967H4488H370172The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins, about 2,500 pounds of silver, and 67 robes for the priests.H7611H5971H5414H8147H7239H1871H2091H505H4488H3701H8346H7651H3548H380173So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Temple servants, and some of the common people settled near Jerusalem. The rest of the people returned to their own towns throughout Israel. In October, when the Israelites had settled in their towns,H3548H3881H7778H7891H5971H5411H3478H3427H5892H7637H2320H5060H1121H3478H5892
Dublin, OH
in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me,H5571
