31 October 445 B.C. Old Testament
Believers, the Gracious Covenant and Governor Nehemiah.
By
445 B.C., Nehemiah received permission from the Medo-Persian King, Artaxerxes I
(B.C. 465-423), to return to Israel and rebuild.
The
Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem (c.) 142 years earlier. Nehemiah returned
to his homeland. We’ve covered the
larger story elsewhere, but we give it in brief and, of course, with the
perspicuous Scriptures. The wall was rebuilt and the gates hung in 52 days (cf.
Neh. 1.1-6.16). But more than the
rebuilding of the wall was needed. Minds
and hearts needed to be steeled by the Word of God. This is why we include “all
the names.” Nehemiah is the hero of the
story, but it takes all of God’s people believing, standing and doing their
duty. Hence, the list of names.
Nehemiah 7:4-8:18
1599
Geneva Bible (GNV)
4 Now the city was
large and great, but the people were few therein, and the houses were
not built.
5 And my God put into
mine heart, and I gathered the princes, and the rulers, and the people, to
count their genealogies: and I found a book of the genealogy of them, which
came up at the first, and found written therein,
6 These are the [a]sons
of the province that came up from the captivity that was carried away (whom
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel had carried away) and they returned to Jerusalem
and to Judah, every one unto his city.
7 They which came with
Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, [b]Azariah,
Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. This
is the number of the men of the people of Israel.
8 The sons of Parosh, two
thousand an hundred seventy and two.
9 The sons of Shephatiah,
three hundred seventy and two.
10 The sons of Arah, six
hundred fifty and two.
11 The sons of [c]Pahath-Moab
of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
12 The sons of Elam, a
thousand two hundred fifty and four.
13 The sons of Zattu,
eight hundred and five and forty.
14 The sons of Zaccai,
seven hundred and three-score.
15 The sons of Binnui, six
hundred and eight and forty.
16 The sons of Bebai, six
hundred and eight and twenty.
17 The sons of Azgad, two
thousand three hundred and two and twenty.
18 The sons of Adonikam,
six hundred threescore and seven.
19 The sons of Bigvai, two
thousand threescore and seven.
20 The sons of Adin, six
hundred and five and fifty.
21 The sons of Ater of
Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
22 The sons of Hashum,
three hundred and eight and twenty.
23 The sons of Bezai,
three hundred and four and twenty.
24 The sons of Hariph, an
hundred and twelve.
26 The men of Bethlehem
and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.
27 The men of Anathoth, an
hundred and eight and twenty.
28 The men of Beth
Azmaveth, two and forty.
29 The men of Kirjath
Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and three and forty.
30 The men of Ramah and
Geba, six hundred and one and twenty.
31 The men of Michmas, an
hundred and two and twenty.
32 The men of Bethel and
Ai, an hundred and three and twenty.
34 The sons of the other
Elam, a thousand two hundred and four and fifty.
35 The sons of Harim,
three hundred and twenty.
36 The sons of Jericho,
three hundred and five and forty.
37 The sons of Lod, Hadid
and Ono, seven hundred and one and twenty.
38 The sons of Senaah,
three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
39 The Priests: the sons
of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
40 The sons of Immer, a
thousand and two and fifty.
41 The sons of Pashur, a
thousand two hundred and seven and forty.
42 The sons of Harim, a
thousand and seventeen.
44 ¶ The singers: the
children of Asaph, an hundred and eight and forty.
45 The porters: the sons
of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons
of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, an hundred and eight and thirty.
47 The sons of Keros, the
sons of Sia, the sons of Padon,
48 The sons of Lebana, the
sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai,
49 The sons of Hanan, the
sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,
50 The sons of Reaiah, the
sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,
51 The sons of Gazzam, the
sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,
52 The sons of Besai, the
sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephishesim,
53 The sons of Bakbuk, the
sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
54 The sons of Bazlith,
the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
55 The sons of Barkos, the
sons of Sisera, the sons of Tamah,
56 The sons of Neziah, the
sons of Hatipha,
57 The sons of Solomon’s
servants, the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,
58 The sons of Jaala, the
sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
59 The sons of Shephatiah,
the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, the sons of Amon.
60 All the Nethinim, and
the sons of Solomon’s servants were three hundred, ninety and two.
61 ¶ And these came up
from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not show
their father’s house, nor their seed, or if they were of Israel.
62 The sons of Delaiah:
the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and two and forty.
63 And of the Priests: the
sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai, which took one of the
daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was named after their name.
64 These sought their
writing of the genealogies, but it was not found: therefore they were put from
the Priesthood.
65 And [h]the
Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy, till there
rose up a Priest with Urim and Thummim.
66 All the Congregation
together was two and forty thousand, three hundred and threescore,
67 Besides their servants
and their maids, which were seven thousand, three hundred and seven and thirty:
and they had two hundred and five and forty singing men and singing women.
68 Their horses were
seven hundred and six and thirty, and their mules two hundred and five
and forty.
69 The camels four hundred
and five and thirty, and six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.
70 And certain of the
chief fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure, a
thousand [i]drams
of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty Priest’s garments.
71 And some of the
chief fathers gave unto the treasure of the work, twenty thousand drams of
gold, and two thousand and two hundred [j]pieces
of silver.
72 And the rest of the
people gave twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pieces of silver,
and threescore and seven Priest’s garments.
73 And the Priests, and
the Levites, and the porters and the singers, and the rest of the people and
the Nethinim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities: and when the [k]seventh
month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
8 2 Ezra gathereth
together the people, and readeth to them the Law. 12 They rejoice in Israel for
the knowledge of the word of God. 15 They keep the feast of Tabernacles or
booths.
1 And all the people
assembled themselves [l]together,
in the street that was before the water gate, and they spake unto Ezra the [m]Scribe,
that he would bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded
to Israel.
2 And Ezra the Priest
brought the Law before the Congregation both of men and women, and of all [n]that
could hear and understand it, in the first day of the seventh month,
3 And he read therein in
the street that was before the water gate (from the morning until [o]the
midday) before men and women, and them that understood it, and the ears of all
the people hearkened unto the book of the Law.
4 And Ezra the Scribe
stood upon a pulpit of wood which he had made for the preaching, and beside him
stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah
on his right hand, and on his left hand Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah,
and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5 And Ezra opened the
book before all the people: for he was [p]above
all the people: and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 And Ezra praised the
Lord the great God, and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up
their hands: and they bowed themselves, and worshipped the Lord with their
faces toward the ground.
7 Also Jeshua, and Bani,
and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah,
Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites caused the people to understand the
Law, and the people stood in their place.
8 And they read in the
book of the Law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to
understand the reading.
9 Then Nehemiah (which is
Tirshatha) and Ezra the Priest and Scribe, and the Levites that instructed the
people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God:
mourn not, neither weep: for all the people [q]wept,
when they heard the words of the Law.
10 He said also unto them,
Go and eat of the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part unto them, for
whom none is [r]prepared:
for this day is holy unto our Lord: be ye not sorry therefore: for the [s]joy of
the Lord is your strength.
11 And the Levites made
silence throughout all the people, saying, Hold your peace: for the day is
holy, be not sad therefore.
12 Then all the people
went to eat and to drink, and to send away part, and to make great joy, because
they had understood the words that they had taught them.
13 And on the second day
the chief fathers of all the people, the Priests and the Levites were gathered
unto Ezra the Scribe, that he also might instruct them in the words of the Law.
14 And they found written
in the Law, (that the Lord had commanded Moses) that the children of Israel
should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month,
15 And that they should
cause it to be declared and proclaimed in all their cities, and in Jerusalem,
saying, Go forth unto the mount, and bring olive branches, and pine branches,
and branches of [t]myrtle,
and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is
written.
16 So the people went
forth and brought them, and made them booths, every one upon the [u]roof
of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and
in the street by the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
17 And all the
Congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity, made booths,
and sat under the booths: for since the [v]time
of Jeshua the son of Nun unto this day, had not the children of Israel done so,
and there was very great joy.
18 And he read in the book
of the Law of God every day, from the first day unto the last day. And they
kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day a solemn assembly, according
unto the manner.
Footnotes:
- Nehemiah 7:6 That is, the inhabitants of Judah.
- Nehemiah 7:11 Or, the captain of Moab.
- Nehemiah 7:25 That is, the inhabitants of Gibeon.
- Nehemiah 7:33 For there were two cities of this name.
- Nehemiah 7:43 Or, Hodaiah.
- Nehemiah 7:65 Meaning, Nehemiah: for Tirshatha in the Chaldean tongue signifieth a butler.
- Nehemiah 7:71 Or, minas.
- Nehemiah 7:73 Which containeth part of September and part of October.
- Nehemiah 8:1 Hebrew, as one man.
- Nehemiah 8:2 Which had age and discretion to understand.
- Nehemiah 8:3 This declareth the great zeal, that the people had to hear the word of God.
- Nehemiah 8:5 To the intent that his voice might be the better heard.
- Nehemiah 8:9 In considering their offences against the Law. Therefore the Levites do not reprove them for mourning, but assure them of God’s mercies forasmuch as they are repentant.
- Nehemiah 8:10 That is, remember the poor.
- Nehemiah 8:10 Rejoice in the Lord, and he will give you strength.
- Nehemiah 8:15 Or, goodly branches, as Lev. 3:40.
- Nehemiah 8:17 Which was almost a thousand years.Upshot: what good is the rebuilding of the walls without the rebuilding in the Word of God?Also, repentance and confession of sin attended the event, suitable and useful then like now.
Nehemiah 10:29
1599
Geneva Bible (GNV)
29 The chief of them [a]received
it for their brethren, and they came to the [b]curse
and to the oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of
God, to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his
judgments and his statutes:
Footnotes:
- Nehemiah 10:29 They made the oath in the name of the whole multitude.
-
The covenant was reaffirmed, renewed and refreshed on 31 October 445 B.C.The book of the Law was read aloud, audibly and perspicuously.Nehemiah 9.1-4.
Nehemiah 9:1-4
1599
Geneva Bible (GNV)
9 The people repent, and
forsake their strange wives. 5 The Levites exhort them to praise God, 6
Declaring his wonders, 26 And their ingratitude, 30 And God’s great mercies
toward them.
1 In the four and
twentieth day of this [a]month
the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and
earth upon them.
2 (And they that were of
the seed of Israel were separated from all the [b]strangers)
and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
3 And they stood up in
their place and read in the book of the Law of the Lord their God four times on
the day, and they [c]confessed
and worshipped the Lord their God four times.
4 Then stood up upon the stairs
of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and
Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the Lord their God.
Footnotes:
- Nehemiah 9:1 Meaning, the seventh.
- Nehemiah 9:2 Hebrew, strange children.
- Nehemiah 9:3 They made confession of their sins, and used prayers.The oath of allegiance, affirmation and confirmation was taken.
Nehemiah 9:48-10:29
1599
Geneva Bible (GNV)
10 1 The names of them
that sealed the covenant between God and the people.
2 Seraiah, Azariah,
Jeremiah,
3 Pashur, Amariah,
Malchijah,
4 Hattush, Shebaniah,
Malluch,
5 Harim, Meremoth,
Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon,
Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah,
Mijamin,
9 ¶ And the Levites:
Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui, of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel.
10 And their brethren,
Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanun,
11 Micha, Rehob,
Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah,
Shebaniah,
13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth,
Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam,
Hezir,
21 Meshezabeel, Zadok,
Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan,
Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah,
Hashub,
24 Hallohesh, Pileha,
Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah,
Maaseiah,
26 And Ahijah, Hanan,
Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28 And the rest of the
people, the Priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the [d]Nethinim,
and all that were [e]separated
from the people of the lands unto the Law of God, their wives, their sons and
their daughters, all that could understand.
29 The chief of them [f]received
it for their brethren, and they came to the [g]curse
and to the oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of
God, to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his
judgments and his statutes:
Footnotes:
- Nehemiah 10:1 Or, butler.
- Nehemiah 10:8 Which subscribed to keep the promise.
- Nehemiah 10:14 Or, captain of Moab.
- Nehemiah 10:28 Which being idolaters forsook their wickedness, and gave themselves to serve God.
- Nehemiah 10:29 They made the oath in the name of the whole multitude.
-
Questions:
- Why all the names? Why did Nehemiah or the author/scribe for Nehemiah view the listing of the all the names as significant?
- Is there a place for a public ceremony of congregational and/or denominational repentance and reaffirmation of the faith?
- If #2 obtains, what may this say to the LACNAs?
- Is there a pattern for some churches in 2014?
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