Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

When the wall was built and I had set up the doors, I appointed gatekeepers, singers, and Levites to their positions. Hanani my brother and Hananiah, who was in charge of the palace, took responsibility for Jerusalem because he was a trustworthy man who feared God more than many others.

I told them, "Until the sun is hot, do not open the gates of Jerusalem. While they are standing guard, let them shut the doors and bar them. Appoint watches from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at their designated time near their own house." The city was large and great, but its population was sparse with many empty houses.

My God put it into my heart to gather together the nobles, rulers, and people so they could be counted by genealogy. I found a register of their genealogy from those who had first returned. This list included those whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away and returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each one to his own city.

Those who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah included: The children of Parosh, 2,072. The children of Shephatiah, 372. The children of Arah, 652.

The children of Pahathmoab, who were part of the families of Jeshua and Joab, numbered 2,818. The children of Elam, 1,254. The children of Zattu, 845. The children of Zaccai, 760. The children of Binnui, 648.

The children of Bebai, 628. The children of Azgad, 3,022. The children of Adonikam, 670. The children of Bigvai, 2,067. The children of Adin, 655. The children of Ater, who were from Hezekiah's family, numbered 98.

The children of Hashum, 328. The children of Bezai, 324. The children of Hariph, 112. The men of Gibeon, 95. The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188. The men of Anathoth, 128.

The men of Bethazmaveth were 42. The men of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth numbered 743. The men of Ramah and Gaba, 621. The men of Michmas, 122. The men of Bethel and Ai, 123.

The men of the other Nebo were 52. The children of Elam, 1,254 in number. The children of Harim, 320. The children of Jericho, 345. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721. The children of Senaah, 3,930.

The priests included the descendants of Jedaiah from the house of Jeshua, numbering 973. The children of Immer, 1,052. The children of Pashur, 1,247. The children of Harim, 1,017. The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, 74.

The singers were descendants of Asaph, numbering 148. The porters included the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, 138.

The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth; and many others including the descendants of Solomon's servants who were from various families.

The whole congregation together was 42,360. Beside their servants and maidservants, there were 7,337 of them; and they had 245 singing men and women. Their horses numbered 736, and their mules 245.

Their camels numbered 435, and 6,720 asses. Some of the leaders gave to the project, and the governor provided a thousand gold coins, fifty bowls, and five hundred thirty priests' robes.

Some of the leaders among the families contributed twenty thousand gold coins and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver to the treasury for the project. The rest of the people contributed twenty thousand gold coins, two thousand pounds of silver, and seventy-seven priestly garments.

The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, some of the people, Nethinim, and all Israel settled in their cities; when the seventh month arrived, the children of Israel were already residing in their cities.