1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: dot com. You're listening to the Chapter a Day Audio Bible. 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: I'm John Stangey, and today we're in Nehemiah chapter seven, 5 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the New English translation. When 6 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: the wall had been rebuilt, and I had positioned the doors, 7 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed. 8 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: I then put in charge over Jerusalem my brother Hannani 9 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: and hann and Ayah, the chief of the citadel, for 10 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 1: he was a faithful man and feared God more than 11 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 1: many do. I said to them, the gates of Jerusalem 12 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: must not be opened in the early morning until those 13 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: who are standing guard closed the doors and lock them. 14 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: Position residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their guard 15 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: stations and some near their homes. Now the city was 16 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: spread out and large, and there were not a lot 17 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: of people in it. At that time. Houses had not 18 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: been rebuilt. My God placed it on my heart to 19 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: gather the leaders, the officials, and the ordinary people, so 20 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: they could be enrolled on the basis of genealogy. I 21 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 1: found the genealogical records of those who had formerly returned. 22 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: Here is what I found written in that record. These 23 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: are the people of the province who returned from the 24 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: captivity of the exiles whom King Nebekinezer of Babylon had 25 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 1: forced into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, 26 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: each to his own city. They came with Zorobabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Ramiah, Nehemani, Mordecai, 27 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: Bill Shan, Mispereth, big Vi, Nahem, and Banah. The number 28 00:01:56,080 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: of Israelite men was as follows, the descendants of Perish 29 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: two thousand, one hundred seventy two, the descendants of Shefetaiah 30 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: three hundred seventy two, the descendants of Era six hundred 31 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: fifty two, the descendants of Pei hath Moab from the 32 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: line of Jeshua and Joeab two thousand, eight hundred eighteen, 33 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: the descendants of Elam one thousand, two hundred fifty four, 34 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: the descendants of za II eight hundred forty five, the 35 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:36,119 Speaker 1: descendants of Zakai seven hundred sixty, the descendants of Benui 36 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: six hundred forty eight, the descendants of Bibei six hundred 37 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: twenty eight, the descendants of Asgad two thousand, three hundred 38 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: twenty two, the descendants of Adonikam six hundred sixty seven, 39 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 1: the descendants of big Vai two thousand sixty seven, the 40 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: descendants of a Din six hundred fifty five, the descendants 41 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: of Attur through Hezekiah ninety eight, the descendants of Hashum 42 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: three hundred twenty eight, the descendants of Bezi three hundred 43 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: twenty four, the descendants of Haref one hundred twelve, the 44 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: descendants of Gibeon ninety five, the men of Bethlehem and 45 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: Netephah one hundred eighty eight, the men of Anathoth one 46 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: hundred twenty eight, the men of the family of Asthmaveth 47 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: forty two, the men of Kiriath, Jerrem, Kefirah and Beiroth 48 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: seven hundred forty three, the men of Ramah and Giba 49 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: six hundred twenty one, the men of Micmash one hundred 50 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: twenty two, the men of Bethel and Ai one hundred 51 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: twenty three, the men of the Other Nebo fifty two, 52 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: the descendants of the Other elam In two hundred fifty four, 53 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: the descendants of Harem three hundred twenty the descendants of 54 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: Jericho three hundred forty five, the descendants of laud Hadid 55 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: and Anno seven hundred twenty one, the descendants of Sennah 56 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: three thousand, nine hundred thirty, the priests, the descendants of 57 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: Jediah through the family of Jeshua nine hundred seventy three, 58 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: the descendants of Immer one thousand, fifty two, the descendants 59 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: of Peshur one thousand, two hundred forty seven, the descendants 60 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: of Harem one thousand seventeen, the Levites, the descendants of 61 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 1: Jeshua through Cadmil through the line of Hodevayah seventy four. 62 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: The Singers, the descendants of Asaf one hundred forty eight. 63 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: The Gatekeepers, the descendants of Alum, the descendants of Attur, 64 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: the descendants of Talman, the descendants of a Kub, the 65 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: descendants of Hatita and the descendants of Shobai one hundred 66 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: thirty eight. The temple servants, the descendants of Ziha, the 67 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: descendants of Hasufa, the descendants of Tabayoth, the descendants of Kairos, 68 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: the descendants of Sia, the descendants of Padan, the descendants 69 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: of Lebanon, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Shalmi, 70 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: the descendants of Hainan, the descendants of GADeL, the descendants 71 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: of Gahar, the descendants of Riaya, the descendants of Resin, 72 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: the descendants of Nakoda, the descendants of Gazam, the descendants 73 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: of Uza, the descendants of Pasia, the descendants of Bisai, 74 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: the descendants of Munim, the descendants of Nefusim, the descendants 75 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: of Bakbak, the descendants of Hakeaphah, the descendants of Harjr, 76 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: the descendants of Baslath, the descendants of Mahaida, the descendants 77 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: of Harsha, the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, 78 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: the descendants of Tima, the descendants of Nezia, the descendants 79 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: of Hatifah, the descendants of the servants of Solomon, the 80 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Sofireth, the descendants of Parida, 81 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: the descendants of Jala, the descendants of Darkhan, the descendants 82 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: of GADeL, the descendants of Shephetaiah, the descendants of Hatil, 83 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: the descendants of Pokareth, has Abame, and the descendants of Amen, 84 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: All the temple servants and the descendants of the servants 85 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: of Solomon three hundred ninety two These are the ones 86 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: who came up from Tell Malla, Telharsha, kerub Adan, and Emmer, 87 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: although they were unable to certify their family connection or 88 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: their ancestry as to whether they were really from Israel. 89 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: The descendants of Delayah, the descendants of Tobia, and the 90 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: descendants of Nakota six hundred forty two, and from among 91 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: the priests, the descendants of Hobia, the descendants of Hakkaz, 92 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: and the descendants of Barzelai, who had married a woman 93 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 1: from the daughters of Barzilai the Gileadite, and was called 94 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: by that name. They searched for their records in the 95 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: genealogical materials, but none were found. They were therefore excluded 96 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: from the priesthood. The governor instructed them not to eat 97 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: any of the sacred food until there was a priest 98 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: who could consult the Urim and thummim. The entire group 99 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: numbered forty two thousand, three hundred sixty not counting their 100 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: seven thousand, three hundred thirty seven male and female servants. 101 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: They also had two hundred forty five male and female singers. 102 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: They had seven hundred thirty six horses, two hundred forty 103 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: five mules, four hundred thirty five camels and six thousand, 104 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: seven hundred twenty donkeys. Some of the family leaders contributed 105 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: to the work. The governor contributed to the treasury one 106 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: thousand gold drakmas, fifty bulls, and five hundred thirty priestly garments. 107 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: Some of the family leaders gave to the project treasury 108 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: twenty thousand gold drakmas and two thousand, two hundred silver minas. 109 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: What the rest of the people gave amounted to twenty 110 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: thousand gold drakmas, two thousand silver minas, and sixty seven 111 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: priestly garments. The priests, the levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, 112 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: some of the people, the temple servants, and all the 113 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: rest of Israel lived in their cities when the Seventh 114 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: Month arrived and the Israelites were settled in their cities. 115 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 1: Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for your word, and 116 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: we thank you for the privilege of being able to 117 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,599 Speaker 1: look at this portion of scripture today. And Lord, we 118 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: thank you for this long listing of people who were 119 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: able to return from their captivity. Lord, we know that 120 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: these were people who had been exiles in Babylon, and 121 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: they had the privilege to return back to their homeland 122 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: and to establish their families there once again, and to 123 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: live in the land that you had promised to their 124 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: ancestor Abraham, where they could worship you, where they could 125 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: serve you, where they could honor you as God, and 126 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: live in the midst of a culture that did so 127 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: as well. Lord, were grateful that the wall had been 128 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: rebuilt by this time in the story of Nehemiah, and 129 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: that you were raising up faithful people to help Nehemiah 130 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: as he sought to lead. And Lord, as we look 131 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: at this portion of scripture, were likewise grateful for the 132 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: fact that we who were once exiles, who lived at 133 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: a distant from you, who were living as your enemies, 134 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 1: and people who are outside of your family, have been 135 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: granted the privilege to become part of your family and 136 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: to live in your presence in your city forever. We're grateful, 137 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: Lord that that's our privilege through faith in your son 138 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. And we pray Lord that that would be 139 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: something that you would bring to our hearts and bring 140 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: to our minds daily, so that we would remember what 141 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: a blessing that truly is. Lord, We love you. We're 142 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: grateful for your presence with us today and We commit 143 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 1: this day to your care and thank you for all 144 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: of these things in Jesus' name. Amen.