SCRIPTURE: NEHEMIAH 7
After the wall had been rebuilt, Nehemiah set the doors in place and appointed the gatekeepers, singers and the Levites. He put his brother Hanani and Hananiah, the commander of the citadel in charge of Jerusalem. He instructed them not to open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. He told them to appoint residents of Jerusalem to guard their posts and houses.
THE LIST OF THE EXILES WHO RETURNED (vs. 4-73)
Nehemiah assembled the nobles, the officials and the common people for registrations by families. All the people of the provinces who came up from the captivity of the exiles in Babylon in company with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah were recorded. The whole numbered 42,300, besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 245 men and women singers. There were 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys. (vs. 66-69)
Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 drachmas of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 drachmas of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 drachmas of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests. The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers and the temple servants, along with the rest of the Israelites settled in their own towns. (v. 70-73)
THOUGHTS:
The record of the original returnees enabled Nehemiah to determine who should become a citizen of Jerusalem for he did not want any of the “mixed multitude” to come in and cause more troubles. It is important for every Christian to maintain purity in life with faith in God’s Word.
In order to protect the wall, Nehemiah assigned each family the task of protecting the section of wall next to their home. After we have completed a task, we are not to relax our guard but continue to take good care of all that God had entrusted to us. Therefore, following through after a project after it is completed is as vital as doing the project itself.