Nehemiah 7
by Pastor Mark Hudson
When you read Nehemiah 7, most of us have several questions. Why is there a need in the Bible for this list of names that takes 73 verses to complete? And one might also wonder if they have seen this list before? The second question is much easier to answer. Ezra 2 has this same list. Although Nehemiah comes after Ezra, this might be the original list. Since Ezra probably wrote both books (one book originally), it is not a crucial issue. But now to explore the first question. An answer that completely satisfies your curiosity may not be possible.
The fact that a city takes a census is not the question. The question is why is this detailed list in the Bible? First, it is difficult for most Christians to understand the significance of one, designate holy place populated by God’s people as part of His covenant promise. For us, we know that Christians live in communist countries, monarchies, democracies, urban, rural, Asian, African, Hispanic, European, Arab, and North American. But there is not one place we live, gather, or recognize. Nor do we seek a city on earth for such a place.
Yet, the Old Testament teaches exactly what we are not looking for: one city set apart for God’s people to dwell in. This has been the promise from the beginning. God is a provider and a protector. God brought back His people to Jerusalem after they were removed from the promised land. They were removed due to their rebellion, and they are returned due to God’s grace. This is a monumental work of God’s grace. For us, we yawn at the return because we do not understand the significance of Jerusalem. But open your eyes as you read the Old Testament. You should not miss the central focus of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah has been rebuilding the city walls and gates. As we know, Nehemiah comes 13 years after Ezra. Ezra prepared the people through his teaching ministry. Nehemiah comes after Ezra and prepares, not people, but the city. What is a rebuilt city without people? After the city is rebuilt, it needs people. So, this list shows the fulfillment of God’s promise to return His people to Jerusalem.
I suppose Ezra and Nehemiah could merely say there are a certain number of people who returned. We would cut to the chase and say what v. 66 says, “The whole assembly together was 42,360. I think a modern writer would be that terse. But God was not. I am not sure I can fully answer why He included this list. But we can make some observations. First, we see that Ezra, the probable author, lists people from regions in Judah. This probably refers to where they came from in Israel when they left for Babylon. Some are listed according to their tribes. Others are listed according to their jobs or callings. Notice the singers are mentioned since worship is important.
Most people mentioned are just normal people which makes up most of humanity. When you think of it, most of us are really not that special. Oh, we have our contribution or abilities but just think of the thousands, maybe millions, of people who can do what you do. But we are the majority of humanity. And those people are counted and included in holy writ. Can we extrapolate from that that God knows us by name and we are included in the kingdom and not only included, but important? Our church would be less if you were not there. There are millions of pastors, musicians, elders, and deacons and yet every person is needed whether or not they have a title.
Another reason to include this in the Bible is to demonstrate people were returning to Jerusalem. 50, 000 people, all kinds of animals (almost 7,000 donkeys), and the place was coming alive. This is what Jeremiah prophesied in Jer. 31. Read these verses or phrases in
- 8, Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
- 10 ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
- 16 and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
- 17 There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Once more they shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their fortunes: The LORD bless you, O habitation of righteousness, O holy hill!’
- 24 And Judah and all its cities shall dwell there together, and ethe farmers and those who wander with their flocks. 25 For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”
God promised to remove them from the promised land if they sinned. He also promised to bring them back after their punishment.
Both Ezra and Nehemiah wanted to restore God-centered, Biblical worship. They worked in tandem to remove Israel’s idolatry and create a place for teaching, worship, discipleship, and community. They could not do this completely or finally. They started what only Christ could complete. Christ brings genuine worship, although in different forms and in different languages, and He alone unites all God’s people not to one city but to that final city, “a better country, that is, a heavenly one” as Hebrews 11:16 reminds us. Only Christ can bring us there. Ezra, Nehemiah, and others made a three-month journey from Susa to Jerusalem. The walls were broken down, the gates were burn and useless and the city members few and hopeless.
Christ, “in the twinkling of an eye” (I Cor 15:52) will bring us to a much different city, “to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all . . . . (Heb 12:22-23).
Dear Glorious, beautiful, radiant, pure, and holy Father, we long for that day when we will see You and be purified and be forever done with our sin. In the meantime, we are Yours and we live our lives in obedience to Your Word. As the returning remnant had to prove their lineage, we prove that we belong to You by being born again and baptized. That door is open by Your blood and grace. What a glorious thought. In Christ’s name, Amen.