Nehemiah 7:11 kjv
The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.
Nehemiah 7:11 nkjv
the sons of Pahath-Moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen;
Nehemiah 7:11 niv
of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) ? 2,818
Nehemiah 7:11 esv
The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818.
Nehemiah 7:11 nlt
The family of Pahath-moab (descendants of Jeshua and Joab) ? 2,818
Nehemiah 7 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezra 2:6 | The descendants of Pahath-Moab... 2,812. | Direct parallel, nearly identical count. |
| Jer 29:10 | For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill my good word to bring you back to this place. | Promise of return from exile. |
| Isa 43:5-6 | Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, ‘Give up,’ and to the south, ‘Do not withhold’; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth. | Prophetic promise of restoration and gathering. |
| Neh 1:9 | but if you return to me and keep my commandments… even if your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen… | Nehemiah's prayer for return, echoing divine promise. |
| Eze 37:12 | Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. | Metaphorical return as resurrection, re-entry to the land. |
| Lk 3:23-38 | Jesus... son of Joseph... son of David... son of Abraham... | NT emphasis on genealogies, particularly for the Messiah. |
| 1 Chr 9:1 | So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies, and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was carried away captive to Babylon because of their transgression. | Importance of historical record and genealogies post-exile. |
| Gen 10:32 | These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies... | Biblical tradition of meticulously recording lineage. |
| Num 1:18 | and they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their pedigrees by families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names… | Census and genealogical records in Mosaic law. |
| Ps 107:2-3 | Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. | Echoes God's gathering of His scattered people. |
| Jer 31:3-4 | The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built... | God's unwavering love and promise to rebuild Israel. |
| Rom 9:27 | And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved...” | Theological concept of a preserved remnant. |
| Mic 2:12 | I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold... | Prophecy of gathering the remnant. |
| Isa 10:20-22 | ...and a remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return... | Concept of the returning remnant. |
| Deut 30:3 | then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. | Promise of divine gathering after dispersion. |
| Neh 2:17-18 | Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in... Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” | Motivation for the reconstruction effort detailed in Nehemiah. |
| Acts 17:26 | And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place... | Divine ordination of national identity and dwelling. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | New Testament identity of God's people as distinct. |
| Heb 11:8-9 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out... and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land... | Emphasizes Abrahamic covenant and the land promise relevant to returnees. |
| Ezra 10:18 | But among the sons of the priests who had married foreign women were found these... | Context highlighting the importance of pure lineage for religious order. |
Nehemiah 7 verses
Nehemiah 7 11 Meaning
Nehemiah 7:11 records the count of a specific family or clan, the children of Pahath-Moab, who returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem. This group included sub-branches associated with Jeshua and Joab, totaling 2,818 individuals. This verse is part of a detailed genealogical register that validates the identity and number of those who participated in the post-exilic restoration of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 7 11 Context
Nehemiah chapter 7 presents a vital genealogical register, which is almost identical to the list found in Ezra 2. This census serves as a foundational record of the Jewish population who returned from Babylonian captivity to the province of Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel in the initial return, which predates Nehemiah's arrival. Nehemiah chose to reproduce this list after the completion of Jerusalem's wall, highlighting the meticulous care taken in establishing the new community's identity and order. The register aimed to authenticate the lineage of the returnees, crucial for settling lands, establishing residency within Jerusalem, and particularly for determining who was eligible for temple service as priests, Levites, and Nethinim, as well as those entitled to ancestral property. Historically, these lists underscored God's faithfulness in preserving a remnant of His people and fulfilling His covenant promises of restoration.
Nehemiah 7 11 Word analysis
- the children of: In this context, "children of" (Hebrew: bĕnê) refers not just to direct offspring but signifies a lineage, a clan, or a family group. It identifies people by their ancestral head or tribal affiliation, emphasizing corporate identity rather than individual status.
- Pahath-Moab: (Hebrew: Paḥath Môʾāḇ)
- Pahath (פַּחַת): The Hebrew word paḥath generally means "governor," "prefect," or "deputy." This unusual name for a family head suggests an interesting background. It could refer to an Israelite who held an official title over the territory of Moab, or perhaps an Israelite family named after such a significant figure. Some scholars suggest a potential Moabite proselyte or someone with a historical connection to Moab. Regardless, it indicates a family of some distinction or historical significance among the returnees.
- Moab (מוֹאָב): An ancient nation and historical enemy of Israel located east of the Dead Sea. The inclusion of "Moab" in a prominent family name highlights complex ancient social dynamics, though this clan was clearly identified as Israelite for the purpose of return.
- of the children of Jeshua and Joab: This phrase indicates sub-divisions or significant family branches within the larger clan of Pahath-Moab.
- Jeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ): A common Hebrew name meaning "Yahweh is salvation" or "He saves." This is distinct from Jeshua the high priest.
- Joab (יוֹאָב): A common Hebrew name meaning "Yahweh is father." Both names, carrying divine elements, likely refer to notable patriarchs or influential figures within the Pahath-Moab family whose descendants or adherents were numerous.
- 2,818: This precise numerical figure is significant. It reflects the meticulous record-keeping of the returning exiles, attesting to the accuracy and order maintained during the restoration. The specific number underscores the substantial size of this particular clan and the divine preservation of a considerable remnant from exile.
- Words-group analysis:
- "the children of Pahath-Moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab": This construction emphasizes a multi-layered identification of the returnees, beginning with a broader clan ('Pahath-Moab') and then specifying important sub-branches or lineages ('children of Jeshua and Joab'). It portrays a structured and organized society being re-established, where lineage and family association were crucial for social and legal purposes, particularly concerning land ownership and participation in cultic services.
Nehemiah 7 11 Bonus section
The minor numerical discrepancies between the census in Nehemiah 7 and Ezra 2 (Ezra 2:6 lists 2,812 for Pahath-Moab) are often noted by scholars. These slight variations, found throughout the lists, are typically explained as possibly reflecting: a) differences in the exact moment the census was taken, b) minor scribal errors that were common in ancient copying practices, c) inclusion or exclusion of certain groups like women or very young children in specific counts, or d) lists representing different stages or administrative purposes of the returnees. Despite these minor numerical differences, the overall picture of a large, well-documented return from exile remains consistently affirmed across both biblical books. These genealogies served a crucial polemical purpose for the returning community; they acted as a strong declaration of their distinct identity as the people of God, contrasting with surrounding groups who often intermarried and lacked such ancestral records, thereby preserving their covenant purity and rights to the land.
Nehemiah 7 11 Commentary
Nehemiah 7:11, as part of a detailed register, is not just a dry historical record; it is a profound testament to God's enduring covenant faithfulness. The specific naming of "Pahath-Moab" and its large number underscore the miraculous preservation of a diverse remnant through the hardships of exile. This meticulously compiled list reveals the order and purpose that guided the re-establishment of the community in Judah, demonstrating the careful reconstruction of identity and lineage essential for maintaining the unique covenant relationship with God. It emphasizes that even in times of profound judgment and displacement, God remembers His promises and brings His people back, precisely accounted for, to fulfill His divine plan for their restoration and the future Messianic hope.
- Example for Practical Usage: In challenging times when people feel lost or displaced, remembering God's meticulous care for ancient Israel, counting each family and individual for return, can be an encouragement that He never loses sight of His people. The accuracy of this list highlights God's precision in His plans, offering assurance that His purpose will prevail.