Nehemiah 7 21

Nehemiah 7:21 kjv

The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

Nehemiah 7:21 nkjv

the sons of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight;

Nehemiah 7:21 niv

of Ater (through Hezekiah) ? 98

Nehemiah 7:21 esv

The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98.

Nehemiah 7:21 nlt

The family of Ater (descendants of Hezekiah) ? 98

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 21 Meaning

Nehemiah 7:21 is a specific entry within a detailed register of those who returned from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel. It precisely records "The men of Bethzur, ninety-two," indicating the number of males from the specific settlement of Bethzur who rejoined the community in Judah during the post-exilic restoration. This verse, like others in the list, establishes historical fact, legal claims to land, and continuity of community identity.

Nehemiah 7 21 Context

Nehemiah chapter 7 serves as a detailed administrative record, parallel to Ezra 2. After completing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, Nehemiah focuses on strengthening the city's population and establishing its internal organization. This chapter details a register (census) of the returnees who had come back earlier with Zerubbabel. This precise listing was crucial for various reasons: to verify legitimate Israelites who had rights to land and membership in the community, to ensure genealogical purity, especially for priestly and Levitical lines, and to determine the necessary resources and manpower for repopulating Jerusalem and surrounding areas. The lists emphasize God's faithfulness in preserving a remnant and enabling their return to the covenant land. Verse 21 fits within this comprehensive tabulation, showing specific family groups or localized communities and their numbers, thereby contributing to the overall picture of the restored post-exilic community.

Nehemiah 7 21 Word analysis

• The men of Bethzur:

  • The men: (Hebrew: אִנְשֵׁי, ’anshei) Refers specifically to males, usually heads of households or those eligible for community and military service. In the context of these registers, it implies adult males contributing to the community.
  • of Bethzur: (Hebrew: בֵּית־צוּר, Bēth-Tsūr) A significant geographical and historical name. Beth means "house" or "place," and Tsur means "rock" or "fortress." Thus, "House of the Rock/Fortress."
    • Significance: Bethzur was an ancient, strategically important fortified city in the tribal territory of Judah, situated on the main road from Jerusalem south to Hebron. Its strong defensive position meant it played a vital role in protecting Judea. Its inclusion in this list shows that even from smaller, specific locations, people remembered their origin and returned, reinforcing territorial claims and the repopulation of historical Jewish land. It's mentioned in Joshua 15:58 as a city of Judah and appears notably in the Maccabean period for its fortress. Its identification underscores the concrete, localized reality of the return.

• ninety-two:

  • (Hebrew: תִּשְׁעִים וּשְׁנַיִם, tishʿīm ūshnayin) The specific numerical count.
  • Significance: The precision of this number, and all numbers in these lists (Ezra 2, Nehemiah 7), is paramount. It signifies:
    • Accuracy and Detail: A meticulous record-keeping, essential for tribal identity, inheritance, and administration. It reflects diligent efforts by the leaders to organize the returning population.
    • Divine Providence: The specific count demonstrates that the remnant returning was not haphazard but carefully accounted for, showing God's preservation of His people even in exile.
    • Historical Validation: Provides concrete evidence for the reality of the return from exile and the rebuilding efforts, authenticating the narrative.
    • Community Reconstruction: These numbers directly contribute to understanding the scale of the rebuilding challenge and the manpower available for it, from temple work to civic administration.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The men of Bethzur, ninety-two": This phrase represents a specific segment of the returning community identified by their place of origin and quantified. It exemplifies the granular detail of the register, emphasizing locality, communal identity, and numerical reality. It is not merely a number, but a group of individuals tied to a specific heritage and location, re-establishing their claim and contribution to the rebuilt nation.

Nehemiah 7 21 Bonus section

The lists in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7, while largely parallel, show minor discrepancies in some numbers and names (e.g., Nehemiah 7:21 vs. Ezra 2:20). Scholars typically attribute these differences to various factors, such as differing scribal copies, variations in family lists over time (e.g., deaths, new births among the very first generation returning), or slightly different moments when the census was taken. Rather than discrediting the text, these minor variations attest to independent transmission and genuine ancient record-keeping practices. Such lists affirm the divine care in preserving not just a people, but a specific people rooted in particular families and places. The name Bethzur's recurring mention in earlier biblical texts (e.g., Joshua, Chronicles) confirms its ancient roots and continued importance even after the exile, signifying that the returning exiles sought to re-establish themselves in their ancestral lands.

Nehemiah 7 21 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:21 is a single data point in a vast register, yet its significance extends beyond a mere number. It speaks to the meticulous nature of God's work of restoration, executed through faithful human leaders like Nehemiah. The inclusion of "the men of Bethzur, ninety-two" highlights the administrative precision necessary for re-establishing a society rooted in God's covenant. This detailed census was vital for ensuring ethnic and religious purity, particularly concerning priestly lineages, for determining land allocation, and for mobilizing resources and manpower for Jerusalem's reconstruction and repopulation. Each entry, including this one, signifies that specific families and localities responded to God's call to return, playing a concrete part in the rebuilding of the covenant community. It underlines the concept of the faithful remnant, preserved and gathered by divine hand, providing a foundational identity for the restored people. This meticulousness served as a bulwark against assimilation and ensured the continuity of Israel's unique identity until the coming of the Messiah.