Nehemiah 7 62

Nehemiah 7:62 kjv

The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.

Nehemiah 7:62 nkjv

the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two;

Nehemiah 7:62 niv

the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda ? 642

Nehemiah 7:62 esv

the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642.

Nehemiah 7:62 nlt

This group included the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda ? a total of 642 people.

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 62 Meaning

Nehemiah 7:62 states that a specific group of returnees from Babylonian exile – those from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer – were unable to substantiate their claims of priestly descent or even their broader identity as Israelites by tracing their patriarchal family lines. This failure to provide verifiable genealogical records resulted in them being disqualified from serving in the sacred office of the priesthood, underscoring the strict requirements for temple service.

Nehemiah 7 62 Context

Nehemiah 7 details the list of returnees from the Babylonian exile who came back to Judah, mirroring Ezra 2. This chapter begins after Nehemiah successfully rebuilds the wall of Jerusalem and establishes governance. Nehemiah's purpose in recounting these genealogies (Neh 7:5) is to re-establish the covenant community, not just physically in the city, but also spiritually by identifying who belongs and who qualifies for various roles, especially the priesthood. The historical context is post-exilic Judah, where the community is attempting to re-establish its identity according to the Mosaic Law after a period of displacement and potential intermarriage. Accurate genealogies were crucial for land distribution, tribal identity, and especially for maintaining the purity and validity of the Levitical and Aaronic priesthood, as only those of direct patrilineal descent from Aaron could serve. Verse 62 specifically highlights a group whose lack of verifiable lineage posed a serious challenge to their priestly claims, underscoring the strict adherence to Mosaic law concerning holy service.

Nehemiah 7 62 Word analysis

• These (אֵ֫לֶּה, 'elleh): A demonstrative pronoun, referring to the preceding group of people listed in the prior verses of this chapter (specifically, verses 61, identifying the communities they came from). It signifies a particular category or collection of individuals within the larger assembly of returnees.
• were those who came up (הֵ֚מָּה הָעֹלִ֣ים, hemmah ha'olim): Literally, "they (are) the ones going up." The verb 'alah (עלֹה) means "to go up," signifying their ascent from Babylon back to Jerusalem, geographically and metaphorically an elevation to the holy land. This phrase highlights their status as exiles returning to the Promised Land.
• from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: These are names of specific places, likely towns or districts in Babylonia where the exiled Jewish communities resided. Their inclusion points to their geographic origin during the exile, indicating that these groups returned collectively. Tel-melah (meaning "Mound of Salt") and Tel-harsha (meaning "Mound of the Woodsman") are known as Babylonian sites of Jewish settlement.
• but they could not prove (וְלֹא יָכְל֥וּ הַגִּיעַ, wəlo yakle higgia):
  • wəlo: "and not," signifying a negation of ability.
  • yakle (יָכְלוּ): From yakol (יָכוֹל), "to be able," "to have power," indicating their incapacity or inability.
  • higgia (הַגִּיעַ): The Hifil infinitive construct of nagia' (נָגַע), which typically means "to touch" or "to reach." In this context, it takes on a causative sense, meaning "to make to arrive," "to bring forward," "to produce," or "to establish." Here, it signifies their failure to bring forward or establish verifiable proof. This points to a legal or administrative requirement.
• their father’s houses (בֵית־אֲבוֹתָ֗ם, beit-'avotam): Literally "house of their fathers." This refers to the patriarchal lineage or extended family unit, which formed the basic socio-religious structure of Israelite society. Tracing one's "father's house" was crucial for establishing tribal affiliation, land rights, and especially for hereditary offices like the priesthood.
• nor their descent (וְזַרְעָ֖ם, wəzar'am): Literally "and their seed." While "father's houses" refers to the broad patriarchal lineage, "descent" or "seed" (zera') refers more specifically to the line of offspring, the biological continuation of the family line, particularly emphasizing their genetic link to a priestly ancestor. The absence of verifiable "seed" indicated a broken or untraceable chain of generations.
• whether they were of Israel (אִם֙ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הֵ֔ם, 'im miyyiśrā'ēl hēm): Literally "if from Israel they (are)." This interrogative phrase points to a foundational identity check. Beyond priestly lineage, there was a question about their very claim to be part of the covenant people of Israel. This suggests potential mixed marriages during exile or lack of proper records due to the displacement. Being "of Israel" was a prerequisite for any status or privilege within the returned community.

• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "but they could not prove their father’s houses nor their descent whether they were of Israel": This collective phrase encapsulates the critical legal and religious dilemma faced by these individuals. It signifies a profound genealogical crisis where they could not demonstrate continuity with their ancestral heritage, whether generally as Israelites or specifically within priestly lines. This failure implies either lost records during the seventy-year exile, assimilation through intermarriage with non-Israelites, or potentially false claims. The emphasis is on tangible proof of lineage for identity and role, particularly for sacred service.

Nehemiah 7 62 Bonus section

• The Polemical Aspect: The rigorous vetting process for priests in Nehemiah, and the exclusion of those without proven lineage, serves as a direct polemic against syncretism or laxity in adherence to Mosaic law that might have developed during the exile. It stands against the idea that just anyone could assume a sacred office or that foreign elements could easily be absorbed without proper conversion or identification.
• Significance of Urim and Thummim: Though not mentioned in this specific verse, the very next verse (7:63) indicates that these disqualified priests would need to wait until a priest with Urim and Thummim could decide their status. The Urim and Thummim were a means of discerning God's will (likely by lots or some divine oracle), implying that human genealogical records were considered the primary means of verification, but divine confirmation was the ultimate court of appeal if records were insufficient. This highlights the desire for divine clarity and purity in sacred matters.
• Role of Genealogies: Genealogies were far more than historical records; they were central to Israel's national and religious identity, proving covenant status, tribal land rights, and legitimacy for priestly and royal lines. Their careful preservation and the gravity of their absence illustrate the deeply theological significance attributed to one's heritage in the biblical world.

Nehemiah 7 62 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:62 provides a succinct yet potent illustration of the meticulous attention to lineage and purity within the post-exilic Jewish community, particularly concerning the priesthood. The inability of this group to "prove their father’s houses nor their descent" meant they could not substantiate their claim to either be of unquestionable Israelite heritage or, more critically, of valid priestly lineage. This rigorous standard highlights that the office of the priesthood was not open to all; it was a sacred trust based on inherited sanctity and verifiable connection to Aaron, demanding absolute certainty of lineage. The concern wasn't merely social status but theological purity and adherence to divine law for conducting holy service in the re-established Temple. This disqualification protected the sanctity of worship and emphasized God's specific commands over human assertion, ensuring that only those divinely appointed (by birth, according to the Old Covenant) could mediate between God and His people. It served as a reminder that proper identity and conformity to divine standards were foundational to Israel's restoration.