Nehemiah 7 73

Nehemiah 7:73 kjv

So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Nehemiah 7:73 nkjv

So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the Nethinim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities. When the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Nehemiah 7:73 niv

The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,

Nehemiah 7:73 esv

So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns. And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns.

Nehemiah 7:73 nlt

So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Temple servants, and some of the common people settled near Jerusalem. The rest of the people returned to their own towns throughout Israel. Ezra Reads the Law
In October, when the Israelites had settled in their towns,

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 73 Meaning

This verse marks a significant transition point in the post-exilic restoration, signifying the successful initial settlement of the returned Jewish community. After the meticulous genealogical registration in the preceding verses, it describes various groups—the religious functionaries (priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants) and the general populace—taking up residence in their ancestral towns. The repetition of "all Israel lived in their towns" with the specific mention of the "seventh month" strongly anticipates the momentous spiritual events and covenant renewal detailed in the subsequent chapters, particularly the reading of the Law and the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. It indicates a restoration of order and a preparatory phase for national spiritual revival, affirming God's faithfulness in bringing His people back to their land.

Nehemiah 7 73 Context

This verse concludes Nehemiah Chapter 7, which largely repeats the genealogical register of those who returned from Babylonian exile, originally recorded in Ezra 2. Its primary function is to authenticate the people's lineage, enabling them to reclaim their rightful places and inheritance in Judah and Jerusalem, particularly those entitled to priestly or Levite service. Chapter 7 is strategically placed after Nehemiah's rebuilding of the wall, emphasizing that the physical restoration of the city must be accompanied by the spiritual and social re-establishment of the community. Verse 73, specifically, summarizes the immediate outcome of this registration: the diverse groups within the repatriated community, including the specialized temple personnel and the general populace, settled into their towns, signifying an ordered return to daily life. Crucially, the mention of "the seventh month" acts as a transition and a powerful literary device, setting the stage for the dramatic spiritual revival described in Nehemiah Chapter 8, where the Law is read, and major feasts, notably the Feast of Tabernacles, are joyously celebrated. This verse underscores the stability and preparation achieved before the ensuing national repentance and renewed covenant commitment.

Nehemiah 7 73 Word analysis

• So: (וַיֵּשְׁבוּ - va•yê•še•ḇū) The initial conjunction connects the preceding meticulous census to its outcome, indicating the successful re-establishment of the community.
• the priests: (הַכֹּהֲנִים - hak•kō•hă•nîm) A divinely appointed group central to worship, their return to towns signals the re-institution of temple service and religious order.
• the Levites: (הַלְוִיִּם - hal•wî•yim) Responsible for assisting priests and various temple duties, their presence ensures the systematic organization of sacred service.
• the gatekeepers: (הַשֹּׁעֲרִים - haš•šō•‘ă•rîm) Specific Levites safeguarding Temple access and maintaining order; their role signifies the restored sanctity and security of God's house.
• the singers: (הַמְשֹׁרְרִים - ham•šō•rĕ•rîm) Levites leading Temple praise through music; their return marks the re-establishment of corporate worship and celebratory joy.
• some of the people: (וּמִן הָעָם - ū•min hā•‘ām) Refers to the general lay Israelites, confirming that the restoration encompassed all societal strata, not just the religious specialists.
• the temple servants: (הַנְּתִינִים - han•nə•ṯî•nîm) (Netinim) Non-Israelite servants dedicated to temple maintenance and menial tasks; their inclusion points to the comprehensive re-establishment of all temple support roles.
• and all Israel: (וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל - wə•ḵāl-yiś•rā•’ēl) A broad designation highlighting the unity and corporate identity of the returned remnant; it emphasizes that the entire covenant community was settling.
• lived in their towns: (יָשְׁבוּ בְעָרֵיהֶם - yā•šə•ḇū ḇə•‘ā•rê•hem) Signifies achieved stability, security, and restoration of ancestral dwelling places, a fulfillment of divine promise after exile.
• And when the seventh month came: (וּבַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי - ū•ḇachō•ḏeš haš•šə•ḇî•‘î) This specific chronological detail is crucial. The seventh month (Tishrei) held key feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles), acting as a profound prelude to the spiritual events of Nehemiah 8.
• the people of Israel were in their towns: (בְּעָרֵיהֶם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - bə•‘ā•rê•hem bə•nê yiś•rā•’ēl) A reiteration emphasizing the thoroughness and completion of their settlement, signaling readiness for renewed corporate covenant living and worship.

Nehemiah 7 73 Bonus section

• Typological Significance: The return from Babylonian exile and subsequent re-settlement in the land functions as a type, foreshadowing broader spiritual restoration, echoing Israel's entry into Canaan, and ultimately pointing towards the New Covenant and the eternal dwelling of God with His redeemed people in the new creation (Rev 21-22).
• Historical Accuracy and Purpose: The detailed genealogical lists in Neh 7 (and Ezr 2) highlight the deep concern within the post-exilic community for continuity of identity and tribal integrity. Such meticulous records were crucial for authenticating claims to ancestral land and legitimate priestly/Levitical lineage.
• Community Unity: Despite itemizing different societal and occupational groups, the verse consistently refers to "all Israel," underscoring the overarching unity and corporate identity of the returned people. This points to a cohesive society prepared for shared worship and national endeavor.
• Anticipation of God's Word: The precise dating ("when the seventh month came") immediately prior to the events of Nehemiah 8 serves as a strong literary device, creating anticipation. It signifies that physical re-establishment, while important, sets the stage for the paramount necessity of spiritual re-engagement with God's Word.
• Echo of Mosaic Principles: The re-settlement in their towns and the meticulous organization reflect an adherence to the foundational principles of the Mosaic Law, which mandated land inheritance and defined the roles of various groups within the covenant community. This was part of a larger effort to live by the Torah.

Nehemiah 7 73 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:73 serves as a conclusive summary for the painstaking genealogical register preceding it, signifying the orderly re-establishment of the post-exilic community in Judah. This meticulous documentation and subsequent settlement are acts of divine providence, restoring stability to the repatriated remnant. The explicit mention of various social and religious classes, from priests to temple servants, underscores the comprehensive nature of this re-organization, affirming that every part of Israel's divinely ordained structure was being restored. More profoundly, the repetition "lived in their towns" reinforces the idea of covenant faithfulness—God bringing His people back to their promised inheritance after a period of discipline. The pivotal detail, "when the seventh month came," transforms this verse from a mere historical note into a profound theological prelude. The seventh month was sacred, marked by the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and particularly the Feast of Tabernacles. This chronological anchor directly anticipates the spiritual awakening in Nehemiah 8, where the Law is read, and the covenant is renewed, revealing that the physical restoration was merely preparatory for a greater spiritual revival. The verse thus subtly yet powerfully declares God's sovereignty over both physical resettlement and the impending spiritual transformation, highlighting a time of preparation and expectation for corporate worship and adherence to God's commandments.

• Example: Just as a family diligently unpacks after moving into a new home, getting everything in order and in its place, before inviting guests for a major celebratory gathering.
• Example: A church rebuilding its structure after a crisis, ensuring every ministry position is filled and organized, preparing the way for a unified spiritual revival and recommitment.