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The success of one good design for God and our generation should encourage us to proceed and form some other; Nehemiah did so, having fortified Jerusalem with gates and walls, his next care is, I. To see the city well kept, Ne 7:1-4. II. To see it well peopled, in order to which he here reviews and calls over the register of the children of the captivity, the families that returned at first, and records it, Ne 7:5-73. It is the same, in effect, with that which we had, Ezr 2:1-62 What use he made of it we shall find afterwards, when he brought one of ten to live in Jerusalem, Ne 11:1.
1-4
The Completion of the Wall (445 BC)
简体中文
城墙的竣工（主前445年）
¹ 城墙既已修造，我安了门扇，又立了守门的、歌唱的、利未人。
² 我就派我的弟兄哈拿尼，和营楼的宰哈拿尼雅，管理耶路撒冷；因为他是忠信的人，又敬畏 神，胜过众人。
³ 我对他们说：等到太阳热的时候，才可开耶路撒冷的城门；他们还站岗的时候，就要关门上闩；又派耶路撒冷的居民各按班次守望，各人对着自己的房屋。
⁴ 城是广大，其中的民却稀少，房屋也没有建造。
神论他的教会说（赛62:6）："耶路撒冷啊，我在你城上设立守望的！"此处正是尼希米所留意的事；因为死的城墙，若无活的守望者，对一个城不过是软弱的保障。
I. 他指派"守门的、歌唱的、利未人"各就各位、各尽其职。这是指他们一般的事工，即侍奉圣殿之事；这工作曾被忽略，如今又复兴了。 神的敬拜是一个地方的保护；他的仆人若忠于职守，便是城墙上的守望者。或者特别而言，他命他们预备好，等城墙奉献之时，可以按着秩序与庄重行这礼仪；而这奉献就是城墙的力量。凡奉献归给 神的，必与我们有益。
II. 他指派了两位省长或执政官，将看顾全城之责交托他们，又吩咐他们照管公众的平安与安全。一位是他的弟兄哈拿尼——就是当初将耶路撒冷荒凉消息报给他的人——他是一位经过考验、对祖国有忠心与热忱的人；另一位是哈拿尼雅，他曾任营楼之宰：因为那在小事上显为忠心的，必蒙托以更大的事。论到这位哈拿尼雅，经上说他是个"忠信的人，又敬畏 神，胜过众人"（尼7:2）。请注意：1. 在那些真实敬畏 神的人中，有些人敬畏他更甚，并在敬畏的表样与实行上超过别人；他们配得那应当归给"敬畏耶和华之人"之尊荣的加倍分量（诗15:4）。耶路撒冷中敬畏 神的固然不少，但这位好人比谁都更以宗教与敬虔著称。2. 凡敬畏 神的人，必须以"对众人都忠信"并"凡事凭良心而行"来表明这事。3. 当治 神的耶路撒冷、并有权看顾它的人，正是那些在德行上出众、并在敬虔与诚实上都卓越的人——那时耶路撒冷便有兴盛的指望。有人推测，尼希米此时正要返回波斯朝廷、更新他的任命，所以他将城中事务交托这两位贤人，在自己不在之时照管。好的官长，当他们不能亲自行事之时或之地，必须非常留心自己所委派的是谁。
III. 他又对关门与守城之事下了命令（尼7:3,4）。请看：1. 当日耶路撒冷的光景如何。论城之周围，原是广大宽阔。城墙所围之地与从前相同；但其中大半仍荒凉，因为房屋尚未建造——至少与从前相比，所建甚少；所以尼希米是凭信心建造这城，并眼目仰望 神近日借先知所应许这城复兴之事（亚8:3-8等）。虽然百姓此时稀少，他却相信他们必增多，所以建造城墙，为他们预备地方；他若不依靠这应许，恐怕要以为"城无城墙"是羞辱，"城墙无城"也是羞辱。2. 尼希米为这城作了何等挂虑。他吩咐城中的官长：（1）亲自站在旁边，看城门每夜关好上闩；因为他们若疏忽城门，城墙便是徒然。（2）留心早晨不可开门，直到看见一切都平静稳妥。（3）在城墙上或其他合适距离之处设立哨兵，一旦敌人临近，便可及时向全城通报危险；他们当按着轮班的次序，"对着自己的房屋"布岗；因为人对自己家中之事大概会格外留心。公众的安全，全靠各人对自己和家人防备罪——这共同的仇敌——所下的特别工夫。守望本是各人的利益所在，但许多人并不明白自己的利益；因此指派守望便成为官长的本分。再者，正如这百姓在建城之时经历过 神与他们同在（否则他们便是徒然建造），照样如今城墙既已建成，他们无疑也深觉："若不是耶和华看守城池，看守的人就枉然儆醒"（诗127:1）。
英文原文
The Completion of the Wall (445 BC)
¹ Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,
² That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
³ And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.
⁴ Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.
God saith concerning his church (Isa 62:6), I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem! This is Nehemiah's care here; for dead walls, without living watchmen, are but a poor defence to a city.
I. He appointed the porters, singers, and Levites, in their places to their work. This is meant of their work in general, which was to attend the temple service; it had been neglected in some degree, but now was revived. God's worship is the defence of a place, and his ministers, when they mind their duty, are watchmen on the walls. Or, in particular, he ordered them to be ready against the wall was to be dedicated, that they might perform that service in an orderly and solemn manner; and the dedication of it was its strength. That is likely to be beneficial to us which is devoted to God.
II. He appointed two governors or consuls, to whom he committed the care of the city, and gave them in charge to provide for the public peace and safety. Hanani, his brother, who came to him with the tidings of the desolations of Jerusalem, was one, a man of approved integrity and affection to his country; the other was Hananiah, who had been ruler of the palace: for he that has approved himself faithful in less shall be entrusted with more. Of this Hananiah it is said that he was a faithful man and one that feared God above many, Ne 7:2. Note, 1. Among those who fear God truly there are some who fear him greatly, and excel others in the expressions and instances of that fear; and they are worthy a double portion of that honour which is due to those that fear the Lord, Ps 15:4. There were many in Jerusalem that feared God, but this good man was more eminent for religion and serious godliness than any. 2. Those that fear God must evidence it by their being faithful to all men and universally conscientious. 3. God's Jerusalem is then likely to flourish when those rule in it, and have charge of it, who excel in virtue, and are eminent both for godliness and honesty. It is supposed, by some, that Nehemiah was now about to return to the Persian court to have his commission renewed, and that he left these two worthy men in charge with the affairs of the city in his absence. Good governors, when and where they cannot act themselves, must be very careful whom they depute.
III. He gave orders about the shutting of the gates and the guarding of the walls, Ne 7:3,4. See here, 1. What the present state of Jerusalem was. The city, in compass, was large and great. The walls enclosed the same ground as formerly; but much of it lay waste, for the houses were not built, few at least in comparison with what had been; so that Nehemiah walled the city in faith, and with an eye to that promise of the replenishing of it which God had lately made by the prophet, Zec 8:3-8, etc. Though the people were now few, he believed they would be multiplied, and therefore built the walls so as to make room for them; had he not depended upon this he might have thought walls without a city as great a reproach as a city without walls. 2. What was the care of Nehemiah for it. He ordered the rulers of the city themselves, (1.) To stand by, and see the city-gates shut up and barred every night; for in vain had they a wall if they were careless of their gates. (2.) To take care that they should not be opened in the morning till they could see that all was clear and quiet. (3.) To set sentinels upon the walls, or elsewhere, at convenient distances, who should, in case of the approach of the enemy, give timely notice to the city of the danger; and, as it came to their turn to watch, they must post themselves over against their own houses, because of them, it might be presumed, they would be in a particular manner careful. The public safety depends upon every one's particular care to guard himself and his own family against sin, that common enemy. It is every one's interest to watch, but many understand not their own interest; it is therefore incumbent upon magistrates to appoint watches. And as this people had lately found God with them in their building (else they would have built in vain), so now that the wall was built, no doubt, they were made sensible that except the Lord kept the city the watchman waked but in vain, Ps 127:1.
5-73
The Register of the Captives (445 BC)
简体中文
被掳归回者的名册（公元前445年）
⁵ 我的神感动我心，招聚贵胄、官长和百姓，要照家谱计算。我寻得初次上来之人的家谱册子，其上写着： ⁶ 这些是那地从被掳之地逃回之省民的书念人，就是巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒所掳去的；现今回到耶路撒冷和犹大，各归本城； ⁷ 他们是和所罗巴伯、耶书亚、尼希米、亚撒利雅、拉米、拿哈抹尼、末底改、必珊、米斯毗列、比革瓦伊、尼宏、巴拿同来的。我说以色列民的人数乃是这样： ⁸ 巴录的子孙二千一百七十二名； ⁹ 示法提雅的子孙三百七十二名； ¹⁰ 亚拉的子孙六百五十二名； ¹¹ 巴哈摩押，就是耶书亚和约押的子孙，二千八百一十八名； ¹² 以拦的子孙一千二百五十四名； ¹³ 萨土的子孙八百四十五名； ¹⁴ 萨改的子孙七百六十名； ¹⁵ 宾内六百四十八名； ¹⁶ 比拜六百二十八名； ¹⁷ 押甲二千三百二十二名； ¹⁸ 亚多尼干六百六十七名； ¹⁹ 比革瓦伊二千零六十七名； ²⁰ 亚丁六百五十五名； ²¹ 希幔家亚特的子孙九十八名； ²² 哈顺的子孙三百二十八名； ²³ 比赛三百二十四名； ²⁴ 哈列一百一十二名； ²⁵ 基遍人九十五名； ²⁶ 伯利恒人和尼陀法人共一百八十八名； ²⁷ 亚拿突人一百二十八名； ²⁸ 伯亚斯玛弗人四十二名； ²⁹ 基列耶琳、基非拉、比录人共七百四十三名； ³⁰ 拉玛和迦巴人共六百二十一名； ³¹ 密抹人一百二十二名； ³² 伯特利和艾人共一百二十三名； ³³ 其余尼波人五十二名； ³⁴ 其余以拦的子孙一千二百五十四名； ³⁵ 哈琳的子孙三百二十名； ³⁶ 耶利哥的子孙三百四十五名； ³⁷ 罗德、哈第、阿挪人共七百二十一名； ³⁸ 西拿的子孙三千九百三十名。 ³⁹ 祭司：耶书亚家耶大雅的子孙九百七十三名； ⁴⁰ 音麦的子孙一千零五十二名； ⁴¹ 巴施户珥的子孙一千二百四十七名； ⁴² 哈琳一千零一十七名。 ⁴³ 利未人：何达威的子孙耶书亚、甲篾的子孙七十四名。 ⁴⁴ 歌唱的：亚萨的子孙一百四十八名。 ⁴⁵ 守门的：沙龙、亚特、达们、亚谷、哈提大、朔拜子孙共一百三十八名。 ⁴⁶ 尼提宁：西哈、哈苏巴、答巴俄的子孙， ⁴⁷ 基绿、西亚、巴顿的子孙， ⁴⁸ 利巴拿、哈迦巴、沙龙的子孙， ⁴⁹ 哈难、吉德、迦哈的子孙， ⁵⁰ 利雅雅、利汛、尼哥大的子孙， ⁵¹ 迦散、乌撒、巴西雅的子孙， ⁵² 比赛、米乌宁、尼普心西的子孙， ⁵³ 巴卜、哈古巴、哈忽的子孙， ⁵⁴ 巴洗律、米希大、哈沙的子孙， ⁵⁵ 巴柯、西西拉、他玛的子孙， ⁵⁶ 尼细亚、哈提法的子孙。 ⁵⁷ 所罗门仆人的后裔：琐太、琐斐列、比利大的子孙， ⁵⁸ 雅拉、达昆、吉德的子孙， ⁵⁹ 示法提雅、哈递、洗扁的波契列、亚们的子孙。 ⁶⁰ 尼提宁和所罗门仆人的后裔共三百九十二名。 ⁶¹ 以下也是从特米拉、特哈拉萨、基绿、亚顿、音麦上来，却不能指明他们的宗族谱系，不知是否出于以色列； ⁶² 第莱雅、多比雅、尼哥大的子孙六百四十二名。 ⁶³ 祭司中：哈巴雅、括巴、巴西莱的子孙；巴西莱因娶了基列人巴西莱的一个女儿为妻，就按他们的名字称呼。 ⁶⁴ 这些人在家谱之中寻找自己的名册，却寻不着，因此算为不洁，不准供祭司的职任。 ⁶⁵ 省长对他们说：不可吃至圣之物，直到有带着乌陵和土明的祭司兴起来。 ⁶⁶ 会众共有四万二千三百六十名； ⁶⁷ 此外，还有他们的仆婢七千三百三十七名，又有歌唱的男女二百四十五名。 ⁶⁸ 他们的马七百三十六匹，骡子二百四十五匹； ⁶⁹ 骆驼四百三十五只，驴六千七百二十匹。 ⁷⁰ 有些族长捐输工程。省长捐入库中金子一千达利克，盘子五十个，祭司的礼服五百三十件。 ⁷¹ 又有族长捐入工程的府库，金子二万达利克，银子二千二百弥拿。 ⁷² 其余百姓所捐的是*：金子二万达利克，银子二千弥拿，祭司的礼服六十七件。 ⁷³ 于是祭司、利未人、守门的、歌唱的、部分民众、尼提宁，并一切以色列人，都住在自己的城里。到了七月，以色列人各*在自己的城里。
此处是尼希米所筹画的又一善举；因为智慧热心之人，总要为神的荣耀和他教会的造就，筹划这等那等的事。他深知，在神的护佑下，一座城的安全，更赖于居民的数目与勇敢，过于城墙的高大坚固；因此他见城内居民稀少，便认为当统计百姓，好查明哪些家族从前在耶路撒冷定居，如今却迁居乡间，可以将他们请回；又查明哪些家族可因宗教或因事业而被吸引，来重建耶路撒冷的房屋并居住其中。我们实在少有理由盼望独居于地上，甚至独居耶路撒冷；因为我们的安全与舒适，多赖邻舍与朋友；人越多则越强，人越多则越乐。治国者的智慧，在于使城邑与乡间保持均衡：京畿不可奢华庞大到耗损乡间，也不可孱弱到不能护卫乡间。当注意，
I. 尼希米这善念从何而来。他自承：我的神感动我心（尼7:5）。当注意：我们心中无论有什么善念，无论是智慧的还是敬虔的，都当承认是从神而来。是他将它放在我们心里；因为各样美善的恩赐和全备的赏赐都是从上头来的。他赐知识，他赐恩典，一切都从他而出，所以一切都当归于他。凡出于人间智慧所作的，都当归功于神圣护理的指引；教导农夫运用判断力的（赛28:26），也教导政治家运用他的。
II. 他为推行此念采取了什么方法。
1. 他召集官长和百姓，要查明他们各家的现状——人数与力量，以及他们定居何处。大概他召集他们前来时，吩咐他们各从所属的城邑带来这样的报告。我想他们人数不多，这事不久即可办妥。
2. 他查阅了初次上来之人的家谱册子，将现今的报告与之对照；此处我们就有从以斯拉记第二章所重复的内容。这里的题名（尼7:6、7）与那里（拉2:1、2）相同：这些是那省的子孙云云。此处两次重复并记录：各族的名字与数目，以及他们为圣殿事工所献的礼物。这些记录的重复可向我们暗示：伟大的神乐意在他属灵的以色列民各人、各家、各样事奉上所得的喜悦，并他对他们特别的鉴察。他认识那些属他的人，全然认识他们，按名认识他们；他注目那被掳之子的名册，并照着他从亘古以来关于他们的旨意而行。
(1.) 此处是首先上来各族首领的记录（尼7:6-69）。关于此，[1.] 虽然今日看似用处不大，当时却大有用处，可将他们从前的光景与现今的光景两相比较。我们可以推想，此时他们已大大增多；但他们若追念起初微小的开始，借此为神在他们家族上的增多与建立而向他感恩，这就好了。这样他们的家谱也可得保全，各族的区别也可维持，直到弥赛亚来临，那时为他的缘故所保存的一切家谱都要终结，此后便是无穷无尽。但[2.] 这名册与以斯拉记的数目有许多差异。其中大多数确实相同，少数上下相差甚微（或一或二）；因此我不能像有些人那样认为，那是这些家族初来时的数目，而这是至少四十年之后（有人以为更久）的数目；因为我们不能设想这么多家族在这么长时间内数目几乎不变；所以其中差异，我们可设想或是抄写者的失误（数字极易出错），或是所据抄本的不同。又或一是他们从巴比伦与所罗巴伯起行时的记录，一是他们到达耶路撒冷时的记录。各处的总数都恰好相同，只是歌唱的男女一项，那里是二百，这里是二百四十五。这些人无关紧要，未必有严格的记录。
(2.) 此处是为神的工程所献礼物的记录（尼7:70-72等）。这与拉2:68、69差异颇大，是否指同一笔捐输尚有疑问；这里省长（即总督）率先捐输，那里并未提及他；那里所记单笔的总数超过这里各项的总和；然而很可能本是同一回事，只是那里依一份抄本，这里依另一份抄本；因为尼7:73、拉2:70、3:1在此与在彼完全相同。感谢神，我们的信心和盼望并不建立在人名数字、家谱年代等细微末节上，而是建立在律法与福音的大事上。凡为神的工程所献的，他公义不会忘记；甚至一杯凉水，因尊他而奉上的，也不会没有赏赐。
英文原文
The Register of the Captives (445 BC)
⁵ And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,
⁶ These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;
⁷ Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;
⁸ The children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred seventy and two.
⁹ The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
¹⁰ The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.
¹¹ The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.
¹² The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
¹³ The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.
¹⁴ The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
¹⁵ The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.
¹⁶ The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.
¹⁷ The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.
¹⁸ The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.
¹⁹ The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.
²⁰ The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.
²¹ The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
²² The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.
²³ The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.
²⁴ The children of Hariph, a hundred and twelve.
²⁵ The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.
²⁶ The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, a hundred fourscore and eight.
²⁷ The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight.
²⁸ The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and two.
²⁹ The men of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.
³⁰ The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.
³¹ The men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty and two.
³² The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hundred twenty and three.
³³ The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.
³⁴ The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
³⁵ The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
³⁶ The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
³⁷ The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.
³⁸ The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
³⁹ The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
⁴⁰ The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
⁴¹ The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
⁴² The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
⁴³ The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.
⁴⁴ The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred forty and eight.
⁴⁵ The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred thirty and eight.
⁴⁶ The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
⁴⁷ The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
⁴⁸ The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,
⁴⁹ The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
⁵⁰ The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
⁵¹ The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,
⁵² The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,
⁵³ The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
⁵⁴ The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
⁵⁵ The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,
⁵⁶ The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
⁵⁷ The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
⁵⁸ The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
⁵⁹ The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.
⁶⁰ All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
⁶¹ And these were they which went up also from Tel-melah, Tel-haresha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not show their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.
⁶² The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.
⁶³ And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.
⁶⁴ These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
⁶⁵ And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.
⁶⁶ The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
⁶⁷ Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.
⁶⁸ Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:
⁶⁹ Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.
⁷⁰ And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.
⁷¹ And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.
⁷² And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments.
⁷³ 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.
We have here another good project of Nehemiah's; for wise and zealous men will be always contriving something or other for the glory of God and the edification of his church. He knew very well that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upon the number and valour of the inhabitants than upon the height or strength of its walls; and therefore, observing that the people were few that dwelt in it, he thought fit to take an account of the people, that he might find what families had formerly had their settlement in Jerusalem, but were now removed into the country, that he might bring them back, and what families could in any other way be influenced by their religion, or by their business, to come and rebuild the houses in Jerusalem and dwell in them. So little reason have we to wish that we may be placed alone in the earth, or in Jerusalem itself, that much of our safety and comfort depends upon our neighbours and friends; the more the stronger, the more the merrier. It is the wisdom of the governors of a nation to keep the balance even between the city and country, that the metropolis be not so extravagantly large as to drain and impoverish the country, nor yet so weak as not to be able to protect it. Now observe,
I. Whence this good design of Nehemiah's came. He owns, My God put it into my heart, Ne 7:5. Note, Whatever good motion is in our minds, either prudent or pious, we must acknowledge it to come from God. It was he that put it into our hearts; for every good gift and every good work are from above. He gives knowledge; he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all must be to him. What is done by human prudence must be ascribed to the direction of divine Providence; he that teaches the husbandman his discretion (Isa 28:26) teaches the statesman his.
II. What method he took in prosecution of it.
1. He called the rulers together, and the people, that he might have an account of the present state of their families—their number and strength, and where they were settled. It is probable that when he summoned them to come together he ordered them to bring such an account along with them out of their several districts. And I doubt they were not so many but that it might be soon done.
2. He reviewed the old register of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and compared the present accounts with that; and here we have the repetition of that out of Ezra 2. The title is the same here (Ne 7:6,7) as there (Ne 7:1,2): These are the children of the province, etc. Two things are here repeated and recorded a second time from thence—the names and numbers of their several families, and their oblations to the service of the temple. The repetition of these accounts may intimate to us the delight which the great God is pleased to take in the persons, families, and services of his spiritual Israel, and the particular notice he takes of them. He knows those that are his, knows them all, knows them by name, has his eye on the register of those children of the captivity, and does all according to the ancient counsel of his will concerning them.
(1.) Here is an account of the heads of the several families that first came up, Ne 7:6-69. As to this, [1.] Though it seem of little use to us now, yet then it was of great use, to compare what they had been with what they now were. We may suppose they were much increased by this time; but it would do well for them to remember their small beginnings, that they might acknowledge God in multiplying their families and building them up. By this means likewise their genealogies would be preserved, and the distinction of their families kept up, till the Messiah should come, and then an end be put to all their genealogies, which were preserved for his sake, but afterwards were endless. But, [2.] There are many differences in the numbers between this catalogue and that in Ezra. Most of them indeed are exactly the same, and some others within a very few under or over (one or two perhaps); and therefore I cannot think, as some do, that that was the number of these families at their first coming and this as they were now, which was at least forty years after (some make it much more); for we cannot suppose so many families to be not at all, or but little, altered in their numbers in all that time; therefore what differences there are we may suppose to arise either from the mistakes of transcribers, which easily happen in numbers, or from the diversity of the copies from which they were taken. Or perhaps one was the account of them when they set out from Babylon with Zerubbabel, the other when they came to Jerusalem. The sum totals are all just the same there and here, except of the singing-men and singing-women, which there are 200, here 245. These were not of such importance as that they should keep any strict account of them.
(2.) Here is an account of the offerings which were given towards the work of God, Ne 7:70-72, etc. This differs much from that in Ezr 2:68,69, and it may be questioned whether it refers to the same contribution; here the tirshatha, or chief governor, who there was not mentioned, begins the offering; and the single sum mentioned there exceeds all those here put together; yet it is probable that it was the same, but that followed one copy of the lists, this another; for the Ne 7:73, Ezr 2:70,3:1 is the same here that it was Ne 7:73, Ezr 2:70,3:1. Blessed be God that our faith and hope are not built upon the niceties of names and numbers, genealogy and chronology, but on the great things of the law and gospel. Whatever is given to the work of God, he is not unrighteous to forget it; nor shall even a cup of cold water, wherewith he is honoured, go without its reward.
为神并为我们的世代而作的善谋一旦成功，就当激励我们继续筹划别的事工；尼希米正是如此。他既已用城门和城墙巩固了耶路撒冷，接下来的关切便是：I. 使城邑妥善守护（尼 7:1-4）。II. 使城邑人口充实；为此，他在本章复查并宣点了被掳归回之人的名册——即最初归回的各家族，并将其记录在案（尼 7:5-73）。这份名册实质上与我们所读到的（拉 2:1-62）相同。他如何使用这份名册，我们将在后文看见，即当他使每十人中有一人居住在耶路撒冷之时（尼 11:1）。