Sunday, October 8, 2023

So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families

 Nehemiah 7:1-73

After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”

Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:

The whole company numbered 42,360, besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 245 male and female singers. There were 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

Why?

The city was large but few people stayed in it so Nehemiah asked nobles, and other officials to register families. To write the record of these people who were involved in this mission and return back to Jerusalem.

How?

What I can do is nothing but if I can sense what the Holy Spirit shows me the way to do.


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