Nehemiah 7:27

Arabic 2016 (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)

الرِّجَالُ مِنْ بَلْدَةِ عَنَاثُوثَ وَعَدَدُهُمْ مِئَةٌ وَثَمَانِيَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ.

What Does This Mean?

This verse lists the number of men from Anathoth, which is 128. Nehemiah is compiling a list of people returning from exile. The key message is about the accounting of individuals who are part of the returning community.

Explained for Children

Imagine you're in a classroom and your teacher is counting how many students from each neighborhood are here. It's like saying, 'From our neighborhood, we have 128 friends here today.' This helps everyone know who's part of the group.

Historical Background

Nehemiah, a book in the Old Testament, was written by Nehemiah himself around 445-420 BC. It details his efforts to rebuild Jerusalem and lists the people who returned from exile. The cultural setting is post-exile, where Jews are returning to their homeland after being exiled to Babylon.

Living It Out Today

In today's context, this can be seen as the importance of keeping records and recognizing each person's contribution to a community. For example, a community leader should know each member's name and contribution, fostering a sense of belonging and accountability.

Topics

• accountability
• community
• exile
• return
• people
• history

Related Verses

• Exodus 1:5
• Numbers 1:1-4
• Ezra 2:24
• Luke 2:3
• Acts 19:10

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Nehemiah listing people?

Nehemiah was ensuring that he knew who all the people were who had returned from exile, a practice common in organizing a returning community.

What was the importance of Anathoth?

Anathoth was likely significant as it was a place where some of the returning exiles originally came from, helping to trace lineage and heritage.

How does Nehemiah 7:27 relate to community?

It emphasizes the importance of knowing and accounting for each member of the community, fostering a sense of belonging and accountability.

What can we learn from the men of Anathoth?

The verse teaches us about the importance of maintaining records and recognizing each individual's contribution to the community.