Nehemiah 7:21

Arabic 2018 (الترجمة الكاثوليكيّة (اليسوعيّة))

وبَنو آطيرَ لِحِزقِيَّا: ثَمانِيَةٌ وتِسْعون،

What Does This Mean?

Nehemiah 7:21 lists the number of people from the family of Ater, descendants of Hezekiah, who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. The verse states that there were ninety-eight of them. This is part of a larger list of people who returned and were accounted for.

Explained for Children

Imagine a big family reunion. In this case, Nehemiah is counting how many cousins, aunts, and uncles came back home after being away for a long time. The family of Ater, who came from Hezekiah's family, had ninety-eight people come back home.

Historical Background

Nehemiah, a Jewish leader, compiled this list of people returning to Jerusalem around 445 BC. The book of Nehemiah was written during the time when the Jews were rebuilding their city and temple after being exiled in Babylon. The audience was the returning Jewish community who needed to organize and rebuild their society.

Living It Out Today

In today's context, this verse reminds us of the importance of community and keeping track of those who are part of our group, especially when rebuilding or starting anew. For example, a community leader organizing a neighborhood rebuild after a disaster might find this practice useful.

Topics

• community
• rebuilding
• return from exile
• census
• genealogy
• leadership

Related Verses

• 1 Chronicles 9:16
• Ezra 2:16
• Nehemiah 11:17
• 1 Kings 4:2
• Matthew 1:8

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the number ninety-eight signify in Nehemiah 7:21?

The number ninety-eight signifies the number of people from the family of Ater who returned from exile. It helps in understanding the scale of the return and the size of the community.

Why are genealogical lists important in the book of Nehemiah?

Genealogical lists were crucial for establishing identity and lineage, especially for allocating duties and privileges within the community as they rebuilt their society after the exile.

How does this verse connect to the theme of rebuilding?

This verse is part of a larger list that helps understand the scale of the community rebuilding efforts. Knowing the number of people from each family helps in planning and organizing the rebuilding process.

What can we learn from Nehemiah's method of counting people?

We can learn the importance of organization and community involvement in rebuilding efforts. Counting people helps in resource allocation and ensures everyone plays a part in the rebuilding process.