The Skeptics Annotated Bible (407 page)

15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.

16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.

18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

7
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.

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 an hundred seventy and two.

9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

(7.10-67) Here we find the same long, boring list that is given in the second chapter of Ezra. The only interesting thing about these two lists is that they directly contradict one another. For instance, Nehemiah 7.10 says that 652 children of Arah returned from captivity in Babylon, while Ezra 2.5 says that 775 of them returned. There are 15 similar contradictions between the two accounts.

10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.

(7.10)
“The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.”
268 How many children of Arah returned from Babylon?

11
The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.

(7.11)
“The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.”
269 How many children of Pahathmoab, Jeshua, and Joab?

12 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

13
The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five
.

(7.13)
“The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.”
270 How many children of Zattu?

14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

15
The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.

(7.15)
“The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.”
271 How many children of Binnui?

16
The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight
.

(7.16)
“The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.”
272 How many children of Bebai?

17
The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.

(7.17)
“The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.”
273 How many children of Azgad?

18
The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.

(7.18)
“The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.”
274 How many children of Adonikam?

19
The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.

(7.19)
“The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.”
275 How many of Bigvai’s offspring returned from Babylon?

20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.

(7.20)
“The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.”
276 How many children of Adin?

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.

(7.23)
“The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.”
277 How many children of Bezai?