3. He sent them off to the music of drums and flutes, while all their fellow-Israelites danced for joy.
4. These are the names, by tribes, clans, and families, of the men who returned:
5. Among the priests, descendants of Phinehas son of Aaron, was Joshua, son of Jozadak and grandson of Seraiah. He was accompanied by Zerubbabel, who was the son of Shealtiel of the family of David, of the line of Perez, of the tribe of Judah.
6. He was the one who had spoken the wise words before Darius, emperor of Persia. They left Babylon in the second year of his reign in Nisan, the first month.
7. These are the Jewish men who returned from exile. Their families had been living in Babylonia since King Nebuchadnezzar had taken them there as prisoners.
8. They returned to Jerusalem and the rest of Judah, each to his own home town. Their leaders were Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Resaiah, Eneneus, Mordecai, Beelsarus, Aspharasus, Reeliah, Rehum, and Baanah.
9-17a. The following is a list of the clans of Israel, with the number of those from each clan who returned with their leaders from exile:Parosh — 2,172Shephatiah — 472Arah — 756Pahath Moab (descendants of Jeshua and Joab) — 2,812Elam — 1,254Zattu — 945Chorbe — 705Bani — 648Bebai — 623Azgad — 1,322Adonikam — 667Bigvai — 2,066Adin — 454Ater (also called Hezekiah) — 92Kilan and Azetas — 67Azaru — 432Annias — 101Arom — …Bezai — 323Arsiphurith — 112Baiterus — 3,005
17b-23. People whose ancestors had lived in the following towns also returned:Bethlehem — 123Netophah — 55Anathoth — 158Beth Azmaveth — 42Kiriath Jearim — 25Chephirah and Beeroth — 743The towns of the Chadiasans and the Ammidians — 422Ramah and Geba — 621Michmash — 122Bethel — 52Magbish — 156The other Elam and Ono — 725Jericho — 345Senaah — 3,330
24-25. The following is the list of the priestly clans that returned from exile:Jedaiah (descendants of Jeshua and Anasib) — 972Immer — 1,052Pashhur — 1,247Harim — 1,017
26-28. Clans of Levites who returned from exile:Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bannas, and Sudias — 74Temple musicians (descendants of Asaph) — 128Temple guards (descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai) — 139
29-32. Clans of Temple workmen who returned from exile:Esau, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,Keros, Siaha, Padon,Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,Uthai, Ketab, Hagab,Shamlai, Hanan, Cathua,Geddur, Jairus, Daisan,Noeba, Chaseba, Gazera,Uzza, Phinoe, Asara,Besai, Asnah, Meunim,Nephisim, Akub, Hakupha,Asur, Pharakim, Bazluth,Mehida, Cutha, Charea,Barkos, Sisera, Temah,Neziah, Hatipha
33-34. Clans of Solomon's servants who returned from exile:Hassophereth, Peruda, Jaalah,Lozon, Giddel, Shephatiah,Agia, Phochereth Hazzebaim,Sarothie, Masiah, Gas,Addus, Subas, Apherra,Barodis, Shaphat, Adlon
35. The total number of descendants of the Temple workmen and of Solomon's servants who returned from exile was 372.
36-37. There were 652 belonging to the clans of Delaiah (descendants of Tobiah) and Nekoda who returned from the towns of Tel Melah and Tel Harsha, with their leaders Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but these could not prove that they were descendants of the Israelites.
38-39. The following clans, who claimed to be priestly clans, could find no record to prove their ancestry: Habaiah, Hakkoz, Jaddus (the ancestor of the clan of Jaddus had married Agia, one of the daughters of Barzillai, and had taken the name of his father-in-law's clan). Since they were unable to prove who their ancestors were, they were not allowed to function as priests.
40. Nehemiah the governor told them that they could not eat the food offered to God until there was a High Priest who could use the Revelation and Truth.