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.
41-43. The total number of Israelites (twelve years old or older, not counting servants) — 42,360Male and female servants — 7,337Male and female musicians — 245Camels — 435Horses — 7,036Mules — 245Donkeys — 5,525
44. When the exiles arrived at the place of God's Temple in Jerusalem, some of the leaders of the clans took a vow to rebuild the Temple on its old site, to the best of their ability.
45. They promised to contribute for the rebuilding and the service of the Temple 500 kilogrammes of gold, 2.5 tonnes of silver, and 100 robes for priests.
46. The priests, the Levites, and some of the people settled in or near Jerusalem; the musicians and the Temple guards settled in nearby towns; and the rest of the Israelites settled in the towns where their ancestors had lived.
47. By the seventh month the people of Israel were all settled in their towns. Then they all assembled in the open square in front of the first gate on the east side of the Temple area.
48. Joshua son of Jehozadak, his fellow-priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, together with his relatives, prepared the altar of the God of Israel,
49. so that they could burn sacrifices on it according to the instructions written in the Law of Moses, the man of God.
50. Some of the local people, even though they were stronger than the Jews and opposed to them, joined them in rebuilding the altar where it had stood before. Then the Jews began once again to burn the regular morning and evening sacrifices on the altar.
51. They celebrated the Festival of Shelters, according to the regulations, each day offering the sacrifices required for that day.