Repetitions, Recommendations, Records, &

Revelation::NEHEMIAH 7
V1|| Doorkeepers/Singers/Levites These three designations show up repeatedly in this chapter (vss. 43,44,73), How,
and for what purpose, did these institutions start? (1 Chronicles 9). Why dont we have them in the present? (Rev 1:6)
//& Hanani (see 1:2&3) - Nehemiah puts his brother in a position if power. Is this nepotism?
//What are Nehemiahs criteria for Hananiah?
//Why is it so often that the children of Christian leaders get put in positions of authority?
V3|| Why so many precautions? Isnt the danger of attack past now that the wall is up? Wouldnt God protect them?
//How might this apply to our building of the kingdom, and building up ourselves and others? (1 Cor. 10:12; 1 Peter 5:8)
V4|| If you build itWas it a futile idea to restore a city that was nearly uninhabited? What might be a good reason to do
such a thing? (1Kings 11:36) What would the next step in Nehemiahs program be?
V5|| Nehemiah states that God is putting this idea in his heart. How does he know that this is God? (2 Sam 7:1-5 [or
2Chron 6:5-9]; John 3:6-8; Acts 16:14; Rom 8:14).
//Does this concept replace or conflict with the written Word? (Matt 4:1-4, see how the Lord Jesus responds to both.)
V6-69|| What significance does this document have for Nehemiahs purposes? This genealogical record Nehemiah lists is
from the first return that happened 100 years earlier led by Zerubbabel (see Ezra 2). How does Nehemiah say he got
these numbers? There are quite a few discrepancies between the numbers (and some names) in both of these sections,
and while their totals agree, the total arrived at from adding the numbers of each respective list doesnt.
EZRA 2
NEHEMIAH7
DIFFERENCE
5 the sons of Arah, 775
10 the sons of Arah, 652
123
6 the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812
11 the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818
6
8 the sons of Zattu, 945
13 the sons of Zattu, 845
100
10 the sons of Bani, 642
15 the sons of Binnui, 648
6
11 the sons of Bebai, 623
16 the sons of Bebai, 628
5
12 the sons of Azgad, 1,222
17 the sons of Azgad, 2,322
1,100
13 the sons of Adonikam, 666
18 the sons of Adonikam, 667
1
14 the sons of Bigvai, 2,056
19 the sons of Bigvai, 2,067
11
15 the sons of Adin, 454
20 the sons of Adin, 655
201
17 the sons of Bezai, 323
23 the sons of Bezai, 324
1
28 the men of Bethel and Ai, 223
32 the men of Bethel and Ai, 123
100
33 the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725
37 the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721
4
35 the sons of Senaah, 3,630.
38 the sons of Senaah, 3,930.
300
41 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128
44 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 148
20
42 The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of
45 The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of
1
Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the Talmon, the sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138
sons of Shobai, in all 139
59 and 60 list several names with one total of 652
61 and 62 numerous names with total of 642
10
65 besides their male and female servants, who numbered 7,337;
67 besides their male and their female servants, of whom there were
45 (singers)
and they had 200 singing men and women.
7,337; and they had 245 male and female singers.
Both Ezra 2:64 and Nehemiah 7:66 agree that the total for the whole congregation was 42,360, and yet disagree after the totals are added up, Ezra having
29,818 and Nehemiah 31,089

//This is a favorite passage of those who mock Scripture, because of the large degree of seeming discrepancies.
What explanation is there that accords with the inerrancy of the autographs of Scripture? (There are many proposals).
//Why do you suppose none of the copyists for about 1500 years saw fit to change these records to make them agree?
//Why did God give us the Scriptures? Why do we view them as authoritative? What are they and what do they principally
teach? Do these (apparent) discrepancies invalidate the function of the Scriptures? What sort of degree of accuracy is
required for the Scriptures to fulfil their function? Would it be excusable before God to approach the Scriptures with a
lower degree of respect or obedience if these were actual discrepancies dispersed through our current copies?
70-73|| Here Nehemiah lists a parallel action in the seventh month it is difficult to tell if this is taking place in Nehemiahs
day, or if it is a continuation of the record from 100 years ago, since the actions and circumstances are so similar. It is
obvious though that the parallel is noticed by Nehemiah. Is it right to repeat patterns from the past of the people of God?