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,
My God put into mine heart to gather together ... The arrangement about to be described, though dictated by mere common prudence, is, in accordance with the pious feeling of Nehemiah, ascribed not to his own prudence of reflection, but to the grace of God prompting and directing him. He resolved to prepare a register of the returned exiles, containing an exact record of the family and ancestral abode of every individual, and while thus directing his attention, discovered a register of the first detachment who had come under the care of Zerubbabel. It is transcribed in the following verses, and is the same as that in Ezra 2:1-70, though it differs in some few particulars; but the discrepancy is sufficiently accounted for from the different circumstances in which the two registers were taken-that of Ezra having been made up at Babylon, while that of Nehemiah was drawn out in Judea, after the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt. The lapse of so many years might well be expected to make a difference appear in the catalogue, through death or other causes; thus Machish (Ezra 2:30) is omitted: perhaps, though entered into the register as intending to accompany the returning, he and his family changed their minds and remained in Babylon.
Other circumstances led to a difference between this register and that of Ezra-in particular, one person being, according to Jewish custom, called by different names. Thus, Hariph (Nehemiah 7:24) is the same as Jorah (Ezra 2:18); Sia (Nehemiah 7:47) the same as Siaha (Ezra 2:44), etc. On the subject of the variation of the names, and the difference as to numbers in this and the parallel passage of Ezra, see 'Dissertation' of Kennicott, vol. 2:, p. 508, which gives a minute comparison of texts as well as a very full and satisfactory explanation of all obscurities.
As to the difference of numbers, that is just what might have been expected: many who had resolved to take As to the difference of numbers, that is just what might have been expected: many who had resolved to take advantage of Cyrus' edict, and intimated their purpose to Ezra, drew back, and continued where they were; while on the other hand, great numbers, when the caravan was starting, unexpectedly joined their ranks and came to Jerusalem. Besides other purposes to which this genealogy of the nobles, rulers, and people was subservient, one leading object contemplated by it was to ascertain with accuracy the parties to whom the duty legally belonged of ministering at the altar and conducting the various services of the temple; and for guiding to exact information in this important point of inquiry, the possession of the old register of Zerubbabel was invaluable.