Nehemiah 7:2-4

Contemporary English Version

² I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, because Hananiah could be trusted, and he respected God more than most people did. ³ I said to them, “Don't let the gates to the city be opened until the sun has been up for a while. And make sure that they are closed and barred before the guards go off duty at sunset. Choose people from Jerusalem to stand guard at different places around the wall and others to stand guard near their own houses.”

A List of Exiles Who Returned

(Ezra 2.1-70)

⁴ Although Jerusalem covered a large area, not many people lived there, and no new houses had been built.