Nehemiah 7:3-5

Expanded Bible

³ I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem should not be opened ·until [or while] the sun is hot [^Ceither don’t open until later in the day, or shut them at midday while people are resting from the heat]. ·While [Even while] the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut and bolt the doors. Appoint people who live in Jerusalem as guards, and put some at guard posts and some near their own houses.”

The Captives Who Returned

⁴ The city was large and ·roomy [spacious; spread out; ^Lwide of two hands], but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. ⁵ Then my God ·caused me [^Lput it in my heart/mind] to ·gather [assemble] the ·important people [nobles], ·leaders [officials], and the common people so I could ·register [enroll] them by ·families [genealogy]. I found the ·family history [genealogical records] of those who had returned first. This is what I found written there: