Nehemiah 11:8 - After him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight.

Generated Verse: Nehemiah 11:8

What does "Nehemiah 11:8" mean?


This verse, "After him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight," from Nehemiah 11:8 is part of a listing of the leaders and their numbers who lived in Jerusalem after the return from the Babylonian exile. Let's break it down:

"After him": This refers to someone mentioned in the previous verse, usually a leader or individual associated with a specific group or clan. In this chapter, the verses are describing the leaders and their number of people who returned and resettled in Jerusalem.

"Gabbai": This is a personal name, likely the leader of a family, clan, or group.

"Sallai": This is another personal name, likely connected to Gabbai in some way, either as a close associate, family member, or co-leader.

"Nine hundred twenty-eight": This number likely represents the total number of men (probably of fighting age, i.e., eligible for military service) belonging to the group or family under the leadership of Gabbai and Sallai. The number might only count the male heads of household or, more generally, the men fit for military duty.

In short, this verse indicates that after the previously mentioned leader (from verse 7), Gabbai and Sallai were responsible for a group of 928 men who lived in Jerusalem.

Significance:

Demographic Information: The verse provides a glimpse into the demographic makeup of Jerusalem after the exile. It shows that there was a concerted effort to repopulate the city.
Leadership Structure: It hints at a hierarchical leadership structure, with different individuals responsible for specific groups or numbers of people.
Historical Record: The verse is a valuable historical record, even if it is somewhat terse and lacking in detail. It helps to reconstruct the social and organizational life of the returned exiles.
Genealogy: It gives clues about genealogy and clan structures, although not enough to reconstruct them fully.

These kinds of lists were important in the Old Testament as they served to establish lineage, ownership of land, and the roles of different people in the rebuilding of the community.

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