KJV ORIGINAL
The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, the descendants of Shobai—138 people in total.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse lists the families of temple gatekeepers who returned from exile, totaling 138 people who would guard and manage the temple gates.
📚 Historical Context
This is part of Nehemiah's census of the Jewish people who returned from Babylonian exile to rebuild Jerusalem around 445 BC. The gatekeepers were essential workers who controlled access to the temple, ensuring only authorized people could enter the sacred spaces and that temple activities ran smoothly.
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