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.
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.
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
In the Book of Nehemiah, which recounts the efforts to rebuild Jerusalem's walls and restore the Jewish community after the Babylonian exile, Chapter 7 provides a detailed census of the people who returned from captivity. This verse specifically lists the descendants of the gatekeepers, who played a vital role in ancient Israelite society by guarding the temple entrances and maintaining order and purity in worship. These genealogical records were essential for verifying lineage and ensuring that only those with rightful claims participated in religious duties during the community's rebuilding.
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