What does Nehemiah 7:8 Mean?

Context Summary

It is probable that Nehemiah returned to the Persian court on the completion of the first part of his enterprise, the building of the walls, and that he left Hananiah and his brother in charge until he had been able to obtain a prolongation of his mission. Hananiah's character is very aptly described in Nehemiah 7:2. These are splendid characteristics-the fear of God and faithfulness, 1 Corinthians 4:2. Sound common sense, through which God wrought, dictated the policy of appointing each man to guard his own property, Nehemiah 7:3; Nehemiah 7:5. The extent of the city walls had evidently been marked out in faith, as directed in Zechariah 8:1-23. Registration seems to have engrossed much of the care of these returned exiles, and it was necessary, not only that each might inherit his ancestral property, but that the descent of our Lord might be easily traced to David. We ought to be very sure that we and our dear ones are included in God's register. We cannot lay claim to our inheritance, unless we are heirs through the new birth, Romans 8:16-17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 7

¹  Nehemiah commits the charge of Jerusalem to Hanani and Hananiah
⁵  A register of the genealogy of them which came at the first out of Babylon
⁹  of the people
³⁹  of the priests
⁴³  of the Levites
⁴⁶  of the Nethinims
⁵⁷  of Solomon's servants
⁶³  and of the priests which could not find their pedigree
⁶⁶  The whole number of them, with their substance
⁷⁰  Their offerings