Nehemiah 7:1-4

Census of First Returned Exiles

Now it happened when ^athe wall was rebuilt and I had made the doors to stand, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2 that I commanded ^aHanani my brother and ^bHananiah the commander of ^cthe fortress, to be over Jerusalem, for he was ^da faithful man and feared God more than many. 3 Then I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem must not be opened until the sun is hot; and until they are there standing guard, they must shut and bolt the doors. Also have guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem stand, each at his post, and each in front of his own house.” 4 Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not rebuilt.