Nehemiah 7 (WEB)

Jacob (Israel) — Jacob (Israel): Son of Isaac and Rebekah·1836 BC – 1689 BC

Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, born immediately after Esau, and Abraham was his grandfather. He achieved the right of the firstborn by trickery, in offering his older brother, Esau, food in exchange for the birthright, who cared little for this position. He also received the blessing of firstborn from his father Isaac before his death by cunning, and with the assistance of his mother Rebekah.

After his deception of Esau, receiving the blessing from his father, Jacob escaped to his uncle Laban, who in turn deceived Jacob into working for fourteen years for the marriage of Jacob to Leah, and then his beloved Rachel. Laban also sought to deceive Jacob of wages, but God intervened to ensure he would prosper. In a time of trial, when he feared the wrath of Esau, upon returning to the land of Canaan, Jacob had an encounter with God, and his name was changed to Israel, the one who wrestles with God. Even though his early life was characterized by deception, God worked through the situation to ensure that Jacob would be the one in the line of the patriarchs, to create a great nation and ultimately fulfill His purposes in the earth, especially through the future Messiah. The Messiah would guarantee the promise of the land to Abram and a person who would rule over Abraham's descendants, but also He would bring blessings to all the people of the earth (Gen 12:1-3).

In spite of Jacob's early failure by deception, God worked through him, and finally, Jacob became a different type of man after his struggle with God. As one has said,

"Despite Jacob’s faults, God chose him to be the leader of a great nation that still bears his name today. But for this, it is unlikely that we would know much about Jacob, who appears to be in the middle of events while the key players are those around him. There is no great wisdom or bravery in Jacob to speak of, and we are tempted to see him as little more than God’s passive instrument. If we are tempted to think that, because we aren’t in the spotlight performing great acts for God, we are unimportant to Him, then we should consider the life of Jacob and know that, in spite of our failings, God can and will still use us in His plan."

For more on Jacob, see "Who was Jacob in the Bible?", https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Jacob.html

Also called
Israel
Lived
1836 BC – 1689 BC (approximate)
Gender
Male
Died
Egypt
Appears in
Father Isaac
Mother Rebekah
Siblings Esau (Edom)
Person & place data: Theographic Bible Metadata by Robert Rouse (Viz.Bible), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nehemiah 7 (WEB)

1Now when the wall was built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2I put my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man and feared God above many. 3I said to them, “Don’t let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them; and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, with everyone near his house.”

4Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.

5My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be listed by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found this written in it:

6These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city, 7who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel:

8The children of Parosh: two thousand one hundred seventy-two.

9The children of Shephatiah: three hundred seventy-two.

10The children of Arah: six hundred fifty-two.

11The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab: two thousand eight hundred eighteen.

12The children of Elam: one thousand two hundred fifty-four.

13The children of Zattu: eight hundred forty-five.

14The children of Zaccai: seven hundred sixty.

15The children of Binnui: six hundred forty-eight.

16The children of Bebai: six hundred twenty-eight.

17The children of Azgad: two thousand three hundred twenty-two.

18The children of Adonikam: six hundred sixty-seven.

19The children of Bigvai: two thousand sixty-seven.

20The children of Adin: six hundred fifty-five.

21The children of Ater: of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.

22The children of Hashum: three hundred twenty-eight.

23The children of Bezai: three hundred twenty-four.

24The children of Hariph: one hundred twelve.

25The children of Gibeon: ninety-five.

26The men of Bethlehem and Netophah: one hundred eighty-eight.

27The men of Anathoth: one hundred twenty-eight.

28The men of Beth Azmaveth: forty-two.

29The men of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth: seven hundred forty-three.

30The men of Ramah and Geba: six hundred twenty-one.

31The men of Michmas: one hundred twenty-two.

32The men of Bethel and Ai: one hundred twenty-three.

33The men of the other Nebo: fifty-two.

34The children of the other Elam: one thousand two hundred fifty-four.

35The children of Harim: three hundred twenty.

36The children of Jericho: three hundred forty-five.

37The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: seven hundred twenty-one.

38The children of Senaah: three thousand nine hundred thirty.

39The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua: nine hundred seventy-three.

40The children of Immer: one thousand fifty-two.

41The children of Pashhur: one thousand two hundred forty-seven.

42The children of Harim: one thousand seventeen.

43The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah: seventy-four.

44The singers: the children of Asaph: one hundred forty-eight.

45The gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai: one hundred thirty-eight.

46The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 47the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, 48the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, 49the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, 50the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, 52the children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim, 53the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 54the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 55the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah, 56the children of Neziah, and the children of Hatipha.

57The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 58the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 59the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, and the children of Amon. 60All the temple servants and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred ninety-two.

61These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, nor their offspring, whether they were of Israel:

62The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda: six hundred forty-two.

63Of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.

64These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood. 65The governor told them not to eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim.

66The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, 67in addition to their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven. They had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women. 68Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; 69their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.

70Some from among the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests’ garments. 71Some of the heads of fathers’ households gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver. 72That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, plus two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests’ garments.

73So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel lived in their cities.

When the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Jacob (Israel)