Nehemiah 7:70-72 · Bible study
Nehemiah 7:70-72 Commentary: Generosity in Rebuilding
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study Nehemiah 7:70-72. Explore how the governor, family heads, and people gave generously for the temple work.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A record of generous giving by leaders and people for the temple work.
- Key words: daric (gold coin), mina (weight of silver), basins (temple vessels), priestly garments, Tirshatha (governor), work (rebuilding).
- Main debate: Whether these donations are from Nehemiah’s time or a copy of Zerubbabel’s register; textual differences with Ezra 2:69.
- Theological theme: Leadership example and communal generosity in restoring worship.
- Best use: Teaching on stewardship, leadership by example, and priorities for God’s house.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
70Some of the heads of the families contributed to the project. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments.
71And some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the project 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver.
72The rest of the people gave a total of 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priestly garments.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.
KJV King James Version 1769
70And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments.
71And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.
72And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests’ garments.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
70And some from among the heads of fathers’ houses gave unto the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments.
71And some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pounds of silver.
72And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and threescore and seven priests’ garments.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
70And from the extremity of the heads of the fathers they have given to the work; the Tirshatha hath given to the treasure, of gold, drams a thousand, bowls fifty, priests' coats thirty and five hundred.
71And of the heads of the fathers they have given to the treasure of the work, of gold, drams two myriads, and of silver, pounds two thousand and two hundred.
72And that which the rest of the people have given is of gold, drams two myriads, and of silver, pounds two thousand, and of priests coats, sixty and seven.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
70And some of the chief fathers gave to the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand darics of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' coats.
71And [some] of the chief fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver.
72And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven priests' coats.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
70And some of the heads of the families gave unto the work. Athersatha gave into the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty bowls, and five hundred and thirty garments for priests.
71And some of the heads of families gave to the treasure of the work, twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver.
72And that which the rest of the people gave, was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven garments for priests.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Nehemiah 7:70-72 records a moment of collective generosity for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple. The governor (Tirshatha) gave a substantial gift of gold, basins, and priestly garments. Then the heads of families contributed even larger amounts of gold and silver, followed by the rest of the people. This pattern of leadership setting the pace and the people responding is widely noted. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible observe the differences in totals compared with Ezra 2:69, suggesting possible textual variation or separate accounting. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown highlight that gifts of garments were culturally appropriate in the East. Gill and Matthew Henry emphasize the voluntary nature of the offerings and the priority placed on equipping temple worship. The consensus is that these verses demonstrate the importance of generous giving, especially from those in authority, to support the restoration of worship and the community.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Historical register view: The passage is a copy of Zerubbabel’s original list of donations, explaining the differences from Ezra 2:69 (Barnes, Cambridge Bible).
- Nehemiah’s contemporary view: The donations occurred in Nehemiah’s own administration, with the Tirshatha being Nehemiah himself (Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown).
What is clear: That the community gave generously for the work of God, with leaders setting an example, and that this act was recorded by Nehemiah as part of the restoration of Jerusalem.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the Tirshatha | Most agree Tirshatha refers to the Persian-appointed governor (Nehemiah or a predecessor). | Gill and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown identify the Tirshatha as Nehemiah himself; Barnes suggests the register citing this donation comes from Zerubbabel’s era, so the governor would be a different leader. |
| Consistency with Ezra 2:69 | Both passages record offerings for temple work within the list of returnees. | The totals for gold, silver, and garments differ substantially. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible say this likely reflects textual corruption or separate historical sources. |
| Purpose of the donations | The gifts were for ‘the work,’ meaning the rebuilding and furnishing of the temple. | Some specify the work as the temple only; others see it including the city walls and general restoration (Lange). The inclusion of priestly garments points to worship renewal. |
| Number of priestly garments | Priestly garments were necessary for temple service and were donated in significant numbers. | The MT records 530 garments in v.70; Cambridge suggests a possible corruption from ‘five hundred pound of silver and thirty priests’ garments’ (cf. Ezra 2:69). |
Historical & Cultural Context
These verses appear within the genealogical register that Nehemiah discovered after completing the wall (Nehemiah 7:5). The gold darics were Persian coins named after King Darius, each worth roughly a month’s wages. The silver mina (Hebrew maneh) was a weight of about sixty shekels. The basins (or bowls) were vessels for temple use, similar to those listed in Exodus 24:6 and 1 Kings 7:45. The priestly garments were essential for ministering in the temple; after decades in exile, such garments were scarce (Gill). The community numbered around 42,360 people, plus servants (v.66-67), so the gathered totals of gold, silver, and garments represent a significant collective gift.
The passage likely records offerings made earlier, under Zerubbabel, when the temple foundation was laid and the work resumed (Ezra 3-6). Barnes and the Cambridge Bible note that Nehemiah’s personal narrative resumes at v.73; thus v.70-72 may be a faithful copy of the earlier register. The gifts mirror the pattern in Exodus 35 and 1 Chronicles 29, where leaders gave first and the people followed with joyful hearts. Gill explains that the supply of priestly garments was especially needed because no new garments had been made during the exile. The specific listing of who gave what underscores the careful stewardship and shared responsibility for God’s house.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note two main textual variations. First, the Septuagint (Codex Alexandrinus) reads that the Tirshatha received gifts rather than gave them (Clarke). Second, the Septuagint also reads 2,300 minas of silver in v.71 instead of the MT’s 2,200. The Cambridge Bible suggests the number of priests’ garments (530) in v.70 may be a textual corruption of ‘500 pounds of silver and 30 priests’ garments’ based on comparison with Ezra 2:69. No other significant variants are mentioned in the supplied excerpts.
Reception History
Across church history, Nehemiah 7:70-72 has been read as a model of generous stewardship. In patristic and medieval interpretation, the specific gifts, gold, basins, and garments, were often seen as types of spiritual virtues or the furnishing of the soul. Reformers and later Protestant commentators focused on the principle of voluntary giving and the example set by leaders. The emphasis on priestly garments has been used in traditions that honor the distinct vestments for worship, while others draw the broader lesson of providing for the practical needs of ministry. The passage continues to be cited in teaching on church stewardship, especially the idea that generosity begins with those in authority and spreads to the whole community.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Leadership gives first and generously (v.70). The governor set the example before anyone else.
- Family heads and leaders give sacrificially (v.71). Their gifts exceeded the governor’s in total.
- The whole community gives together (v.72). Even those with less participated fully.
Five-point outline
- The governor’s gift of gold, basins, and garments establishes the tone of generous priority.
- The heads of families respond with even larger contributions of gold and silver.
- The rest of the people give according to their ability, completing the total.
- Every gift is specific and practical, meeting real needs for temple worship.
- This becomes a model of communal stewardship for a shared purpose.
Illustration hooks
- A church building campaign where the elders and pastor announce their pledges first, inspiring the congregation to give beyond expectations.
- A community fundraiser for a local shelter, where early large donations from a few families motivate others to contribute whatever they can.
- A family that saves for years to donate a significant item, like a piano or sound system, to their church, knowing it will serve generations.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “How do I know what to give when there are so many competing needs?”
- “Why does it matter that leaders give first, shouldn’t giving be private?”
- “Can my small gift really make a difference if others are giving large amounts?”
Leading a Discussion
In this passage, a whole community comes together to support God’s work. Notice the pattern: the governor gives first, then the family heads, then the rest of the people. This order shows how leadership inspires participation, and how everyone has a place in the offering. As you discuss, consider what motivated such generosity and how it connects to the joy described in 1 Chronicles 29:9.
Discussion questions
- What do you notice about who gave and how much? (Observation)
- Why do you think the governor chose to give first, and what effect might that have had? (Interpretation)
- How do the specific gifts, gold, basins, priestly garments, reveal the community’s priorities? (Interpretation)
- What can we learn from the fact that “the rest of the people” also gave after the leaders? (Interpretation)
- How does this passage challenge the way you think about giving in your church or community? (Application)
- How can leaders in your church follow the Tirshatha’s example today? (Application)
- What would it look like for every member, not just the wealthy, to contribute to the work of God? (Application)
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 12:22 | You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two door posts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. |
| Exodus 24:6 | Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. |
| Numbers 7:2 | the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, gave offerings. These were the princes of the tribes. These are they who were over those who were counted; |
| Numbers 7:86 | the twelve golden ladles, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the ladles weighed one hundred twenty shekels; |
| I Kings 7:45 | the pots; the shovels; and the basins. All of these vessels, which Hiram made for King Solomon for Yahweh’s house, were of burnished bronze. |
| I Chronicles 28:17 | and the forks, the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl; |
| I Chronicles 29:3 | In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house: |
| I Chronicles 29:9 | Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Yahweh; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws attention to a textual variation between the Hebrew and the Septuagint. In the Greek version the silver is given to the Tirshatha for the treasury, not by him. He also notes that the Septuagint gives the amount as two thousand three hundred minae, not two thousand two hundred.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes a discrepancy in the gold, silver, and garment totals between this passage and the parallel account in Ezra, which he attributes to textual corruption. He also observes that the quotation from Zerubbabel's register ends here, and that the following chapters appear to come from a different author. He proposes moving the final clauses of this verse to the beginning of the next chapter, following the Greek version.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator clarifies several translation issues in this passage, noting where the Revised Version offers more precise renderings such as "darics" for Greek coins and "maneh" for a weight of silver. He also suggests a plausible correction for a puzzling phrase about priests' garments, proposing it originally referred to silver and garments separately.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill examines the Persian gold drachm or daric, valuing each at about one pound sterling, and notes uncertainty over whether the Tirshatha here was Zerubbabel or Nehemiah since this gift differs from the one in Ezra. He also suggests the many priestly garments were needed because none had been used during the exile.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB points out that the gifts listed—especially garments—may seem odd to modern Western readers, but in the ancient East, giving useful articles of clothing was a standard and fitting donation. He also clarifies the coins named: darics were Persian gold coins worth about a pound and five shillings each, and a pound of silver meant a mina, equal to sixty shekels or nine pounds sterling.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange draws attention to how Nehemiah’s completed wall was not a substitute for vigilance but an incentive to it. The gates were kept shut until the guard was ready, and Levitical porters were stationed at city gates to give the work of defense a distinctly religious character.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that Nehemiah credits God directly for the impulse to gather the genealogical record. For him, this register is not a dry administrative list but a providential act that preserves the identity and honor of the true covenant community returning from exile.