Nehemiah 7:45
“The 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.”
What does Nehemiah 7:45 mean?
After the Jewish people returned from exile in Babylon, they needed to rebuild Jerusalem's walls and gates. This verse is part of a detailed census listing who came back and what roles they held in the restored community. The gatekeepers mentioned here were essential workers, responsible for controlling who entered and exited the city, protecting it, and maintaining order at the gates. By recording their names and numbers so carefully, the writer shows that every person and every job mattered in rebuilding their home, and that God's work of restoration included people from all walks of life working together.