John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And my God put into mine heart , etc.] Every good motion in him, and whatever he thought of that was conducive to the good and welfare of Jerusalem, Nehemiah always ascribed it to God; (see 2 Corinthians 3:5) to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy ; that their number might be known, and of what families they were, and in what cities they formerly dwelt; and this was not only of use for the present purpose of Nehemiah, but was of service hereafter to show the pedigree of families, and that it might be clearly known from whence the Messiah sprung: and I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first ; from Babylon to Jerusalem, along with Zerubbabel, as appears from ( Nehemiah 7:7), and this was of great use to him, whereby he would know not only their names and number, but to what city they belonged, and who to the city of Jerusalem, that they might be called upon to come, and rebuild their houses, and take up their residence there: and found written therein ; the names of the persons and families after mentioned.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-73 - Nehemiah knew that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upo the inhabitants than upon its walls. Every good gift and every goo work are from above. God gives knowledge, he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all must be to him. What is done by human prudence must be ascribed to the direction of Divine Providence. But woe to those who turn back from the Lord, loving this present world! and happ those who dedicate themselves, and their substance, to his service an glory _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ויתן5414 אלהי430 אל413 לבי3820 ואקבצה6908 את853 החרים2715 ואת853 הסגנים5461 ואת853 העם5971 להתיחשׂ3187 ואמצא4672 ספר5612 היחשׂ3188 העולים5927 בראשׁונה7223 ואמצא4672 כתוב׃3789
