 1After the wall was finished and I had set up the doors in the
gates, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. 2I
gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother
Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, for
he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. 3I said to
them, “Do not leave the gates open during the hottest part of
the day.#  Or Keep the gates of Jerusalem closed until the sun
is hot. And even while the gatekeepers are on duty, have them
shut and bar the doors. Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to
act as guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve at
sentry posts and some in front of their own homes.” Nehemiah
Registers the People 4At that time the city was large and
spacious, but the population was small, and none of the houses
had been rebuilt. 5So my God gave me the idea to call together
all the nobles and leaders of the city, along with the ordinary
citizens, for registration. I had found the genealogical record
of those who had first