Nehemiah 7:70

And some of the chiefe of the fathers, gaue vnto the worke: The Tirshatha gaue to the treasure, a thousand drammes of gold, fiftie basons, fiue hundred and thirtie priests garments. Nehemiah 7:70 (KJV)

Nehemiah 7:70 is part of the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, which chronicles the Jewish people’s return from exile in Babylon and the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. The verse, as quoted, mentions generous contributions toward the restoration effort: a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons (likely ceremonial basins), and five hundred and thirty priests’ garments to clothe those serving in the temple.

However, the quotation does not appear in the King James Version of Nehemiah 7:70. In the KJV, the verse records the names of the sons of the priests and does not mention any donations or a figure called “the Tirshatha.” The chapter is primarily a genealogical listing of the returning community rather than a detailed account of material contributions.

The phrase “chief of the fathers” refers to the heads of prominent Jewish families who returned to Jerusalem. This term is used elsewhere in Nehemiah (for example, Nehemiah 7:4) to denote the leading members of each family group. The title “Tirshatha” is a Persian term meaning governor; during the period of the return it is associated with Zerubbabel, who served as governor of the province of Judah under Persian authority. While Nehemiah himself was also appointed governor (see Nehemiah 2:1; 5:14), the KJV does not employ the Persian title “Tirshatha” for him.

The contributions listed in the quoted verse—gold, basons, and priestly garments—would have been essential for the temple’s restoration and for maintaining proper worship practices. Gold could fund the treasury, basons would serve in ritual purification, and garments would ensure that priests could perform their duties in appropriate attire. Even though the KJV text focuses on genealogies, the broader historical context shows that the returning community did provide material support for rebuilding the city and its sacred institutions.

Understanding both the genealogical emphasis of the KJV and the descriptive details of the quoted version helps readers appreciate the multifaceted nature of Nehemiah’s account: it records who returned, who led them, and how they contributed to the physical and spiritual renewal of Jerusalem.