Nehemiah 7:66-72

The *Babylonians had destroyed the *temple when they took the *Jews into *exile.

When the people had returned to *Judah at the time of Zerubbabel, they started to build the *temple. They started the work on the *temple as soon as they could.

Some of the people had become rich when they lived in Babylon and Persia. They were able to give generous gifts for the work of the *temple. The chief officer was a good model for the people, because he was generous also.

Donkeys are animals like small horses. They have long ears. Mules are also like small horses. They are born after male donkeys mate with female horses. The *Jews brought these animals back with them. And they brought their servants too. The *Jews wanted to make their permanent homes in *Judah.

v73 By the 7th month, the people of *Israel had begun to live in their own towns.

This included the priests, the *Levites, the men who guarded the gates and the singers. It also included some of the other people and the servants in the *temple. And it included the rest of the nation of *Israel who began to live in their own towns.