Translations
Modern
Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.
Traditional
Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.
Literal
And the city was was wide on two hands and great, and the people were few in its midst, and the houses had not been rebuilt.
Latin
Civitas autem erat lata nimis et grandis, et populus parvus in medio ejus, et non erant domus ædificatæ.
Original
Hebrew
English
Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.
Notes
Most people lived in the countryside near their fields, so Jerusalem's population was small. A registration would likely encourage more people to settle in and near Jerusalem (Nehemiah 7:73).
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