Number of descendants of Senaah in the census after the exile (Neh 7:38)
The number 3930 appears in Nehemiah 7:38 as the count of descendants of Senaah in the list of those who returned from the Babylonian exile. The family of Senaah was one of the largest groups to return, highlighting the extent of this family's connection to the land. The census lists in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 show some discrepancies in the numbers for the various families; in Ezra 2:35 the descendants of Senaah are given as 3630, while Nehemiah records 3930. Such differences may be due to different times of registration or scribal traditions. Regardless of the variant, the family of Senaah is among the numerically largest mentioned, testifying to a significant portion of the returning people. In the Jewish calendar (Anno Mundi), the year 3930 corresponds to approximately 170 BCE, a period associated with the Maccabean revolt and Seleucid rule over Judea. However, the number itself is not attributed any symbolic significance in this context. The difference between 3630 (Ezra 2:35) and 3930 (Neh 7:38) is exactly 300. Such discrepancies in census lists have been the subject of rabbinic discussion, with possible explanations including that the lists were compiled at different times or that different branches of the family were included.*