CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Nehemiah 11
Chapter 11 of 13
Chapter Overview
What happens in Nehemiah 11
With the walls rebuilt and the covenant renewed, Jerusalem needs more residents. The leaders decide to bring one out of every ten people to live inside the city. This chapter lists the families who moved to Jerusalem and the towns where the rest of the people settled.
Scripture
Nehemiah 11
Choosing Residents for Jerusalem
Study note
Even though the walls were rebuilt, Jerusalem was still mostly empty. The leaders of the people already lived there, but the rest of the population was spread out in smaller towns. To fill the city, they cast lots to choose one out of every ten families to move to Jerusalem. Some people volunteered to move there, and everyone praised them for their willingness.
1 The people's leaders settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the population drew lots -- one out of every ten would move into Jerusalem, the holy city. The remaining nine stayed in the other towns. And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.
2 Everyone praised the people who chose on their own to live in Jerusalem. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
Families of Judah and Benjamin in Jerusalem
Study note
This list names the leading families from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin who lived in Jerusalem. The people of Judah and Benjamin were the main groups who had returned from exile in Babylon. The list traces family lines back several generations, which was important for proving that each person had the right to live in the holy city. The total number of men from Judah's clan of Perez was 468.
3 Here are the leaders who settled in Jerusalem. All over Judah, others lived on their own family land. This group had common Israelites, priests, Levites, temple workers, and families of Solomon's servants. Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.
4 People from Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem. From Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah. His line went through Zechariah, Amariah, Shephatiah, and Mahalaleel. He was from the Perez family. And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;
5 Also Maaseiah son of Baruch, who came through Col-hozeh, Hazaiah, Adaiah, Joiarib, and Zechariah, from the Shiloni line. And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.
6 The total number of Perez's descendants who settled in Jerusalem was 468 strong men. All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
7 From Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam. His family line went through Joed, Pedaiah, Kolaiah, Maaseiah, Ithiel, and Jesaiah. And these are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah.
8 After him came Gabbai and Sallai, totaling 928 men. And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.
9 Joel son of Zichri was their chief officer. Judah son of Senuah served as the city's second-in-command. And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.
Priests and Levites in Jerusalem
Study note
The religious workers in Jerusalem included priests who served in the temple, Levites who helped with temple operations, and gatekeepers who guarded the entrances. Seraiah is listed as the ruler of the house of God. The Levites numbered 284, and the gatekeepers numbered 172. These workers were essential for keeping the temple running and worship going.
10 Among the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, and Jachin. Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.
11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah was the top leader of God's temple. His family line went through Meshullam, Zadok, Meraioth, and Ahitub. Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.
12 Their fellow priests who handled temple duties numbered 822. Also, Adaiah son of Jeroham, descended through Pelaliah, Amzi, Zechariah, Pashur, and Malchiah, And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah,
13 along with his fellow priests who headed family groups: 242 men. Also Amashai son of Azareel, descended through Ahasai, Meshillemoth, and Immer, And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
14 plus their fellow priests -- 128 strong, courageous men. Their commander was Zabdiel, from a distinguished family. And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.
15 Among the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hashub, descended through Azrikam, Hashabiah, and Bunni. Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
16 Two Levite leaders, Shabbethai and Jozabad, were in charge of the outside work at God's temple. And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.
17 Mattaniah son of Micha (descended through Zabdi from Asaph) led the opening prayer of thanksgiving. Bakbukiah served as his second. Also, Abda son of Shammua (descended through Galal from Jeduthun). And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
18 The Levites living in the holy city totaled 284. All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.
19 The gatekeepers -- Akkub, Talmon, and their colleagues who watched the gates -- numbered 172. Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.
Other Residents and Surrounding Towns
Study note
The remaining Israelites, priests, and Levites lived in the various towns and cities of Judah. The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel in Jerusalem. The king of Persia had given orders that the singers receive a regular portion of food each day. The chapter ends with a list of the towns where the people of Judah and Benjamin lived, stretching from Beer-sheba in the south to the area north of Jerusalem.
20 The rest of the Israelites, priests, and Levites lived in towns all through Judah. Each family lived on their own family land. And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
21 The temple workers lived on Ophel hill, with Ziha and Gispa managing them. But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.
22 Uzzi son of Bani led the Levites in Jerusalem. He descended through Hashabiah, Mattaniah, and Micha from Asaph's family. The musicians were responsible for the worship services at God's temple. The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.
23 Persia's king had given orders about the singers. He gave them a set daily share of food. For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabeel served as the king's agent. He was from Zerah's family, from Judah. He handled all matters for the Jewish people. And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.
25 Some of Judah's people lived in villages and farmland outside the city. Some lived in Kiriath-arba and its nearby villages. Others lived in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages. And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,
26 Others lived in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth-pelet. And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet,
27 Some lived in Hazar-shual and in Beer-sheba and its villages. And at Hazar-shual, and at Beer-sheba, and in the villages thereof,
28 Others settled in Ziklag and in Mekonah and its villages. And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,
29 Some lived in En-rimmon, Zareah, and Jarmuth. And at En-rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,
30 Others settled in Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, as well as Lachish and its farmland, and Azekah and its villages. In this way they occupied the territory from Beer-sheba to the Valley of Hinnom. Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom.
31 Benjamin's descendants lived in Geba, Michmas, Aija, Bethel, and their surrounding villages. The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Beth-el, and in their villages,
32 They also lived in Anathoth, Nob, and Ananiah. And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Others settled in Hazor, Ramah, and Gittaim. Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Some lived in Hadid, Zeboim, and Neballat. Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Others lived in Lod and Ono, in the Valley of Craftsmen. Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36 Some Levite groups from Judah moved into Benjamin's land. And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.
Key Themes
Themes in Nehemiah 11
Sacrificial willingness to live where neededGod's work requires people willing to be inconveniencedVolunteering for difficult assignmentsBuilding community in the place God assigns
Apply This Today
Living Nehemiah 11
Most people preferred the safety of small towns, but Jerusalem needed residents. Some volunteered and others were chosen by lot. God sometimes calls us to uncomfortable places where we are most needed. Be willing to go where others will not, and bloom where God plants you.
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