Nehemiah11

Nehemiah chapter 11 details the repopulation of Jerusalem after the return from exile. A tenth of the people were chosen by lot to dwell in the holy city, while others volunteered, and the rest remained in surrounding towns. The chapter then provides a detailed register of the families and individuals who settled in Jerusalem, including members of Judah, Benjamin, priests, Levites, and Nethinims.
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The Repopulation of Jerusalem

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Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns. ​
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And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. ​

Residents of Jerusalem: Judah and Benjamin

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These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants— ​
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while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem.) From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez; ​
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and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah.
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The descendants of Perez who settled in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of valor. ​
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From the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu 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 Jeshaiah;
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and his followers Gabbai and Sallai—928 men.
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Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the Second District of the city.

The Priests in the Holy City

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From the priests:
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Jedaiah son of Joiarib; Jachin; Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief official of the house of God; ​
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and their associates who did the work at the temple—822 men;
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Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah; and his associates, the leaders of families—242 men;
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Amashai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer; and his associates—128 mighty men of valor. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim was their overseer.

The Levites, Singers, and Gatekeepers

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From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
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Shabbethai and Jozabad, two leaders of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God; ​
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Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. ​
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The Levites in the holy city totaled 284.
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And the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.

Distribution in the Cities of Judah

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The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance. ​
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The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, with Ziha and Gishpa over them. ​
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Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. He was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the singers in charge of the service of the house of God.
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For there was a command from the king concerning the singers, an ordinance regulating their daily activities. ​
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Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent in every matter concerning the people. ​

Judahite Settlements Outside Jerusalem

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As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, and their villages; ​
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in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth-pelet;
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in Hazar-shual; in Beersheba and its villages;
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in Ziklag; in Meconah and its villages;
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in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth,
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Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; and in Azekah and its villages. So they settled from Beersheba all the way to the Valley of Hinnom. ​

Benjaminite Settlements

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The descendants of Benjamin from Geba lived in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel with its villages; ​
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in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
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Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
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Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
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Lod, and Ono; and in the Valley of the Craftsmen. ​
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And some divisions of the Levites of Judah settled in Benjamin. ​

Study Notes for Nehemiah 11

Verse 1

After the walls were rebuilt, Jerusalem remained sparsely populated (Neh 7:4). Casting lots was employed to ensure a fair, divinely-guided method, requiring 10 percent of the populace to move into the capital city.

Verse 2

Settling in Jerusalem was dangerous and costly, as it was the primary target for enemies. The people blessed those who either volunteered or were chosen, recognizing their sacrifice for the common security and religious life of the nation.

Verse 3

The term 'chief of the province' refers to the leading administrators under the Persian rule (Yehud). This section begins the detailed roster, differentiating between the residents of the capital and those who settled the outlying towns.

Verse 4

The list focuses almost entirely on the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, reflecting the composition of the post-exilic community, which traced its lineage back to the former Southern Kingdom.

Verse 6

Identifying these men as 'valiant men' indicates that the repopulation was strategic. The residents of the capital were expected to be strong and capable of defending the city.

Verse 11

Seraiah is the 'ruler of the house of God,' identifying him as the chief administrator or high-ranking priest responsible for the Temple complex and its organization.

Verse 16

The 'outward business' refers to the secular, administrative, and logistical tasks required to run the Temple, including finances, supplies, and maintenance, separating them from the ritual duties.

Verse 17

Mattaniah’s role in leading the 'thanksgiving in prayer' emphasizes the centrality of organized musical worship and psalmody in the restored Temple liturgy.

Verse 20

This verse summarizes that the majority of the community remained spread throughout the ancestral territories, ensuring agricultural stability and economic viability across the province.

Verse 21

The Nethinims were Temple servants, likely non-Israelite laborers assigned to the sanctuary. Ophel was a fortified hill adjacent to the Temple Mount, placing them near their work.

Verse 23

The 'king’s commandment' refers to the decree issued by the Persian imperial government (likely Artaxerxes I), which provided state-sponsored stipends and portions to ensure the continual operation of the Temple services.

Verse 24

Pethahiah served as the official liaison between the Jewish community and the Persian provincial authorities, handling legal and civil matters concerning the people.

Verse 25

This list details the major towns of Judah being re-established. Kirjatharba is the ancient name for Hebron, one of the most historically significant cities of Judah.

Verse 30

This enumeration defines the southern boundary of the restored Persian province of Yehud, extending from Beersheba (in the south) up to the Valley of Hinnom (the border of Jerusalem).

Verse 31

This list details the towns located north and northeast of Jerusalem, defining the northern border regions of the province of Yehud.

Verse 35

Lod and Ono were significant settlements in the Shephelah (lowlands). The 'valley of craftsmen' suggests the re-establishment of specialized economic zones necessary for the region's recovery.

Verse 36

This final statement ensures the reader that the Levites—responsible for teaching and spiritual administration—were distributed throughout the entire territory, serving both Judahite and Benjaminite settlements.

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