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.

The Repopulation of Jerusalem

1
The leaders of the people took up residence in Yerushalayim; while the rest of the people cast lots to bring one-tenth of them to live in Yerushalayim the holy city, with the other nine-tenths in the other cities. ​
2
The people blessed all those who volunteered to live in Yerushalayim. ​

Residents of Jerusalem: Judah and Benjamin

3
In the cities of Y'hudah, everyone lived on his own property - the people of Isra'el, the cohanim, the L'vi'im, the temple servants and the descendants of Shlomo's servants. But the leaders of the province lived in Yerushalayim. ​
4
Some of those living in Yerushalayim were from people of Y'hudah, and others were from people of Binyamin. Those from the people of Y'hudah were: 'Atayah the son of 'Uziyah, the son of Z'kharyah, the son of Amaryah, the son of Sh'fatyah, the son of Mahalal'el, from the descendants of Peretz; ​
5
and Ma'aseiyah the son of Barukh, the son of Kol-Hozeh, the son of Hazayah, the son of 'Adayah, the son of Yoyariv, the son of Z'kharyah, who belonged to the family of Shelah.
6
The total number of descendants of Peretz living in Yerushalayim was 468 courageous men. ​
7
These are the people of Binyamin: Salu the son of Meshulam, the son of Yo'ed, the son of P'dayah, the son of Kolayah, the son of Ma'aseiyah, the son of Iti'el, the son of Yesha'yah.
8
After him: Gabai, Salai; 928 in all.
9
Yo'el the son of Zikhri was their overseer, and Y'hudah the son of Hasnu'ah was second in charge of the city.

The Priests in the Holy City

10
From the cohanim: Y'da'yah the son of Yoyariv, Yakhin,
11
S'rayah the son of Hilkiyah, the son of Meshulam, the son of Tzadok, the son of M'rayot, the son of Achituv, the supervisor of the house of God, ​
12
and their kinsmen who did the work for the house; in all 822; and 'Adayah the son of Yerocham, the son of P'lalyah, the son of Amtzi, the son of Z'kharyah, the son of Pash'chur, the son of Malkiyah;
13
with his kinsmen, heads of fathers' clans, 242; and 'Amash'sai the son of 'Azar'el, the son of Achzai, the son of Meshillemot, the son of Immer;
14
with his kinsmen, courageous men, 128; their overseer was Zavdi'el the son of HaG'dolim.

The Levites, Singers, and Gatekeepers

15
From the L'vi'im: Sh'ma'yah the son of Hashuv, the son of 'Azrikam, the son of Hashavyah, the son of Buni,
16
and Shabtai and Yozavad, from the leaders of the L'vi'im, who were in charge of external affairs for the house of God; ​
17
and Matanyah the son of Mikha, the son of Zavdi, the son of Asaf, the leader who began the thanksgiving prayer; and Bakbukyah, the second among his kinsmen; and 'Avda the son of Shamua, the son of Galal, the son of Y'dutun. ​
18
All the L'vi'im in the holy city numbered 284.
19
The gatekeepers: 'Akuv, Talmon and their kinsmen, who kept watch at the gates, numbered 172.

Distribution in the Cities of Judah

20
The rest of Isra'el, [the rest of] the cohanim and [the rest of] the L'vi'im were in all the cities of Y'hudah, each on his own property. ​
21
The temple servants lived in the 'Ofel; Tzicha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants. ​
22
The overseer of the L'vi'im in Yerushalayim was 'Uzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashavyah, the son of Matanyah, the son of Mikha, from the descendants of Asaf the singers; [he was] in charge of the work of the house of God.
23
For they were subject to the king's orders; and there was a fixed schedule for the singers, assigning them their daily duties. ​
24
P'tachyah the son of Mesheizav'el, from the descendants of Zerach the son of Y'hudah, was the king's deputy in all affairs concerning the people. ​

Judahite Settlements Outside Jerusalem

25
As for the villages and their surrounding fields: some of the people of Y'hudah lived in Kiryat-Arba and its villages, in Divon and its villages, in Y'kabze'el and its villages, ​
26
in Yeshua, in Moladah, in Beit-Pelet,
27
in Hatzar-Shu'al and its villages, in Be'er-Sheva and its villages,
28
in Ziklag, in M'khonah and its villages,
29
in 'Ein-Rimmon, in Tzor'ah, in Yarmut,
30
Zanoach, Adulam and their villages, in Lakhish and its surrounding fields, and in 'Azekah and its villages. Thus they occupied the territory from Be'er-Sheva as far as the Hinnom Valley. ​

Benjaminite Settlements

31
The people of Binyamin lived from Geva onward, in Mikhmas and 'Ayah, in Beit-El and its villages, ​
32
and in 'Anatot, Nov, 'Ananyah,
33
Hatzor, Ramah, Gittayim,
34
Hadid, Tzvo'im, N'valat,
35
Lud, Ono and Gei-Harashim. ​
36
Of the L'vi'im, some divisions from Y'hudah settled in Binyamin. ​

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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