Nehemiah 11:29

KJV

And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,

KJV (with Strong's)

And at Enrimmon {H5884}, and at Zareah {H6881}, and at Jarmuth {H3412},

Complete Jewish Bible

in 'Ein-Rimmon, in Tzor'ah, in Yarmut,

Berean Standard Bible

in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth,

American Standard Version

and in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Nehemiah 11:29 serves as a concise geographical marker within the broader narrative of post-exilic repopulation, specifically naming Enrimmon, Zareah, and Jarmuth as towns re-inhabited by the returning Jewish people. This verse, part of a detailed administrative record, underscores the meticulous effort to re-establish a vibrant Jewish presence throughout Judah beyond the confines of Jerusalem, demonstrating God's faithful orchestration of His people's return and their re-anchoring in their ancestral land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Nehemiah 11 follows the monumental achievement of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls and the spiritual revival marked by the reading of the Law and the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in [Nehemiah 8-10](/nehemiah/8 "Nehemiah 8-10 - Reading the Law and Covenant Renewal"). With the city's defenses secured and the people renewed in their covenant commitment, the focus shifts to the practical challenge of repopulating Jerusalem and the surrounding towns. Chapter 11 meticulously lists the families and individuals who settled in Jerusalem (verses 1-24) and those who resided in the outlying villages and cities of Judah and Benjamin (verses 25-36). This administrative record highlights the organized effort to solidify the nation's presence in the land, ensuring both the capital and its support network were adequately inhabited.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the post-exilic period, specifically after the return from Babylonian captivity, around the mid-5th century BCE. The Jewish community, though back in their homeland, was still relatively small and vulnerable. Re-establishing a widespread presence was crucial for security, economic viability, and the fulfillment of divine promises concerning the land. Culturally, land ownership and tribal inheritance were deeply significant to the Israelites, tracing back to the original division of the land under [Joshua](/joshua/15 "Joshua 15 - Tribal Allotments"). These lists of inhabited towns served not only as a census but also as a reaffirmation of their historical and legal claims to the territory, reinforcing their identity and continuity as God's covenant people in their ancestral homeland.
* **Key Themes:** This verse, and the broader chapter, powerfully illustrates several key themes central to the book of Nehemiah and the post-exilic narrative. The most prominent is **Repopulation and Restoration**, showcasing the physical re-establishment of communities as a vital step in Israel's recovery after decades of displacement. Closely related is **Geographical Identity**, as the specific naming of towns like Enrimmon, Zareah, and Jarmuth reinforces the deep, divinely ordained connection between the people and their ancestral territories, many of which were part of the original tribal allotments from the time of [Joshua's conquest](/joshua/15 "Joshua 15 - Tribal Allotments in Judah"). Furthermore, even in seemingly dry lists of names, the underlying theme of **Divine Providence** shines through, as God faithfully orchestrates the return and resettlement, fulfilling His covenant promises to His people, as foretold in prophecies like [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Promise of Return"). Finally, these meticulous lists functioned as vital **Historical and Legal Documents**, confirming the lineage and property rights of the returning exiles, ensuring order and continuity for the nascent community.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Enrimmon (Hebrew, _ʿEin Rimmôn_):** Meaning "Fountain of the Pomegranate," this name suggests a well-watered area, likely indicating a fertile and desirable location for settlement. It is also mentioned as Ain and Rimmon in [Joshua 15:32](/joshua/15-32 "Joshua 15:32 - Cities in Judah") and [Joshua 19:7](/joshua/19-7 "Joshua 19:7 - Cities in Simeon"), suggesting its long-standing significance and connection to the tribal allotments of Judah and Simeon.
* **Zareah (Hebrew, _Tsorʿāh_):** Also known as Zorah, this name likely means "Hornet's Nest" or "Place of Hornets." It was a significant town in the Shephelah region, famously known as the birthplace of Samson, as recorded in [Judges 13:2](/judges/13-2 "Judges 13:2 - Birth of Samson"). Its re-inhabitation signifies the re-establishment of Jewish presence in strategically important areas.
* **Jarmuth (Hebrew, _Yarmût_):** Meaning "High Place" or "Mound," Jarmuth was one of the royal Canaanite cities whose king was part of the southern coalition defeated by Joshua, as detailed in [Joshua 10:3](/joshua/10-3 "Joshua 10:3 - Kings of the Amorites"). Its inclusion in this list highlights the re-appropriation and re-settlement of historically significant sites within the promised land.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And at Enrimmon":** This phrase introduces the first of three specific locations, signaling the expansion of Jewish settlement beyond Jerusalem to a town historically linked to Judah and Simeon, emphasizing the re-establishment of a physical presence in the southern part of the tribal inheritance.
* **"and at Zareah":** The second location named, Zareah, points to a town with significant historical and biblical connections, particularly to the story of Samson. Its inclusion underscores the re-occupation of areas vital to Israel's past and future.
* **"and at Jarmuth":** The final location, Jarmuth, further extends the geographical scope of the repopulation. As a former Canaanite royal city conquered by Joshua, its re-inhabitation symbolizes the reclaiming of the land promised by God to His people.

#### Literary Devices
Nehemiah 11:29 primarily employs **Catalog** or **Listing**, a common literary device in historical and administrative texts of the ancient Near East. This technique involves the systematic enumeration of items, in this case, specific towns. The purpose of such a catalog is not merely to provide dry data but to convey a sense of thoroughness, order, and comprehensive re-establishment. By meticulously listing these places, the text emphasizes the extent of the repopulation effort and the meticulous nature of the post-exilic administration. It reinforces the idea that the return was not haphazard but a divinely guided and humanly organized endeavor to reclaim and re-inhabit the land promised by God. The **Geographical Specificity** of these names also grounds the narrative in concrete reality, making the abstract idea of "return" tangible and verifiable.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Nehemiah 11:29, though a seemingly minor detail in a list, powerfully reinforces the overarching theological theme of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, particularly concerning the land. The re-inhabitation of these specific towns, many with deep historical roots in Israel's past, signifies the ongoing fulfillment of God's pledge to return His people to their inheritance after exile. It demonstrates that God's plan for His people is not only spiritual but also tangible and geographical, ensuring their physical presence in the land He set apart for them. This detail underscores the meticulousness of divine providence, where even the seemingly mundane act of resettling towns contributes to the grand narrative of redemption and restoration.

* [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Promise of Return from Exile")
* [Ezekiel 36:24](/ezekiel/36-24 "Ezekiel 36:24 - Gathering from the Nations")
* [Joshua 15:35](/joshua/15-35 "Joshua 15:35 - Cities in the Shephelah")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Nehemiah 11:29 might initially appear as a mere historical detail, it offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God's work of restoration is comprehensive, extending even to the seemingly small, administrative details of life and community. Just as He meticulously orchestrated the re-settlement of His people in their ancestral towns, God cares about the foundational aspects of our lives—our homes, our communities, and our sense of belonging. This verse encourages us to value the process of rebuilding and establishing strong foundations, whether in our personal lives, families, or churches, after periods of disruption or decline. It also highlights the importance of place and community in God's design, urging us to invest in and contribute to the well-being of the physical and spiritual spaces where we are called to dwell, trusting that even our mundane efforts contribute to God's larger purposes of restoration and flourishing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of this verse, and the chapter it belongs to, speak to God's comprehensive care for His people?**
* **In what areas of your life or community do you see a need for "re-inhabitation" or "re-establishment" after a period of disruption?**
* **How can we, like the returning exiles, find spiritual significance in seemingly ordinary or administrative tasks?**

### FAQ
**Why are these lists of towns so important in biblical texts like Nehemiah?**

Answer: These lists, while seemingly dry, are critically important for several reasons. First, they serve as a historical record, documenting the actual re-establishment of the Jewish community in their ancestral land after the Babylonian exile, confirming the fulfillment of prophetic promises of return (e.g., [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - God's Promise of Return")). Second, they function as legal and administrative documents, affirming tribal inheritances and property rights, which were vital for maintaining social order and identity in a post-exilic society. Third, they demonstrate the extent and organization of the repopulation effort, showing that the return was not haphazard but a deliberate, divinely guided process to solidify Israel's presence in the land of Judah. Finally, they underscore the theme of God's faithfulness, showing His meticulous care for His people's physical and spiritual well-being, down to the specific places they would inhabit.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Nehemiah 11:29 speaks to the physical restoration of Israel to their land, it foreshadows a deeper, spiritual fulfillment found in Christ. The re-inhabitation of towns like Enrimmon, Zareah, and Jarmuth points to God's unwavering commitment to His people and His promise of a restored dwelling place. In the New Testament, this longing for a secure homeland culminates not in a geographical territory, but in the spiritual kingdom of God and the new creation inaugurated by Jesus Christ. Believers are now part of a new community, the church, which is the spiritual Israel, a people gathered from every tribe and nation, whose true citizenship is in heaven ([Philippians 3:20](/philippians/3-20 "Philippians 3:20 - Our Citizenship is in Heaven")). Jesus himself is the ultimate "dwelling place" for His people, the one who gathers His scattered flock ([John 10:16](/john/10-16 "John 10:16 - Jesus the Good Shepherd")) and prepares a place for them in His Father's house ([John 14:2-3](/john/14-2 "John 14:2 - Many Rooms in My Father's House")). The meticulous re-settlement in Nehemiah hints at God's precise and comprehensive plan for the ultimate restoration of all things in Christ, leading to the new heavens and new earth where God will dwell with His people forever ([Revelation 21:1-3](/revelation/21-1 "Revelation 21:1 - New Heaven and New Earth")). Thus, the physical return to specific towns in Nehemiah anticipates the spiritual reality of finding our true home and belonging in Christ, the Lamb of God who makes all things new ([Revelation 21:5](/revelation/21-5 "Revelation 21:5 - I Am Making Everything New")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 19:41

And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,

Joshua 15:32

And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities [are] twenty and nine, with their villages:

Joshua 15:33

[And] in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,

Joshua 15:35

Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,

Joshua 12:11

The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;

Judges 13:25

And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.