Nehemiah 11

1 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; but the rest of the people cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city and nine parts to dwell in the other cities.
2 And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
3 Now these are the heads of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah each one dwelt in his possession in their cities, of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinims, and of the sons of Solomon’s slaves.
4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons 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 sons of Perez;
5 and Maaseiah, the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.
6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.
7 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 And after him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred and twenty-eight.
9 And Joel, the son of Zichri, was their overseer; and Judah, the son of Senuah, was second over the city.
10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.
11 Seraiah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, prince of the house of God,
12 and their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred and twenty-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 and his brethren, princes of families, two hundred and forty-two; and Amashai, the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
14 and their brethren, mighty men of valour, one hundred and twenty-eight; and their captain was Zabdiel, the son of Gedolim.
15 And of the Levites: Shemaiah, the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the principals of the Levites, overseers of the exterior work of the house of God.
17 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 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.
19 Moreover, the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren, guards at the gates, were one hundred and seventy-two.
20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each one in his inheritance.
21 And the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, {Heb. the fortress}, and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.
22 The overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi, the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha of singers, the sons of Asaph, over the work of the house of God.
23 For there was a commandment of the king concerning them and a determination of the singers for each day.
24 And Pethahiah, the son of Meshezabeel, of the sons of Zerah, the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.
25 And regarding the villages with their lands, some of the sons of Judah dwelt in Kirjatharba and in its villages and in Dibon and in its villages and in Jekabzeel and in its villages,
26 and in Jeshua and in Moladah and in Bethphelet
27 and in Hazarshual and in Beersheba and in its villages
28 and in Ziklag and in Mekonah and in its villages,
29 and in Enrimmon and in Zareah and in Jarmuth,
30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, in Lachish and its lands, in Azekah and in its villages. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.
31 The sons of Benjamin from Geba dwelt in Michmash and Aija and Bethel and in their villages
32 and in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36 And of the Levites there were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.

Nehemiah 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

The distribution of the people.

- In all ages, men have preferred their own ease and advantage to the public good. Even the professors of religion too commonly seek their own, and not the things of Christ. Few have had such attachment to holy things and holy places, as to renounce pleasure for their sake. Yet surely, our souls should delight to dwell where holy persons and opportunities of spiritual improvement most abound. If we have not this love to the city of our God, and to every thing that assists our communion with the Saviour, how shall we be willing to depart hence; to be absent from the body, that we may be present with the Lord? To the carnal-minded, the perfect holiness of the New Jerusalem would be still harder to bear than the holiness of God's church on earth. Let us seek first the favour of God, and his glory; let us study to be patient, contented, and useful in our several stations, and wait, with cheerful hope, for admission into the holy city of God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 11

This chapter treats of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, those of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, who settled there by lot, or of their own accord, their names and numbers, Ne 11:1-9, and of the priests and Levites who dwelt there, Ne 11:10-19, and of the rest of the people, priests, and Levites, that dwelt in the other cities and villages of Judah and Benjamin, Ne 11:20-36.

Nehemiah 11 Commentaries

The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010