Nehemiah 11

Planning who would live in Jerusalem
Text
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  The story continues from ne0704.
 1 ¶ 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.


  Rulers. The city was already the home of nobles and chiefs so Nehemiah looked to other classes for people to live in the city ne0216, ne0517.
  Cast lots This method of making choices when decisions depended on more than human wisdom and because the Lord was more directly in charge pr1633. Also see beginning at the following verses: jo0716, 1sa1019, nu2655, 1ch2405.

  Holy city It was time to remember that the presence of God was again important for the city. The city had been called this before is4802, is5201, da0924, jl0317.
  The city that is to come down as the bride of the Lamb — the holy people — will also take this name. The imagery is drawn, in part, from the story here. Then when sin and sinners are destroyed, we will be established after returning from our long exile from the Garden of Eden just as the captives from Babylon returned re2102.
 2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.   In a good spirit.
 3 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 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 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.
  3 - Province Judah was a province of Persia at that time.
  3 - Israel Those of the tribes other than the tribe of Levi.
  3 - Nethinims See on ez0243. Also v21.
  5 - Shiloni In OT times, only the consonants were used in writing. Around the time of Christ, tiny marks were added to represent the vowels. With vowel changes, this word may be "Shelanites" since Jews (of Judah) would not have normally been from Shilomi, a city in the north. Of course it doesn't matter. Shelanites would have been descendants of Shelah, Judah's third son nu2620.
 6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and 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, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.
.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, was the ruler of the house of God.
.12 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 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 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.
  11 - The ruler That is, the assistant to the high priest (nu0332, 1ch0911, 2ch1911) who was Eliashib at that time ne1210, ne1304.
  12 - Brethren The Levites and soldiers.
  14 - One of the great men From haggedolim, and may be condsidered to be the person's name (NRSV, New Revised Standard Version).
 15 Also 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 chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business 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 fourscore and four.
.19 Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.
  16 - Shabbethai and ... oversight ... outward 1ch2629.
  17 - Mattaniah He and others are also seen in ne1225.
  19 - Porters Named in ezr0242.
 20 ¶ And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
.21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims. 
.22 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 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. 
 24 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.
  21 - Nethiums See ez0243.
  21 - Ophel For those who lived in Ophel, see ne0326.
  21 - Ophel "A quarter of Jerusalem adjacent to the temple, and therefore occupied by the Nethinim, Ne 3:26,27; 11:21.  It appears to have been enclosed by a wall, and fortified by a strong tower, 2Ch 27:3; 33:14; and is thought to be meant by the Hebrew OPHEL, translated" strong-hold," in Mic 4:8.  There can be little doubt that the name belongs to the lower ridge into which Mount Moriah sinks, south of the area of the mosque.  It is one hundred yards wide, and extends six hundred yards to the south, terminating in a bluff forty or fifty feet high above the pool of Siloam.  It is separated from Mount Zion on the west by the valley called Tyropoeon, and is now devoted to the culture of olives, figs, and other fruit." (ATS Dict.)
  23 - King's commandment That is, orders from Artexerxes I. Consider ezr0610.
.25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,
 26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,
 27 And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,
 28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,
 29 And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,
 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.
  25 - Villages with fields Not all known to have existed are mentioned. See lists in ezr0220-34, ne03.
  29 - Enrimmon or Ain and Rimmon. A city or cities about 11 mi. (18 km.) NE of Beersheba in Southern Judah. See map
 31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages, 
.32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
.35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
 36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.
  31 - Bethel 11 miles (18 km.) north of Jerusalem. The site where Jacob saw the ladder ge38. Later a place of apostate worship 1ki1228f.
  32 - Nob A sad history 1sa2218.
  35 - Lod See SW part of Central Palestine map.
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