Nehemiah

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.

1The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to pick one family out of every ten. Those chosen would live in Jerusalem, the holy city. The other nine would stay in their own towns.

2And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

2The people thanked and honored every man who freely offered to move to Jerusalem.

3Now 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.

3Here are the leaders of the province who lived in Jerusalem. In the towns of Judah, each person lived on his own land. This included the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the sons of Solomon's servants.

NoteThe King James Bible calls them "Nethinims." The word means workers who helped with the daily jobs at the temple.

4And 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;

4Some people from the family of Judah and the family of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From Judah: Athaiah, whose father was Uzziah, whose father was Zechariah, whose father was Amariah, whose father was Shephatiah, whose father was Mahalaleel. Athaiah came from the family of Perez.

5And 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.

5Also Maaseiah, whose father was Baruch, whose father was Colhozeh, whose father was Hazaiah, whose father was Adaiah, whose father was Joiarib, whose father was Zechariah. He came from the family of Shelah.

6All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.

6In all, 468 men from the family of Perez lived in Jerusalem. They were brave fighting men.

NoteThe King James Bible writes numbers in an old way. "Threescore" means sixty, so "four hundred threescore and eight" is 468.

7And 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.

7These are the men from the family of Benjamin. Sallu, whose father was Meshullam, whose father was Joed, whose father was Pedaiah, whose father was Kolaiah, whose father was Maaseiah, whose father was Ithiel, whose father was Jesaiah.

8And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.

8Following him were Gabbai and Sallai. In all there were 928 men.

9And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.

9Joel son of Zichri was the officer in charge of them. Judah son of Senuah was in charge of the Second District of the city.

10Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.

10From the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, and Jachin.

11Seraiah 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.

11Seraiah, whose father was Hilkiah, whose father was Meshullam, whose father was Zadok, whose father was Meraioth, whose father was Ahitub. Seraiah was the chief officer of the house of God.

12And 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,

12Their fellow priests who did the work at the temple numbered 822. Also Adaiah, whose father was Jeroham, whose father was Pelaliah, whose father was Amzi, whose father was Zechariah, whose father was Pashur, whose father was Malchiah.

13And 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,

13The men who worked with him were leaders of their families, and there were 242 of them. Also Amashai, whose father was Azareel, whose father was Ahasai, whose father was Meshillemoth, whose father was Immer.

14And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.

14The men who worked with them were 128 brave fighting men. Their officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim, who came from an important family.

15Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

15From the Levites: Shemaiah, whose father was Hashub, whose father was Azrikam, whose father was Hashabiah, whose father was Bunni.

16And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.

16Shabbethai and Jozabad were two leaders of the Levites. They were in charge of the work done outside the house of God.

17And 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.

17Mattaniah, whose father was Micha, whose father was Zabdi, whose father was Asaph, led the prayers of thanks. Bakbukiah was second in rank among his fellow Levites. Also Abda, whose father was Shammua, whose father was Galal, whose father was Jeduthun.

18All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.

18All the Levites in the holy city numbered 284.

19Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.

19The gatekeepers were Akkub, Talmon, and the men who worked with them. They guarded the gates, and there were 172 of them.

NoteThe King James Bible calls them "porters." Here that means guards who watched the gates, not men who carried loads.

20And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.

20The rest of the Israelites, along with the priests and Levites, lived in all the towns of Judah. Each one lived on the land his family had been given.

21But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.

21The temple servants lived on the hill called Ophel. Ziha and Gispa were in charge of them.

22The 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.

22The officer over the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi, whose father was Bani, whose father was Hashabiah, whose father was Mattaniah, whose father was Micha. He came from the family of Asaph, the singers who took care of the work at the house of God.

23For it was the king’s commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.

23The king had given an order about the singers. It said how much they were to receive each day.

24And 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.

24Pethahiah son of Meshezabeel spoke for the king in every matter that had to do with the people. He came from the family of Zerah son of Judah.

25And 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,

25As for the villages and their fields, some people of Judah lived in Kirjatharba and its villages, in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages.

26And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,

26Others lived in Jeshua, Moladah, and Bethphelet.

27And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,

27Others lived in Hazarshual, and in Beersheba and its villages.

28And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,

28Others lived in Ziklag, and in Mekonah and its villages.

29And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,

29Others lived in Enrimmon, Zareah, and Jarmuth.

30Zanoah, 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.

30Others lived in Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its villages. So they settled all the way from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.

31The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages,

31The people of Benjamin from Geba lived in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel and its villages.

32And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

32Others lived in Anathoth, Nob, and Ananiah.

33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

33Others lived in Hazor, Ramah, and Gittaim.

34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

34Others lived in Hadid, Zeboim, and Neballat.

35Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

35Others lived in Lod and Ono, and in the Valley of the Craftsmen.

36And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.

36Some groups of Levites who belonged to Judah went to live among the people of Benjamin.