Nehemiah 11

The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to choose one out of every ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city. The other nine stayed in their own towns.

1And 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.

NoteCasting lots meant drawing marked stones or sticks, a recognized way of letting an outcome fall outside human choosing, used here to pick which families would move. "The holy city" is a straightforward title for Jerusalem as the place of the temple; at this point it was still thinly populated and largely unrepaired, so moving there meant leaving established farmland for a half-empty town.

2The people spoke well of all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

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

3These are the heads of the province who lived in Jerusalem. In the towns of Judah, everyone lived on his own property in his own town: ordinary Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants.

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.

Note"The province" is Judah as an administrative district of the Persian Empire, which then ruled the region. Levites were members of the tribe of Levi who did the supporting work of the temple (music, gatekeeping, maintenance, teaching) but were not priests. "Temple servants" translates the Hebrew word Nethinim, literally "the given ones," a hereditary class of low-ranking temple laborers; "the descendants of Solomon's servants" were a similar group traced back to workers assigned in Solomon's day.

4Some of the people of Judah and some of the people of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the people of Judah there was Athaiah son of Uzziah. Uzziah was the son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalaleel, from the family line of Perez.

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;

NotePerez was a son of Judah (Genesis 38), so this traces Athaiah back to one of the two main branches of the tribe. Listing a man's ancestors this way was the standard proof of who he was and what he had a claim to.

5There was also Maaseiah son of Baruch. Baruch was the son of Colhozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, from the family line of Shiloni.

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.

Note"Shiloni" is most likely not a personal name but a family label, "the Shelanite", a descendant of Shelah, another son of Judah, and so the other main branch of the tribe alongside Perez.

6All the descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem came to 468 fighting men.

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

NoteThe Hebrew phrase behind "fighting men" literally means "men of ability." It can indicate military capability, but it is also used of men of standing and property, and both senses may be intended here.

7These are the people of Benjamin who lived there: Sallu son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jesaiah.

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.

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

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

9Joel son of Zichri was the officer in charge of them, and Judah son of Senuah was second in charge over the city.

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

NoteThe Hebrew of the second phrase can mean either "second in command over the city" or "in charge of the Second District", a named quarter of Jerusalem mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament.

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

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

11There was also Seraiah son of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub. Seraiah was the chief official in charge of the house of God.

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.

NoteThe title is literally "ruler of the house of God," the senior official over the temple. Zadok and Ahitub are the ancestors from whom the leading priestly family traced its descent, so this line is a claim to the chief priestly house.

12Their fellow priests who did the work of the temple numbered 822. There was also Adaiah son of Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashur, son of Malchiah.

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,

NotePriests were the descendants of Aaron who alone performed the sacrifices and other altar duties. "The house of God" and "the temple" are the same building throughout this chapter.

13Adaiah's fellow priests, who were heads of families, numbered 242. There was also Amashai son of Azareel. Azareel was the son of Ahasai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer.

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,

14Their fellow priests, who were strong and brave men, numbered 128. Their overseer was Zabdiel, son of one of the leading men.

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.

NoteThe Hebrew word rendered "one of the leading men" is Haggedolim, which may equally be read as a personal name, so this is either "son of the great men" or "son of Haggedolim."

15From the Levites there was Shemaiah son of Hashub. Hashub was the son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni.

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

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

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

Note"The work done outside the house of God" means the temple's external affairs, collecting and storing supplies, contributions and materials, as distinct from the service conducted inside.

17Mattaniah son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the man who led the thanksgiving in prayer. Bakbukiah was second among his fellow Levites. There was also Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

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.

NoteAsaph and Jeduthun were founders of the hereditary guilds of temple musicians; naming them identifies these men as singers by family trade. "Leading the thanksgiving in prayer" means acting as precentor, starting the sung praise that the others took up.

18All the Levites in the holy city numbered 284.

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

19The gatekeepers (Akkub, Talmon, and their fellow workers who guarded the gates) numbered 172.

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

NoteGatekeepers were a permanent temple office, not casual guards: they controlled access to the courts, opened and closed the gates at set times, and had charge of what was stored inside.

20The rest of the Israelites, along with the priests and the Levites, lived in all the towns of Judah, each on the land his family had inherited.

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

NoteUnder Israelite land law, each family held an allotted plot handed down within the clan rather than freely bought and sold, which is why the text speaks of inherited land rather than property owned.

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

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

NoteOphel is the ridge running south from the temple platform, the oldest settled part of Jerusalem.

22The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani. Bani was the son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micha. Uzzi was one of the descendants of Asaph, the singers who were in charge of the service of the house of God.

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.

23The king had given an order about the singers, setting the fixed daily share they were to receive.

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

Note"The king" is ambiguous here: it may mean the Persian king, whose decrees elsewhere in Ezra and Nehemiah provided for the temple staff, or it may look back to David's original arrangements for the singers. The "daily share" is a fixed allowance of food or provisions, since these men worked full-time and held no farmland.

24Pethahiah son of Meshezabeel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, acted for the king in every matter that concerned the people.

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.

NoteThis was a Judean who represented the province's people at the Persian court, an agent or liaison rather than a governor.

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

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,

NoteKirjatharba is the older name of Hebron. The towns in this list lie in southern Judah and the dry Negev country, several of them beyond the borders of the small Persian province, so the list describes where Judeans actually lived rather than an official map.

26in Jeshua, in Moladah, in Bethphelet,

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

27in Hazarshual, and in Beersheba and its villages,

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

NoteBeersheba lay at the southern edge of settled country and was proverbially the far southern limit of Israelite territory.

28in Ziklag, and in Mekonah and its villages,

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

29in Enrimmon, in Zareah, in Jarmuth,

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

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

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.

Note"From Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom" marks the extent of Judean settlement, south to north; the Valley of Hinnom runs along the southern and western side of Jerusalem.

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

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

NoteGeba and the towns that follow lie north of Jerusalem in the old territory of Benjamin.

32in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

32And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

NoteAnathoth and Nob were towns long associated with priestly families.

33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

35Lod, and Ono, which is the Valley of the Craftsmen.

35Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

NoteLod and Ono lie out toward the coastal plain, well to the northwest. "The Valley of the Craftsmen" is a place name, so called from the metalworkers or artisans who worked there.

36Some divisions of the Levites who belonged to Judah were settled in Benjamin.

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

NoteThe Levites were organized into rotating divisions, or shifts, that took turns serving at the temple; the note here records that some divisions assigned to Judah were settled among the people of Benjamin.