Nehemiah 11

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 drew lots to choose. One family out of every ten moved to Jerusalem, the holy city. The other nine stayed in their own towns.

Note"Cast lots" means they used marked stones or sticks to decide, a bit like drawing straws.

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

2The people asked God to be good to every man who chose 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 area who lived in Jerusalem. In the towns of Judah, each person lived on his own family land. This included ordinary Israelites, priests, who served God at the temple, Levites, who helped them, temple servants, and the families of Solomon's servants.

NoteThe KJV says "Nethinims," a Hebrew word for the servants who did the everyday work at the temple. "To wit" is old English for "that is."

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 families of Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From Judah's family came Athaiah, who belonged to the family of Perez. His father was Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalaleel.

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 there was Maaseiah. His father was Baruch, son of Colhozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah. He came from the family of Shiloni.

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

6In all, 468 brave men from Perez's family lived in Jerusalem.

NoteThe KJV writes numbers the old way. "Score" means twenty, 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 men came from Benjamin's family. There was Sallu. His father was Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jesaiah.

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

8Gabbai and Sallai followed him. All together these men numbered 928.

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 part of the city.

Note"Second over the city" does not mean he was second in command. He was in charge of a part of Jerusalem called the Second District.

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

10From the priests there were 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 was the chief leader of God's house. His father was Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub.

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. There was also Adaiah. His father was Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashur, son of 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,

13His relatives, who were heads of families, numbered 242. There was also Amashai. His father was Azareel, son of Ahasai, son of Meshillemoth, son of 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.

14Their relatives were 128 strong, brave men. Their leader was Zabdiel, and his father was an important man.

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

15From the Levites there was Shemaiah. His father was Hashub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of 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 leaders among the Levites. They were in charge of the work done outside God's house.

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 led the people in prayers that thanked God. His father was Micha, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph. Bakbukiah was second in charge among his group. Abda was also there. His father was Shammua, son of Galal, son of 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 city gates. There were 172 of them.

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 people of Israel, 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.

22Uzzi was the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem. His father was Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micha. He came from the family of Asaph. That family were the singers for the work of God's house.

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 what they were to do 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 everything about 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,

25Some people of Judah lived in the villages and their fields. They 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,

26They also lived in Jeshua, in Moladah, and in Bethphelet.

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

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

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

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

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

29They lived in Enrimmon, in Zareah, and in 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.

30They lived in Zanoah and Adullam and their villages, in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its villages. So they lived in the land from Beersheba all the way 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's family from Geba lived in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel and its villages.

32And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

32They also lived in Anathoth, Nob, and Ananiah.

33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

33They lived in Hazor, Ramah, and Gittaim.

34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

34They lived in Hadid, Zeboim, and Neballat.

35Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

35They lived in Lod and Ono, and in the Valley of the Craftsmen, where people made things by hand.

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

36Some groups of Levites from Judah went to live in Benjamin's land.