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Atomic Bible
Nehemiah

Chapter 11

Jerusalem’s New Settlers and Residents Outside Jerusalem

Nehemiah 11 records how Jerusalem is repopulated and how the wider community is arranged around it. The chapter begins with leaders, volunteers, and selected families settling the holy city, then names the priests, Levites, and gatekeepers who sustain its life, before turning to the villages of Judah and Benjamin where the rest of the people live.

After the wall is rebuilt and the covenant renewed, this chapter gives the restoration a settled shape. It shows the people not only worshiping rightly but inhabiting the land in an ordered way, with Jerusalem at the center and the surrounding towns still fully part of the community.

2 sections·671 words·~3 min read

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Nehemiah 11

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vv. 1-19

Jerusalem’s New Settlers

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N1ow the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns. 2And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. 3These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns— the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants— 4while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem.)

5Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez; and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah. 6The descendants of Perez who settled in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of valor. 7From the descendants of Benjamin: 8Sallu 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 Jeshaiah; and his followers Gabbai and Sallai — 928 men. 9Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the Second District of the city.

10From the priests: 11Jedaiah son of Joiarib; Jachin; Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief official of the house of God; 12and their associates who did the work at the temple — 822 men; 13Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah; and his associates, the leaders of families — 242 men; 14Amashai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer; and his associates — 128 mighty men of valor. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim was their overseer.

15From the Levites: 16Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; Shabbethai and Jozabad, two leaders of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God; 17Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18The Levites in the holy city totaled 284. 19And the gatekeepers:

vv. 20-36

Residents Outside Jerusalem

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T20he rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance. 21The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, with Ziha and Gishpa over them. 22Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. He was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the singers in charge of the service of the house of God. 23For there was a command from the king concerning the singers, an ordinance regulating their daily activities. 24Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent in every matter concerning the people.

25As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, and their villages; 26in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth-pelet; 27in Hazar-shual; in Beersheba and its villages; 28in Ziklag; in Meconah and its villages; 29in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, 30Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; and in Azekah and its villages. So they settled from Beersheba all the way to the Valley of Hinnom.

31The descendants of Benjamin from Geba lived in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel with its villages; 32in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35Lod, and Ono; and in the Valley of the Craftsmen.

36And some divisions of the Levites of Judah settled in Benjamin.

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  1. 01vv. 1-19Jerusalem’s New SettlersJerusalem is repopulated by leaders, chosen households, and willing residents, and the chapter names the families and officials who make life in the holy city possible. Judah, Benjamin, priests, Levites, and gatekeepers are all counted, so the city appears not merely inhabited but ordered for worship and civic life.
  2. 02vv. 20-36Residents Outside JerusalemThe chapter turns from Jerusalem to the villages of Judah and Benjamin, naming where the rest of the people live and noting the officials who oversee temple servants, singers, and royal matters. The land around the city appears inhabited in a measured way, with service, administration, and inheritance all held together.
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