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Nehemiah Chapter Eleven

 

Nehemiah 11 Outlines

The People Dwelling in Jerusalem (v.1~24)

The People Dwelling Outside Jerusalem (v.25~36)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

Nehemiah 11:1. Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities.

   YLT And the heads of the people dwell in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people have caused to fall lots to bring in one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the cities,

And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem,....

Where it was proper they should, being the metropolis of the nation, both for the performance of their offices, and to protect and defend it, as well as to set an example to the people, and encourage them to dwell there also:

the rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city;

so called, because of the temple and the worship of God in it; and so it is called by Julian the emperorF7Ep. 25. p. 154. ; and someF8Prideaux's Connection, par. 1. p. 56,57. have thought that the Cadytis of HerodotusF9Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 159. & Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 5. is the same with Jerusalem, which had its name from קדשה, "holy", and is now called by the Turks "cuds", that is, "holy"F11Sandys's Travels, l. 5. p. 121. Ed. 5. : now, though it was the chief city, and the place of public worship, yet the people were not forward of settling in it, partly because of the rage of the enemy, which this city was the butt of, and partly because it was more to their worldly advantage to dwell in the country, and where they could have better supplies; they consulted their own ease, safety, and profit; wherefore this method was taken to oblige some to dwell in it, by taking one out of ten by lot, that there might be a sufficient number to rebuild the houses of it, repopulate and defend it:

and nine parts to dwell in other cities;

to which they belonged, or where they pleased, any where in the land of Israel.

 

Nehemiah 11:2. And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

   YLT and the people give a blessing to all the men who are offering themselves willingly to dwell in Jerusalem.

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

Who were not taken by lot, but of their own accord settled at Jerusalem; they praised them for it, and wished them all happiness and prosperity, since they denied themselves of ease and profit for the sake of the public good; and it is this which makes the difference between the list of the inhabitants of Jerusalem in 1 Chronicles 9:2 &c. and this here, that takes in all that settled there, whether voluntarily or by lot; this only such as were fixed by the lot, and of them only those who were of greatest note and esteem, as Jarchi observes, and so it follows.

 

Nehemiah 11:3. These are the heads of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem. (But in the cities of Judah everyone dwelt in his own possession in their cities—Israelites, priests, Levites, Nethinim, and descendants of Solomon’s servants.)

   YLT And these [are] heads of the province who have dwelt in Jerusalem, and in cities of Judah, they have dwelt each in his possession in their cities; Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the sons of the servants of Solomon.

Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem,....

That is, of Judea, reduced to a province by the king of Babylon, and now a province of the Persian monarchy:

but in the cities of Judah dwelt everyone in his possession in their cities;

in which they or their ancestors had formerly dwelt: to wit, Israel: the people in general of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and such of the other tribes that returned with them:

the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants;

of whom see Ezra 2:55.

 

Nehemiah 11:4. Also in Jerusalem dwelt some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin. The children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez;

   YLT And in Jerusalem have dwelt of the sons of Judah, and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalaleel, of the sons of Perez;

And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin,....

It belonging partly to one tribe and partly to the other, and so inhabited by both, as it originally was, Joshua 15:63

of the children of Judah; Athaiah;

called Uthai, 1 Chronicles 9:4 whose lineage is traced through Uzziah, Zechariah, Amariah, Shephatiah, Mahalaleel:

of the children of Perez;

a son of Judah, see 1 Chronicles 9:4.

 

Nehemiah 11:5. and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.

   YLT and Masseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-Hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of Shiloni;

And Maaseiah,....

Who seems to be the same with Asaiah, 1 Chronicles 9:5 and whose genealogy is carried up through Baruch, Colhozeh, Hazaiah, Adaiah, Joiarib, Zechariah, to Shiloni; perhaps the same with Shelah, another son of Judah, see 1 Chronicles 9:5.

 

Nehemiah 11:6. All the sons of Perez who dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.

   YLT all the sons of Perez who are dwelling in Jerusalem [are] four hundred sixty and eight, men of valour.

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

And so well qualified to defend the city against its enemies.

 

Nehemiah 11:7. 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 Jeshaiah;

   YLT And these [are] sons of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jesaiah;

And these are the sons of Benjamin,....

That were of that tribe, and inhabited Jerusalem, namely, that follow:

Sallu the son of Meshullam;

who from him is traced up through Joed, Pedaiah, Kolaiah, Maaseiah, Ithiel, to Jesaiah.

 

Nehemiah 11:8. and after him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred and twenty-eight.

   YLT and after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.

And after him,....

That is, Sallu: were Gabbai and Sallai; in all nine hundred and twenty eight; there were more of the tribe of Benjamin than of the tribe of Judah, they having perhaps a greater share in the city, or were better disposed to dwell in it.

 

Nehemiah 11:9. Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Senuah[a] was second over the city.

   YLT And Joel son of Zichri [is] inspector over them, and Judah son of Senuah [is] over the city -- second.

And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer,....

Or chief governor of the city:

and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city;

or the deputy governor of it; so Pitholaus is called an under governor in Jerusalem by JosephusF12Antiqu. l. 14. c. 6. sect. 1. .

 

Nehemiah 11:10. Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, and Jachin;

   YLT Of the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin,

Who dwelt in Jerusalem, of whom the same account is given in these two verses as in 1 Chronicles 9:10, only Seraiah here is called Azariah there.

 

Nehemiah 11:11. Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the leader of the house of God.

   YLT Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, leader of the house of God,

And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two,....

That offered the sacrifices, burnt incense, set on the shewbread, lighted the lamps, &c.

and Adaiah the son of Jeroham;

see 1 Chronicles 9:12 whose genealogy is traced here through Pelaliah, Amzi, Zechariah, Pashur, to Malchiah.

 

Nehemiah 11:12. Their brethren who did the work of the house were eight hundred and twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,

   YLT and their brethren doing the work of the house [are] eight hundred twenty and two; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchiah,

And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two,....

That offered the sacrifices, burnt incense, set on the shewbread, lighted the lamps, &c.

and Adaiah the son of Jeroham;

see 1 Chronicles 9:12 whose genealogy is traced here through Pelaliah, Amzi, Zechariah, Pashur, to Malchiah.

 

Nehemiah 11:13. and his brethren, heads of the fathers’ houses, were two hundred and forty-two; and Amashai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

   YLT and his brethren, heads of fathers, two hundred forty and two; and Amashsai son of Azareel, son of Ahazai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer,

And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two,....

That is, the brethren or relations of Adaiah:

and Amashai;

called Maasiai, 1 Chronicles 9:12, whose lineage is traced here through Azareel, Ahasai, Meshillemoth, to Immer.

 

Nehemiah 11:14. and their brethren, mighty men of valor, were one hundred and twenty-eight. Their overseer was Zabdiel the son of one of the great men.[b]

   YLT and their brethren, mighty of valour, a hundred twenty and eight; and an inspector over them [is] Zabdiel, son of [one of] the great men.

And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight,....

The brethren of Adaiah and Amashai, who were able men to do the work of their office as priests, and men of courage to fight the enemy, and defend the city upon occasion:

and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men;

or the son of Hagedolim, or Gedolim, as some, who take it to be the proper name of a man.

 

Nehemiah 11:15. Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

   YLT And of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hashub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni,

Also of the Levites,....

Who dwelt in Jerusalem:

Shemaiah the son of Hashub:

traced from him through Azrikam and Hashabiah to Bunni; these were of the sons of Merari, the third son of Levi, see 1 Chronicles 9:14.

 

Nehemiah 11:16. Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the heads of the Levites, had the oversight of the business outside of the house of God;

   YLT and Shabbethai, and Jozabad, [are] over the outward work of the house of God, of the heads of the Levites,

And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites,....

Along with Shemaiah; these had

the oversight of the outward business of the house of God:

who had the care of the repairs of the temple, and of getting in the wood for the altar, as Jarchi, and collecting the third part of the shekel, to purchase things with for the use of the temple.

 

Nehemiah 11:17. Mattaniah the son of Micha,[c] the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer; Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

   YLT and Mattaniah son of Micha, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, [is] head -- at the commencement he giveth thanks in prayer; and Bakbukiah [is] second among his brethren, and Abda son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.

And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph,....

Zabdi is called Zichri in 1 Chronicles 9:15

was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer:

he was the precentor, or led the song at the time of the daily sacrifice, in which prayer was also made, as in many of the songs, hymns, and psalms of David:

and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren;

he was the next singer, or deputy to Mattaniah; perhaps the same that is called Bakbakkar, 1 Chronicles 9:15

and Abda the son of Shammua;

called Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, 1 Chronicles 9:16

the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun:

one of the three principal singers.

 

Nehemiah 11:18. All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.

   YLT All the Levites, in the holy city, [are] two hundred eighty and four.

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

Who had their residence there, Nehemiah 11:1.

 

Nehemiah 11:19. Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren who kept the gates, were one hundred and seventy-two.

   YLT And the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren, those watching at the gates, [are] a hundred seventy and two.

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

Of whom see 1 Chronicles 9:17.

 

Nehemiah 11:20. And the rest of Israel, of the priests and Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance.

   YLT And the rest of Israel, of the priests, of the Levites, [are] in all cities of Judah, each in his inheritance;

And the residue of Israel, of the priests and the Levites,.....

All of them, besides those that dwelt at Jerusalem: were

in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance;

the Israelites in the cities, houses, and estates enjoyed by their ancestors, and the priests and Levites in the cities given out of the several tribes.

 

Nehemiah 11:21. But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel. And Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim.

   YLT and the Nethinim are dwelling in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa [are] over the Nethinim.

But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel,....

An high place or tower on the wall of Jerusalem, see 2 Chronicles 27:3,

and Ziha, and Gispa, were over the Nethinims;

had the oversight of them, and took care that they did their work; they were such themselves, but the principal of them, see Ezra 2:43.

 

Nehemiah 11:22. Also the overseer 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 in charge of the service of the house of God.

   YLT And the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem [is] Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micha: of the sons of Asaph, the singers [are] over-against the work of the house of God,

The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi, the son of Bani,....

He was the supervisor of them, that looked after them that they did their work in ministering to the priests, as they had occasion for them; this man's genealogy is further traced through Hashabiah and Mattaniah, to Micha the son of Asaph, Nehemiah 11:17,

of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God;

which, according to Jarchi, was to take care of the repairs of the temple and other things; but one would think rather that part of the service of the house which lay in singing the songs of it is respected.

 

Nehemiah 11:23. For it was the king’s command concerning them that a certain portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day.

   YLT for the command of the king [is] upon them, and support [is] for the singers, a matter of a day in its day.

For it was the king's commandment concerning them,....

Either of King David as some, see Nehemiah 12:24 or rather of the king of Persia:

that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day;

he settled a daily salary for them, to be paid out of his treasury; having perhaps a peculiar respect for such sort of men, being a lover of music, by means of which they had a settled habitation in Jerusalem.

 

Nehemiah 11:24. Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king’s deputy[d] in all matters concerning the people.

   YLT And Pethahiah son of Meshezabeel, of the sons of Zerah, son of Judah, [is] by the hand of the king, for every matter of the people.

And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah, the son of Judah,....

The twin brother of Pharez, Genesis 38:30 was

at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people;

to speak for them to the king, as Jarchi; when they had a favour to ask of him, a petition to present to him, he delivered it for them, and by him the king returned the answer.

 

Nehemiah 11:25. And as for the villages with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt in Kirjath Arba and its villages, Dibon and its villages, Jekabzeel and its villages;

   YLT And at the villages with their fields, of the sons of Judah there have dwelt, in Kirjath-Arba and its small towns, and in Dibon and its small towns, and in Jekabzeel and its villages,

Verses 25-30

And for the villages, with their fields,....

The cities and villages in the country, an account of the inhabitants of them next follows:

some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof;

the same with Hebron, Joshua 15:54

and at Dibon; the same with Dimonah, Joshua 15:22

and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof;

the same with Kabzeel, one of the uttermost cities of the tribe of Judah southward, Joshua 15:21, of which city was Benaiah, one of David's worthies, 2 Samuel 23:20, from hence to the end of Nehemiah 11:30 mention is made of various cities and towns, in the tribe of Judah, inhabited by the men of it, which are to be met with in Joshua 15:1 excepting Jeshua and Mekonah, Nehemiah 11:26, of which we nowhere else read.

 

Nehemiah 11:26. in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth Pelet,

   YLT and in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and in Beth-Phelet,

 

Nehemiah 11:27. Hazar Shual, and Beersheba and its villages;

   YLT and in Hazar-Shaul, and in Beer-Sheba and its small towns,

 

Nehemiah 11:28. in Ziklag and Meconah and its villages;

   YLT and in Ziklag, and in Mekonah and in its small towns,

 

Nehemiah 11:29. in En Rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth,

   YLT and En-Rimmon, and in Zareah, and in Jarmuth,

 

Nehemiah 11:30. Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; in Azekah and its villages. They dwelt from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.

   YLT Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its small towns; and they encamp from Beer-Sheba unto the valley of Hinnom.

 

Nehemiah 11:31. Also the children of Benjamin from Geba dwelt in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel, and their villages;

   YLT And sons of Benjamin [are] at Geba, Michmash, and Aija, and Beth-El, and its small towns,

Verses 31-35

The children also of Benjamin, from Geba, dwelt at Michmash,....

Geba was a city on the southern border of Benjamin, Joshua 18:24 and Michmash on the northern, of which see 1 Samuel 13:2 in this and the four following verses are the names of several cities in the tribe of Benjamin, inhabited by the men of that tribe, as Alia, the same with Ai, that lay on the east of Bethel, here also mentioned, see Joshua 7:2 Anathoth, the birth place of Jeremiah the prophet, Jeremiah 1:1. Nob, a city of the priests, 1 Samuel 21:1. Ananiah is nowhere else mentioned; Hazor is to be distinguished from another of this name in the tribe of Naphtali, Joshua 19:36. Ramah, a place well known in Benjamin, Joshua 18:25. Gittaim, of which see 2 Samuel 4:3. Hadid, the same with Adida, which lay in a plain,"Simon also set up Adida in Sephela, and made it strong with gates and bars.' (1 Maccabees 12:38)Zeboim, a valley of this name, is read in 1 Samuel 13:18. Neballat we read of nowhere else; of Lod and Ono, see 1 Chronicles 8:12 and the valley of craftsmen, or Chorasin, 1 Chronicles 4:14.

 

Nehemiah 11:32. in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah;

   YLT Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

 

Nehemiah 11:33. in Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim;

   YLT Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

 

Nehemiah 11:34. in Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat;

   YLT Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

 

Nehemiah 11:35. in Lod, Ono, and the Valley of Craftsmen.

   YLT Lod, and Ono, the valley of the artificers.

 

Nehemiah 11:36. Some of the Judean divisions of Levites were in Benjamin.

   YLT And of the Levites, the courses of Judah [are] for Benjamin.

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

They were scattered about, some here and some there, in both these tribes, for the better instruction of the people.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

a.    Nehemiah 11:9 Or Hassenuah

b.    Nehemiah 11:14 Or the son of Haggedolim

c.Nehemiah 11:17 Or Michah

d.    Nehemiah 11:24 Literally at the king’s hand