Nehemiah 11King James Version
Lots are cast to bring one in ten of the people to live in Jerusalem itself, since most had settled in the surrounding towns. Those who volunteer to move are blessed. A list of who lives where, including gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants.
Jerusalem is still underpopulated after the rebuild. One in ten residents of the surrounding towns volunteers, or is chosen by lot, to move into the city. The chapter lists those families who settle Jerusalem along with the towns where the rest of Judah and Benjamin live. The settlement of the holy city is itself presented as an act of service.
A rebuilt city needs people willing to give up comfortable lives elsewhere to make it home.
verse: "And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem." (11:2), Choosing to live in a half-built, threatened city is treated as a sacrifice worthy of public blessing.
The towns of Judah and Benjamin, autumn 445 BC. Lots are cast in village squares and names are read out. One family in ten hears their name and starts packing. The chosen carry their household goods through Judah's roads toward a city that smells of new lime plaster and old ash. Those who go voluntarily do not wait for the lottery. Jerusalem is being filled again, family by family.
The rulers who settle in Jerusalem; the volunteers and the lottery-chosen families; the heads of priestly and Levite families listed by district; the Nethinims, temple servants, who settle in Ophel.
The voluntary resettlement of Jerusalem is a rarely noted act of civic courage. The city was still sparsely built, under threat, and far less comfortable than established towns in Judah. The public blessing of those who moved there acknowledges that community requires sacrifice, not just participation.
There is a tenderness here that gets lost in the lists. People uprooting households, leaving established farms, moving their children into a city that is still, in many ways, a construction site. The crowd blesses them as they go.
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.
2And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at 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.
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;
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.
6All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
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.
8And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.
9And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.
10Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, 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.
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,
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,
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.
15Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the 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.
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.
18All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.
19Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.
20And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
21But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.
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.
23For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every 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.
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,
26And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,
27And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,
28And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,
29And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at 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.
31The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages,
32And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
35Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.