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Nehemiah Chapter 11
The Leaders in Jerusalem
- Nehemiah 11:1 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.
- 2 And the people
blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell
at Jerusalem.
There were better places to have farms
and prosper so for people to offer to dwell at Jerusalem was
commendable. It wasn't the best place to have farming land. They
still needed people to dwell there so casting lots and volunteering
to live there was needed. Resettling people after years of captivity
was not easy. They were able to do this because of orders from the
king to allow it. They still were not a free nation and didn't
become on until 1948. Even now though in 2025 they have trouble from
enemies surrounding them. Unfortunately not all believe in Israel's
right to that land. Some nations do and some do not.
A vast number of evangelical bible
reading believers in Jesus recognize the right of Israel to exist
but not all that call themselves Christians agree on that. Someone
that reads and studies the whole bible in context will most likely
recognize their right to exist and have their own nation.
-
Nehemiah 11:3 Now 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.
Judah was a name representing the whole
tribe of Israel at this time. Now in modern times the name of Israel
represents the whole nation.
- Nehemiah 11:4 And 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;
- 5 And 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.
- 6 All the sons of
Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and
eight valiant men.
- 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 Jesaiah.
- 8 And after him
Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.
- 9 And Joel the son
of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was
second over the city.
- 10 Of the priests:
Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.
- 11 Seraiah 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.
- 12 And 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,
- 13 And 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,
- 14 And their
brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and
their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.
- 15 Also of the
Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son
of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
- 16 And Shabbethai
and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of
the outward business of the house of God.
- 17 And 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.
- 18 All the Levites
in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.
- 19 Moreover the
porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates,
were an hundred seventy and two.
- 20 And the residue
of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the
cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
- 21 But the Nethinims
dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.
- 22 The 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.
- 23 For it was the
king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion
should be for the singers, due for every day.
- 24 And 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.
I find it interesting that singers were
given support as well as priests. To me is shows that the need to
sing and worship God was very important to them.
Villages Outside Jerusalem
- Nehemiah 11:25 And
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,
- 26 And at Jeshua,
and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,
- 27 And at
Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,
- 28 And at Ziklag,
and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,
- 29 And at Enrimmon,
and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,
- 30 Zanoah, 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.
- 31 The children also
of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel,
and in their villages,
- 32 And at Anathoth,
Nob, Ananiah,
- 33 Hazor, Ramah,
Gittaim,
- 34 Hadid, Zeboim,
Neballat,
- 35 Lod, and Ono, the
valley of craftsmen.
- 36 And of the
Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.
Seems like at this time in history,
they organized and thought of everything. Now we see some dwelling
outside of Jerusalem in villages that had fields or places they
could grow food. So we see the need for farming. Everyone had their
things to do and add to the well being of all. This takes good godly
leadership when starting all over from scratch to begin to dwell in
a new place after being in bondage to Babylon for 70 years. Building
a nation is not easy especially since they were still under the
authority of Persia, later Greece, then the Roman Empire. DC
Nehemiah
Chapter 12
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