Nehemiah Chapter 11 — The Resettlement of Jerusalem
The leaders and a selected tenth of the population resettle in Jerusalem to repopulate the city, while the remainder live in the surrounding towns.
1The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.
2The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.
3Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah, everyone lived in his possession in their cities—Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the children of Solomon’s servants.
4Some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. 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 Mahalalel, 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 the Shilonite.
6All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.
7These 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.
8After him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight.
9Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah 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, the ruler of God’s house,
12and their brothers who did the work of the house, eight hundred 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,
13and his brothers, chiefs of fathers’ households, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
14and their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.
15Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
16and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of God’s house;
17and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
18All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four.
19Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred seventy-two.
20The residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance.
21But the temple servants lived in Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.
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 Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers responsible for the service of God’s house.
23For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.
24Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.
25As for the villages with their fields, some of the children of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, in Jekabzeel and its villages,
26in Jeshua, in Moladah, Beth Pelet,
27in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its towns,
28in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns,
29in En Rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,
30Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.
31The children of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at Bethel and its towns,
32at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36Of the Levites, certain divisions in Judah settled in Benjamin’s territory.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Nehemiah 11:1
“The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.”
It explains the systematic method used to ensure Jerusalem was sufficiently populated after the reconstruction.
Nehemiah 11:2
“The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.”
It highlights the communal appreciation for those who volunteered to face the challenges of living in the capital.
Chapter Summary
Nehemiah 11 details the repopulation of Jerusalem after its walls were rebuilt. The leaders of the people lived in the city, while the rest of the population cast lots to determine who would move there. One out of every ten people was chosen to dwell in the holy city, though some also volunteered for the task. The chapter provides detailed lists of the families from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin who settled in Jerusalem, along with counts of priests, Levites, gatekeepers, and temple servants. This organized resettlement ensured that the capital remained populated and defensible. The latter part of the chapter lists various towns and villages throughout the territories of Judah and Benjamin where the remaining Israelites resided, demonstrating the breadth of the restoration across the land.
Frequently Asked Questions
After the walls were completed, Jerusalem was still sparsely populated and vulnerable. Casting lots was a fair way to ensure that ten percent of the general population moved into the city to provide security and maintain the capital.
The city was inhabited by the leaders of the people, descendants of Judah and Benjamin, priests, Levites, gatekeepers, and temple servants.
This is one of the first times in the Bible where Jerusalem is explicitly called the holy city, emphasizing its special status as the location of the temple and the center of Jewish worship.
Study Note
The use of lots to determine residency reflects the biblical practice of seeking divine guidance to ensure a fair and divinely-ordained distribution of the population.
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