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.
25 And for the villages, H2691 with their fields, H7704 some of the children H1121 of Judah H3063 dwelt H3427 at Kirjatharba, H7153 and in the villages H2691 thereof, and at Dibon, H1769 and in the villages H1323 thereof, and at Jekabzeel, H3343 and in the villages H1323 thereof,
26 And at Jeshua, H3442 and at Moladah, H4137 and at Bethphelet, H1046
27 And at Hazarshual, H2705 and at Beersheba, H884 and in the villages H1323 thereof,
28 And at Ziklag, H6860 and at Mekonah, H4368 and in the villages H1323 thereof,
29 And at Enrimmon, H5884 and at Zareah, H6881 and at Jarmuth, H3412
30 Zanoah, H2182 Adullam, H5725 and in their villages, H2691 at Lachish, H3923 and the fields H7704 thereof, at Azekah, H5825 and in the villages H1323 thereof. And they dwelt H2583 from Beersheba H884 unto the valley H1516 of Hinnom. H2011
31 The children H1121 also of Benjamin H1144 from Geba H1387 dwelt at Michmash, H4363 and Aija, H5857 and Bethel, H1008 and in their villages, H1323
32 And at Anathoth, H6068 Nob, H5011 Ananiah, H6055
33 Hazor, H2674 Ramah, H7414 Gittaim, H1664
34 Hadid, H2307 Zeboim, H6650 Neballat, H5041
35 Lod, H3850 and Ono, H207 the valley H1516 of craftsmen. H2791 H2798
25 And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt in Kiriath-arba and the towns thereof, and in Dibon and the towns thereof, and in Jekabzeel and the villages thereof,
26 and in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and Beth-pelet,
27 and in Hazar-shual, and in Beer-sheba and the towns thereof,
28 and in Ziklag, and in Meconah and in the towns thereof,
29 and in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth,
30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and the fields thereof, Azekah and the towns thereof. So they encamped from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom.
31 The children of Benjamin also `dwelt' from Geba `onward', at Michmash and Aija, and at Beth-el and the towns thereof,
32 at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
25 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,
26 and in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and in Beth-Phelet,
27 and in Hazar-Shaul, and in Beer-Sheba and its small towns,
28 and in Ziklag, and in Mekonah and in its small towns,
29 and En-Rimmon, and in Zareah, and in Jarmuth,
30 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.
31 And sons of Benjamin `are' at Geba, Michmash, and Aija, and Beth-El, and its small towns,
32 Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of the artificers.
25 And as to the hamlets in their fields, [some] of the children of Judah dwelt in Kirjath-Arba and its dependent villages, and in Dibon and its dependent villages, and in Jekabzeel and its dependent villages,
26 and in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and in Beth-phelet,
27 and in Hazar-Shual, and in Beer-sheba and its dependent villages,
28 and in Ziklag, and in Meconah and its dependent villages;
29 and in En-Rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth,
30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their hamlets, in Lachish and its fields, in Azekah and its dependent villages: and they encamped from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom.
31 And the children of Benjamin from Geba [dwelt] in Michmash and Aija and Bethel, and their dependent villages,
32 in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
25 As for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and the towns of it, and in Dibon and the towns of it, and in Jekabzeel and the villages of it,
26 and in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and Beth Pelet,
27 and in Hazar Shual, and in Beersheba and the towns of it,
28 and in Ziklag, and in Meconah and in the towns of it,
29 and in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth,
30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and the fields of it, Azekah and the towns of it. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.
31 The children of Benjamin also [lived] from Geba [onward], at Michmash and Aija, and at Bethel and the towns of it,
32 at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
25 And for the daughter-towns with their fields, some of the men of Judah were living in Kiriath-arba and its daughter-towns, and in Dibon and its daughter-towns, and in Jekabzeel and its daughter-towns,
26 And in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and Beth-pelet,
27 And in Hazar-shual, and in Beer-sheba and its daughter-towns,
28 And in Ziklag, and in Meconah and its daughter-towns,
29 And in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth,
30 Zanoah, Adullam and their daughter-towns, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its daughter-towns. So they were living from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom.
31 And the children of Benjamin were living from Geba, at Michmash and Aija, and at Beth-el and its daughter-towns,
32 At Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Lod and Ono, the valley of expert workers.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on Nehemiah 11
Commentary on Nehemiah 11 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 11
This chapter treats of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, those of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, who settled there by lot, or of their own accord, their names and numbers, Nehemiah 11:1, and of the priests and Levites who dwelt there, Nehemiah 11:10, and of the rest of the people, priests, and Levites, that dwelt in the other cities and villages of Judah and Benjamin, Nehemiah 11:20.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four. Who had their residence there, Nehemiah 11:1.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.