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NEHEMIAH 11

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph, etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: NEHEMIAH 11:1-2
 ¹Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities. ²And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

11:1 "the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem" Since the terrible siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C., no one wanted to live in the city. The leaders (the wealthy laymen, cf. Neh. 11:3) and the temple personnel were the only large groups that lived within the city's walls (cf. Neh. 11:3; 2:16-17). They were to be joined by 10% of the Jewish population of the surrounding towns plus any volunteers (cf. Neh. 11:2). This involved leaving established homes and farms. This same subject is first introduced in Neh. 7:4.

▣ "cast lots" This VERB (BDB 656, KB 709, Hiphil PERFECT) means "casting lots (cf. 1 Chr. 24:31; 25:8; 26:13-14; Esth. 3:7; 9:24). This had religious connotations (cf. Neh. 10:34; Num. 26:55-56; Jos. 14:2; Pro. 16:33; 18:18). It was a way to know the will of YHWH, as was the Urim and Thummim (cf. Exod. 28:30; Lev. 8:8; Num. 27:21). The Urim was used exclusively by the High Priest, but "lots" were used to know YHWH's will by others (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 840-842).

Special Topic: Urim and Thummim

▣ "the holy city" This was a way of referring to the place where YHWH dwelt (cf. Isa. 48:2; 52:1; Dan. 9:24).

Special Topic: Holy

Special Topic: Jerusalem

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: NEHEMIAH 11:3-6
 ³Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah each lived on his own property in their cities—the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants. ⁴Some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the sons 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 sons of Perez; ⁵and 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 the Shilonite. ⁶All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 able men.

11:3 "Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem" This list is quite similar to 1 Chronicles 9; about half of the names are the same. The exact relationship between these two lists as with other lists in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, is uncertain.

▣ "each lived on his own property" The term "property" (BDB 28) usually meant "to grasp" or "to seize," but in connection to tribal allotments it has the connotation of given by YHWH (both as a promise to Abraham, cf. Gen. 5:12-21 and by the Urim in Joshua 13-19).

▣ "Israelites" This refers to Jewish laymen. This verse lists the different elements of Jewish society. The different kinds of temple personnel and lay persons are included.

▣ "temple servants" This term (BDB 682) in post-exilic texts always has the ARTICLE and is PLURAL. It designates a temple labor force. The origin of the term may be "the given ones," referring to those non-Israelites defeated in battle by King David and given to the temple to help the Levites (cf. Ezra 8:20); therefore, they are like "Solomon's servants" (cf. Ezra 2:58; Neh. 7:60; 11:3).

11:4 "sons of Judah. . .sons of Benjamin" The preponderance of returning Jews were from these two tribes because they made up the last tribal groups to be exiled. Simeon was also part of the tribe of Judah but had lost their tribal identity.

▣ "Perez" See Gen. 38:29.

11:5 "the son of the Shilonite" This designation is surprising in a list of names (cf. 1 Chr. 9:5). There is no first name associated with this place (Shiloh, a city in Ephraim). It is possible that the consonants of "Shilonites" should refer to "Shelah," one of Judah's sons in Gen. 38:5,26, therefore, "Shelanite" (cf. Derek Kidner, Tyndale Commentary, p. 118), which is the way NEB and REB translate 1 Chr. 9:5 and the form appears in Num. 26:20.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: NEHEMIAH 11:7-9
 ⁷Now 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; ⁸and after him Gabbai and Sallai, 928. ⁹Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second in command of the city.

This Hebrew term (BDB 29) has a large usage. All of the above translations are a possibility. For me those that focus on kinship fit the context best. However, "brothers" involves a textual emendation.

The UBS Text Project, p. 539, gives a "B" rating (some doubt) to "and after him" (MT).

1. and after him ‒ ואחריו
2. and his brothers ‒ ואחיו (LXX)

11:9 "their overseer" This term (BDB 824) means "commissioner, deputy, overseer. It is used in Neh. 11:22 for a leader of Levites. It is used of the king's officers in 2 Chr. 24:11 and of the king's military officers in 2 Kgs. 25:19. This text does not specify exactly what kind of overseer.

▣ "second in command of the city" This may imply that he was next to Nehemiah's brother, Hanani (cf. Neh. 7:2). It is possible that Judah was the overseer of Benjamin's labor force who helped rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

The NIV translates this phrase "was over the Second District of the city." The only other English translation that I have found that has this interpretation is James Moffatt, A New Translation of the Bible. It is also in the footnote of the NEB.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: NEHEMIAH 11:10-14
 ¹⁰From 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 leader of the house of God, ¹²and their kinsmen who performed the work of the temple, 822; 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 kinsmen, heads of fathers' households, 242; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, ¹⁴and their brothers, valiant warriors, 128. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.

The term (BDB 617) means "one in front." It is used of political leaders, but also of religious leaders (cf. 2 Chr. 31:12; 35:8; Jer. 20:1, also of High Priest, 1 Chr. 9:11; 2 Chr. 31:13 [different word in Neh. 11:10]; Neh. 11:11; Dan. 11:22).

This term (BDB 298) can refer to

1. physical strength
2. military prowess (e.g., Jos. 1:14; 8:3; 10:7; Jdg. 6:12; 11:1; 2 Chr. 13:3; 14:8)
3. ability (cf. Neh. 11:6; Exod. 18:21,25; 1 Chr. 9:13)
4. wealth (1 Sam. 9:1; 2 Kgs. 15:20)

Because these men are priests either #1 or #3 fits the context best.

The term (BDB 153, KB 177) means "great" and is used to describe many things and persons (NASB 1970 marginal note, p. 700, "the great ones"). The TEV translation carries the basic thought of the PLURAL form in this context.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: NEHEMIAH 11:15-18
 ¹⁵Now from the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; ¹⁶and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God; ¹⁷and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the leader in beginning the thanksgiving at 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 284.

11:16 "who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God" In the context of Nehemiah, one wonders if this refers to

1. normal temple activities, but done outside the precincts of the temple (e.g., raising sacrificial sheep)
2. the work done on the walls and gates of the city which were near the temple area
3. other administrative assignments (cf. 1 Chr. 26:29)

The term has the connotation in this text of secular work.

11:17 "Asaph. . .Jeduthun" These were two of the three groups of temple singers appointed by David (cf. 1 Chr. 25:1-4; 2 Chr. 5:12).

This Levite was somehow related to the liturgical aspect of prayer/praise. The Hebrew "the begin" is close to the Hebrew "the praise" (cf. LXX & Vulgate). The JPSOA combines the meaning by "he would lead off with praise" (The Jewish Study Bible, p. 1706). The UBS Text Project, p. 540, gives "of the praise" a "C" rating (considerable doubt).

Asaph was a leader of a Levitical family involved in temple music and praise (cf. 1 Chr. 25:1-2; 2 Chr. 5:12).

▣ "and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren" This seems to imply that this Levite was the assistant to Mattaniah (cf. TEV). This Hebrew term (BDB 1041) is often used to denote the second in charge/control/leadership (cf. 2 Kgs. 23:4; 25:18; 1 Chr. 5:12; 15:18; 2 Chr. 31:12; Jer. 52:24).

▣ "Abda the son of Shammua" 1 Chronicles 9:16 has Obadiah son of Shemaiah.

11:18 Many of the Levites lived outside of the city of Jerusalem (cf. Neh. 11:3,20), but 284 did live in the city.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: NEHEMIAH 11:19-21
 ¹⁹Also the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren who kept watch at the gates, were 172. ²⁰The rest of Israel, of the priests and of the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each on his own inheritance. ²¹But the temple servants were living in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants.

11:19 "the gatekeepers" These were also ancient families who were appointed to this special task at the temple (cf. 1 Chr. 9:17-27; 23:5; Ezra 2:42).

11:20 "each on his own inheritance" Originally the tribe of Levi did not inherit land. The Lord Himself was their inheritance (cf. Num. 18:20,24; Deut. 10:9; 18:1-2; Jos. 13:14,33). The Levites asked Joshua for houses in certain special cities called "Levitical cities" (cf. Joshua 21) along with a small part of the surrounding pasture land. In this way they could grow vegetable gardens or raise an animal.

11:21 "the temple servants" See note at Ezra 2:43.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: NEHEMIAH 11:22-24
 ²²Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of God. ²³For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the song leaders day by day. ²⁴Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king's representative in all matters concerning the people.

11:22 There are so many lists of people in Ezra and Nehemiah. Often the names are common. The only way to try to tell them apart is to

1. check which group they are a part of (e.g., lay persons, priests, Levites, etc.)
2. check the tribe
3. check the order of the names

Here in Neh. 11:22 it is obvious that Uzzi is from the same family of Asaph mentioned in Neh. 11:17.

11:23 "the king" This refers to David, not Artaxerxes I (cf. Neh. 12:24,45-46). These temple personnel were appointed special tasks to perform in the temple on a regular basis, many of the tasks going back to David's day.

11:24 "Pethahiah" This is the name of a priest in David's day who was involved in the twenty-four divisions (cf. 1 Chr. 24:16).

There is another man by this same name mentioned in Neh. 11:24. The interpretive question is (1) do Neh. 11:23 and 24 go together and, thereby "the king" refers to David or (2) is the man a representative of Artaxerxes I, the Persian king during Ezra's and Nehemiah's day?

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: NEHEMIAH 11:25-36
 ²⁵Now as for the villages with their fields, some of the sons of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, and in Jekabzeel and its villages,
 ²⁶and in Jeshua, in Moladah and Beth-pelet,
  ²⁷and in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its towns,
 ²⁸and in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns,
 ²⁹and in En-rimmon, in Zorah and in Jarmuth,
 ³⁰Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba as far as the valley of Hinnom. ³¹The sons of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, at Bethel and its towns,
 ³²at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
  ³³Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
 ³⁴Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
  ³⁵Lod and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
 ³⁶From the Levites, some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin.

11:25-36 The list of cities in chapter 3 which relates those who worked on the city wall is different from this list. The only name that is the same is Zanoah. This is hard to explain for the lists are supposed to be a list of the surrounding cities with Jewish populations. The possibilities are (1) that these cities mark the extent of the boundaries of Judah and Benjamin, not the cities close to Jerusalem or (2) that these are cities in the pre-exilic land allocations of Judah (cf. Neh. 11:25-30) and Benjamin (cf. Neh. 11:31-36) in which the returnees settled.

11:25 "Kiriath-arba" This is the ancient name for Hebron (cf. Gen. 23:2), which is 20 miles south of Jerusalem (cf. Jos. 14:15; 15:54; 20:7; Jdg. 1:10).

▣ "and its towns" This is literally the Hebrew idiom "daughters."

▣ "Dibon" This is possibly the same as Dimonah. See Jos. 15:21-26.

▣ "Jekabzeel" A village in southern Judah close to Edom. See Joshua 15:21.

11:25, 28, 32, 34 "Jekabzeel. . .Meconah. . .Ananiah. . .Neballat" These are cities which appear only here in the Bible.

11:26 "Moladah" See Jos. 15:26; 19:2; 1 Chr. 4:28.

▣ "Beth-pelet" This is a village in southern Judah. See Jos. 15:27.

11:27 "Hazar-Shual, in Beersheba" Both are mentioned in Jos. 15:28.

11:28 "Ziklag" See Jos. 15:31; 19:5; 1 Sam. 27:6; 30:1,14,25.

11:29 "En-rimmon" See Joshua 15:32.

▣ "Zorah" See Jos. 15:33.

▣ "Jarmuth" Like Lachish this was originally an Amorite city. See Jos. 10:3,5,23; 12:11; 15:35.

11:30 "Zanoah, Adullam" Both are mentioned in Jos. 15:34-35.

▣ "Lachish" This was a major walled city (e.g., Jos. 10; 12:3-16; 2 Chr. 11:9; 22:9).

▣ "Azekah" This is a city of Judah located on the coastal plain. See Jos. 15:35.

▣ "Beersheba" This is about 32 miles south of Jerusalem. The current Persian land allocation for Judah did not extend that far north.

▣"the valley of Hinnom" One of the valleys in Jerusalem known as the location of the worship of the Phoenician fire god Molech. This valley was later used as the garbage dump for Jerusalem. Jesus uses it to describe Hell — Gehenna.

Special Topic: Where Are the Dead? II. D.

Special Topic: Molech

11:31 "Geba" This was a northern city of Benjamin. Its name means "height" or "hill." See Joshua 18:24.

▣ "Michmash and Aija" Both are mentioned in Isa. 10:28-20. They were located near Bethel. Aija means "ruins" and may be a way of referring to Ai.

11:32 "Anathoth" This was a Levitical city three miles north of Jerusalem (cf. Jos. 21:18). It was Jeremiah's hometown (cf. Jer. 1:1).

▣ "Nob" Another Levitical city two miles north of Jerusalem (cf. 1 Sam. 21:1; 22:9,11,19; Isa. 10:32).

11:33 "Hazor" Often these village names, like the people, are hard to identify because there are several by the same name. Hazor is a good example.

1. a major Canaanite walled city in the north of Palestine (cf. Joshua 11; 12:19; 19:36)
2. a small city in the south of Judah (cf. Jos. 15:23; 1 Kgs. 9:15)
3. another city in southern Judah (Hazor-Hadattah, cf. Jos. 15:25)
4. a small post-exilic city north of Jerusalem (cf. Neh. 11:33)
5. this term even refers to countries or chiefdoms east of Arabia (cf. Jer. 49:28,30,33)

As an added point, people are hard to identify because

1. in this period Levites and priests often used the names of ancestors
2. in this period the Jewish families named their children after their grandfathers

▣ "Ramah" This is a city of Benjamin five miles north of Jerusalem. See Joshua 18:25; Judges 4:5; 19:13; Ezra 2:26.

▣ "Gittaim" The name means "two wine presses" and was northwest of Jerusalem. See 2 Sam. 4:3.

11:34, 35 "Hadid. . .Lod and Ono" See Ezra 2:33 and Neh. 7:37.

11:35 "the valley of craftsmen" The ancient guilds lived close together (cf. 1 Chr. 4:14).

11:36 As Neh. 11:25-30 describes the restored land of Judah in this Persian period, so Neh. 11:31-35 describes the extent of the land of Benjamin. The Levites lived in all areas of the restored land (cf. TEV).

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