Nehemiah 11 Study Notes: Resettling Jerusalem
The leaders live in Jerusalem, and lots are drawn to move one in ten of the people into the city, while those who offer to go willingly are blessed. The chapter lists the families, priests, Levites, gatekeepers, and singers who settled there, and the towns of Judah and Benjamin where everyone else lived.
General
Besides the leaders, how was it decided who would live in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:1)?
Answer: Lots were cast so that one in every ten would move into the city
The people’s leaders made their homes in Jerusalem, and everyone else cast lots so that one person in ten would move into the city while the other nine stayed home in their towns (11:1). This was needed because, even after the wall was finished, Jerusalem was big and roomy but had few people living in it, and its houses were still unbuilt (7:4). Casting lots left the choice in the LORD’s hands, since Scripture teaches that every decision of the lot comes from Him (Proverbs 16:33). The text calls Jerusalem the holy city, the city set apart for God, a name the prophets also gave it (Isaiah 52:1).
- Nehemiah 11:1 (BSB)“Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns.”The leaders live in Jerusalem, and lots decide which tenth of the people will join them.
- Nehemiah 7:4 (BSB)“Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.”Once the wall was built, the city was large but had few people, and its houses were still unbuilt.
- Proverbs 16:33 (BSB)“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”Casting lots was a way of leaving the decision to the LORD, who governs every outcome.
- Isaiah 52:1 (BSB)“Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.”Isaiah also calls Jerusalem the holy city, the title Nehemiah 11:1 gives it.
Theological
By what means was Jerusalem’s population increased beyond its leaders (Nehemiah 11:1)?
Answer: Lots were cast so that one in every ten would move into the city
The leaders already resided in Jerusalem; for the rest, lots were cast to move one in ten of the people into the city while nine remained in their towns (11:1). The measure answers the problem stated in 7:4: a spacious city behind new walls with few inhabitants and houses still unbuilt. The use of the lot places the outcome under divine direction, for the LORD determines every decision of the lot (Proverbs 16:33). Jerusalem is called the holy city, a title the prophets also give it (Isaiah 52:1).
- Nehemiah 11:1 (BSB)“Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns.”The leaders live in Jerusalem, and lots decide which tenth of the people will join them.
- Nehemiah 7:4 (BSB)“Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.”Once the wall was built, the city was large but had few people, and its houses were still unbuilt.
- Proverbs 16:33 (BSB)“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”Casting lots was a way of leaving the decision to the LORD, who governs every outcome.
- Isaiah 52:1 (BSB)“Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.”Isaiah also calls Jerusalem the holy city, the title Nehemiah 11:1 gives it.
General
Along with families from Judah and from Benjamin, which groups does Nehemiah 11:10-23 list as settling in Jerusalem to serve?
Answer: Priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers for God’s house
Besides families from Judah and from Benjamin (11:4-9), the list names priests who served in the temple (11:10-14), Levites, two of whom oversaw the work outside God’s house (11:15-18), gatekeepers who guarded the gates (11:19), and singers descended from Asaph who served in God’s house (11:22). One Levite, Mattaniah, led the thanksgiving and prayer (11:17), and a royal command governed the singers’ daily duties (11:23). Repopulating the holy city meant staffing its worship. The Levites’ praise continued the order David had set up, when he appointed Levites to offer thanks and praise (1 Chronicles 16:4) every morning and evening (1 Chronicles 23:30).
- Nehemiah 11:17 (BSB)“Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.”Mattaniah, a Levite descended from Asaph, led the thanksgiving and prayer.
- Nehemiah 11:22-23 (BSB)“Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. He was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the singers in charge of the service of the house of God. For there was a command from the king concerning the singers, an ordinance regulating their daily activities.”Asaph’s descendants, the singers, served in God’s house under a royal command.
- 1 Chronicles 16:4 (BSB)“David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.”David appointed Levites to give thanks and praise to the LORD, the work continued here.
- 1 Chronicles 23:30 (BSB)“They were also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the LORD, and likewise in the evening.”The Levites were to stand morning and evening to thank and praise the LORD.
Theological
Which categories of temple personnel does Nehemiah 11:10-23 record as residing in Jerusalem?
Answer: Priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers for God’s house
Alongside Judahites and Benjaminites (11:4-9), the register records priests serving in the temple (11:10-14), Levites, two of whom supervised the external work of God’s house (11:15-18), gatekeepers (11:19), and the Asaphite singers responsible for the service of God’s house (11:22). Mattaniah leads the thanksgiving and prayer (11:17), and a royal ordinance regulates the singers’ daily duties (11:23). Jerusalem is repopulated around its worship, in continuity with David’s ordering of Levitical praise (1 Chronicles 16:4) at morning and evening (1 Chronicles 23:30).
- Nehemiah 11:17 (BSB)“Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.”Mattaniah, a Levite descended from Asaph, led the thanksgiving and prayer.
- Nehemiah 11:22-23 (BSB)“Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. He was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the singers in charge of the service of the house of God. For there was a command from the king concerning the singers, an ordinance regulating their daily activities.”Asaph’s descendants, the singers, served in God’s house under a royal command.
- 1 Chronicles 16:4 (BSB)“David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.”David appointed Levites to give thanks and praise to the LORD, the work continued here.
- 1 Chronicles 23:30 (BSB)“They were also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the LORD, and likewise in the evening.”The Levites were to stand morning and evening to thank and praise the LORD.
General
True or False: The people blessed those who offered of their own will to settle in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:2).
Answer: True
This is true. The people spoke blessings over every man who chose of his own accord to make his home in Jerusalem (11:2). The city was still thinly settled, with its houses still unbuilt (7:4), so those willing to move there met a real need. Scripture honors this kind of willing service: Deborah’s song honors those who volunteered (Judges 5:9), and in David’s day the people rejoiced when their leaders gave freely and wholeheartedly (1 Chronicles 29:9).
- Nehemiah 11:2 (BSB)“And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.”The people bless those who willingly chose to settle in Jerusalem.
- Judges 5:9 (BSB)“My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!”Deborah’s song honors Israel’s volunteers, as the people here honor those who offered themselves.
- 1 Chronicles 29:9 (BSB)“And the people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given to the LORD freely and wholeheartedly. And King David also rejoiced greatly.”In David’s day the people rejoiced when their leaders gave freely and wholeheartedly.
- Nehemiah 7:4 (BSB)“Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.”Jerusalem was thinly settled, which made the volunteers’ choice a real help to the city.
Theological
True or False: Those who freely offered to dwell in Jerusalem received the blessing of the people (Nehemiah 11:2).
Answer: True
This is true. Every man who willingly offered to make his home in Jerusalem received the people’s blessing (11:2); the city was sparsely populated, and its houses were still unbuilt (7:4). Willing self-offering for the good of God’s people is honored elsewhere in Scripture, in Deborah’s praise of the volunteers (Judges 5:9) and in the joy over the free and wholehearted giving of David’s leaders (1 Chronicles 29:9).
- Nehemiah 11:2 (BSB)“And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.”The people bless those who willingly chose to settle in Jerusalem.
- Judges 5:9 (BSB)“My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!”Deborah’s song honors Israel’s volunteers, as the people here honor those who offered themselves.
- 1 Chronicles 29:9 (BSB)“And the people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given to the LORD freely and wholeheartedly. And King David also rejoiced greatly.”In David’s day the people rejoiced when their leaders gave freely and wholeheartedly.
- Nehemiah 7:4 (BSB)“Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.”Jerusalem was thinly settled, which made the volunteers’ choice a real help to the city.
General
Where did the other Israelites, priests, and Levites live (Nehemiah 11:20)?
Answer: Throughout Judah’s towns, each on the land he inherited
Those not living in Jerusalem stayed throughout the towns of Judah, each man on the land his family had inherited (11:20). The chapter lists towns where Judah’s people lived, stretching from Beersheba in the south up to the Hinnom Valley beside Jerusalem (11:25-30), and towns where the people of Benjamin lived (11:31-35). This continues the pattern from the first return, when the returning families made their homes in their towns (Ezra 2:70). Through Jeremiah the LORD had promised that after the captivity people would again own fields in Benjamin and the towns of Judah (Jeremiah 32:44).
- Nehemiah 11:20 (BSB)“The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance.”The rest of Israel, with priests and Levites, live on their inherited land in Judah’s towns.
- Nehemiah 11:30 (BSB)“Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; and in Azekah and its villages. So they settled from Beersheba all the way to the Valley of Hinnom.”The people of Judah are spread across the land, from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
- Ezra 2:70 (BSB)“So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, along with some of the people, settled in their own towns; and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.”From the first return, the people settled in their own towns, as they continue to do here.
- Jeremiah 32:44 (BSB)“Fields will be purchased with silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed, and witnessed in the land of Benjamin, in the areas surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah—the cities of the hill country, the foothills, and the Negev—because I will restore them from captivity, declares the LORD.””The LORD promised that after the captivity fields would again be bought in Benjamin and Judah.
Theological
According to Nehemiah 11:20, where did the remaining Israelites, priests, and Levites settle?
Answer: Throughout Judah’s towns, each on the land he inherited
Outside Jerusalem the rest of Israel, including priests and Levites, lived throughout the towns of Judah on their ancestral inheritances (11:20). The town lists extend Judah’s settlement from Beersheba to the Hinnom Valley (11:25-30) and record Benjamin’s towns (11:31-35). The arrangement continues what began at the first return (Ezra 2:70) and reflects the LORD’s promise through Jeremiah that, after the exile, land would again be bought and held in Benjamin and Judah (Jeremiah 32:44).
- Nehemiah 11:20 (BSB)“The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance.”The rest of Israel, with priests and Levites, live on their inherited land in Judah’s towns.
- Nehemiah 11:30 (BSB)“Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; and in Azekah and its villages. So they settled from Beersheba all the way to the Valley of Hinnom.”The people of Judah are spread across the land, from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
- Ezra 2:70 (BSB)“So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, along with some of the people, settled in their own towns; and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.”From the first return, the people settled in their own towns, as they continue to do here.
- Jeremiah 32:44 (BSB)“Fields will be purchased with silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed, and witnessed in the land of Benjamin, in the areas surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah—the cities of the hill country, the foothills, and the Negev—because I will restore them from captivity, declares the LORD.””The LORD promised that after the captivity fields would again be bought in Benjamin and Judah.