Nehemiah 11

Population of the City Increased

1-2 The leaders and rest cast lots to determine which tenth of the people would settle in Jerusalem. They were blessed by the other nine-tenths for being willing to do so.

3-6 Most of the people lived on their own properties in the towns of Judah, while Judahites (named descendants of Perez), 468 valiant warriors, lived in Jerusalem.

7-9 Benjamites who lived in Jerusalem, 928 total, overseen by Joel son of Zichri and Judah son of Hassanuah as second in charge.

10-14 The priests, named: Jedaiah and Seraiah and their associates, who did the work of the temple, 822 in number; Adaiah and his associates, heads of ancestral houses, 242 in number; Amashsai and his associates, valiant warriors, totaling 128; their overseer was Zabdiel.

15-18 Levites named, totaling 284: leaders Semaiah, Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were over the outside work of the temple; Mattaniah, who began the thanksgiving in prayer, with Bakbukiah, his associate; and Abda.

19 Gatekeepers, totaling 172: Akkub, Talmon and associates.

20-21 The rest of Israel, priests and Levites stayed in the towns they inherited. Temple servants, overseen by Ziha and Gishpa, lived in Ophel.

22-24 Uzzi, descendant of Asaph, oversaw the singers, Levites who maintained the interior of the temple. Singers received a daily provision, by order of the king. Pethahiah, descendant of Judah, was “at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.” He was the liaison between the Persian king and those living in Judah.

Villages outside Jerusalem

25-36 List of villages settled by the people of Judah, from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom; then the people of Benjamin (including Obo, the valley of artisans). Some divisions of the Levites in Judah were joined to Benjamin. A special valley for artisans. For some reason, I find that intriguing. The Levites outside Jerusalem were distributed evenly among the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.