OLD TESTAMENT

Nehemiah 11

The Holy Bible · English
All chapters

Read all chapter notes ↗

Bilingual reading
Text

Open an explanation beneath verses with notes. Your notes and highlights stay on this device.

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.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 1. Lots. Those who had a mind to fix their abode at Jerusalem, received every encouragement. But some were compelled, that the city might regain its ancient splendour, and become the bulwark of the nation. Josephus (xi. 5.) says, that Nehemias built at his own expense houses for the priest and Levites, who chose to reside there.

Read all chapter notes
2

The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 2. Blessed. Applauding their zeal and disinterestedness, as the city was yet only a heap of ruins. Calmet.—Some from the other ten tribes returned; but the transactions of three tribes are more particularly noticed. V. Bede. Worthington.

Read all chapter notes
3

Now 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.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 3. Solomon. See 1 Esdras 2:55 and 1 Chronicles 9:2.

Read all chapter notes
4

Some 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;

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 4. Benjamin, as well as of Ephraim and Manasses. 1 Chronicles 9:3. The difference between this last record and the present, arises from Nehemias including many who returned with Esdras and with himself. Calmet.

Read all chapter notes
5

and 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.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 5. Silonite. Of the son of Sela,. 1 Chronicles 9:5. Tirinus.

Read all chapter notes
6

All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.

7

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.

8

After him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight.

9

Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 9. Second. Vicegerent of Joel, ( Calmet.) or commander of a second part of the city. Syr.

Read all chapter notes
10

Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,

11

Seraiah 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,

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 11. Achitob had the inspection over the Levites and treasures. Eliasib was then pontiff. Calmet.

Read all chapter notes
12

and 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,

13

and 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,

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 13. Amassai. Or (1 Chronicles 9:12.) Maasai, the son of Adiel, the son of Jezra, the son of Mosollam, the son of Mosollamoth, the son of Emmer.

Read all chapter notes
14

and their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 14. The mighty, for riches and power; on which account this family was conspicuous.

Read all chapter notes
15

Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 15. Semeia. The ancient Latin MSS. read Sebenia. Martinay.

Read all chapter notes
16

and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of God’s house;

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 16. Outward. For repairs of the temple, cultivation of the lands given by vow; also to buy provisions, sacred vestments, and so forth

Read all chapter notes
17

and 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.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 17. Praise. Master of music. Calmet.—Hebrew “chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer.” Syr. “leader of the Jews in prayer.” Bible.

Read all chapter notes
18

All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four.

19

Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred seventy-two.

20

The residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance.

21

But the temple servants lived in Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 21. Gaspha, were chiefs of the Nathinites. Calmet.—Hebrew “over the,” and so forth Ophel was their place of residence. Calmet. 3:26.

Read all chapter notes
22

The 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.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 22. Overseer. Lit. “bishop.” Hebrew pekid, which has the same meaning. Bible.—Christians styled him who was at the head, bishop; as the Athenians did their chief justice. Grot. E. Calmet.

Read all chapter notes
23

For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 23. King’s. David’s, (Calmet. 12:24,) or perhaps the Persian monarch, who had appointed a maintenance for the priests, &chapter 1 Ezra 6 and 7. Calmet.—Order. Hebrew “that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.” Prot.

Read all chapter notes
24

Pethahiah 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.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 24. People. They addressed themselves to him, ( Bible.) and he gave an exact account to the king ( Calmet.) of Persia. Menochius.

Read all chapter notes
25

As 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,

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 25. The houses. Hebrew “and for the dwellings, ( Calmet.) or villages.” Pagnin. Menochius.—Villages. Lit. “daughters,” which is often used in this sense. Bible.

Read all chapter notes
26

in Jeshua, in Moladah, Beth Pelet,

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 26. Jesue. This, and many of the other critics, had changed names, or were not built in the time of Josue. Calmet.

Read all chapter notes
27

in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its towns,

28

in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns,

29

in En Rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,

30

Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 30. Bersabee. The southern extremity of Juda, ( Menochius.) unto the valley on the east of Jerusalem. Adric. 186.

Read all chapter notes
31

The children of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at Bethel and its towns,

32

at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

33

Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

34

Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 34–35. Lod. Built by Samad. 1 Chronicles 8:12. It is called Lod-Hadid. Calmet. 7:37.—Ono had the same founder, and stood in the valley of craftsmen. Calmet. 6:2, and 1 Chronicles 4:14.

Read all chapter notes
35

Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 34–35. Lod. Built by Samad. 1 Chronicles 8:12. It is called Lod-Hadid. Calmet. 7:37.—Ono had the same founder, and stood in the valley of craftsmen. Calmet. 6:2, and 1 Chronicles 4:14.

Read all chapter notes
36

Of the Levites, certain divisions in Judah settled in Benjamin’s territory.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 36. Portions. The Levites dwelt in the cities assigned to these two tribes. Calmet.

Read all chapter notes