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Nehemiah 11

Nehemiah 11 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Nehemiah 11 records who moved into Jerusalem after the city had been restored. It names leaders, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and others who took part in the repopulation. The chapter shows that rebuilding God's people included not only walls and worship, but also the daily commitment to live where God had placed them.

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What happens in Nehemiah 11?

This chapter describes how Jerusalem was repopulated. The leaders settled there first, and then the people cast lots so that one out of every ten would live in the holy city. Those who volunteered were publicly blessed. The chapter then lists the families and officials who lived in Jerusalem, including Judah, Benjamin, priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers. It also notes the people who stayed in the villages of Judah and Benjamin, showing that the restored community was spread across the land while still centered on worship in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 11 follows the covenant renewal and the commitments made in chapter 10. After the wall has been rebuilt and the people have pledged obedience, the next task is establishing a stable population in and around Jerusalem. This chapter begins the closing section of the book, which focuses on organizing life after restoration and preparing the city for continued worship and service.

Themes to notice

  • Shared responsibilityThe people accept that restoring Jerusalem requires more than a few leaders, so the burden is distributed across the community.
  • Ordinary faithfulnessFamilies, priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers all have roles that support worship and daily life.
  • God-centered settlementLiving in Jerusalem is treated as a holy duty tied to the life of the temple and the identity of God's people.

Questions for Nehemiah 11

  • Why did the people use lots to decide who would live in Jerusalem?
  • What do the different roles listed in this chapter tell us about the life of God's people?
  • How does this chapter show the connection between rebuilding the city and rebuilding worship?

Read the full text of Nehemiah 11 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Nehemiah 11

Jerusalem’s New Settlers

1Now 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.2And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

3These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants—4while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem.) From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez;5and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah.6The descendants of Perez who settled in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of valor.

7From the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu 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 his followers Gabbai and Sallai—928 men.9Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the Second District of the city.

10From the priests:

Jedaiah son of Joiarib; Jachin;

11Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief official of the house of God;

12and their associates who did the work at the temple—822 men;

Adaiah 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 associates, the leaders of families—242 men;

Amashai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer;

14and his associates —128 mighty men of valor. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim was their overseer.

15From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;16Shabbethai and Jozabad, two leaders of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God;17Mattaniah 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.18The Levites in the holy city totaled 284.

19And the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.

Residents Outside Jerusalem

20The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance.21The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, with Ziha and Gishpa over them.

22Now 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.23For there was a command from the king concerning the singers, an ordinance regulating their daily activities.24Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent in every matter concerning the people.

25As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, and their villages;26in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth-pelet;27in Hazar-shual; in Beersheba and its villages;28in Ziklag; in Meconah and its villages;29in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth,30Zanoah, 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.31The descendants of Benjamin from Geba lived in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel with its villages;32in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,35Lod, and Ono; and in the Valley of the Craftsmen.36And some divisions of the Levites of Judah settled in Benjamin.

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