1
The leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, while the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and the other nine to remain in the other towns.
2
The people praised every man who was willing to dwell in Jerusalem.
3
These are the chiefs of the province of Judah who dwelt in Jerusalem, while in the towns of Judah each man, that is, the lay Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants, lived on his own inheritance, in his own town.
4
In Jerusalem lived some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah son of Zechariah son of Amariah son of Shephatiah son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez,
5
and Maaseiah son of Baruch son of Col-Hozeh son of Hazaiah son of Adaiah son of Joiarib son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah.
6
All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.
7
And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam son of Joed son of Pedaiah son of Kolaiah son of Maaseiah son of Ithiel son of Jeshaiah.
8
And after him: Gabbai, Sallai: nine hundred and twenty-eight.
9
Joel son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second over the city.
10
Of the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin,
11
Seraiah son of Hilkiah son of Meshullam son of Zadok son of Meraioth son of Ahitub, ruler of the house of God,
12
and their brothers who did the work of the house: eight hundred and twenty-two. Also Adaiah son of Jeroham son of Pelaliah son of Amzi son of Zechariah son of Pashhur son of Malchijah
13
and his brothers, heads of fathers’ houses: two hundred and forty-two. And Amasai son of Azarel son of Ahzai son of Meshillemoth son of Immer,
14
and their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred and twenty-eight, with Zabdiel son of Gedolim as their overseer.
15
Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub son of Azrikam son of Hashabiah son of Bunni.
16
Also Shabbethai and Jozabad, chiefs of the Levites, who had oversight of the work outside the house of God.
17
Then Mattaniah son of Mica son of Zabdi son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers, and Abda son of Shammua son of Galal son of Jeduthun.
18
All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.
19
The gatekeepers: Akkub and Talmon with their brothers who kept watch at the gates, one hundred and seventy-two.
20
The rest of the lay Israelites, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, each on his inheritance.
21
But the temple servants lived in Ophel. Ziha and Gishpa were leaders over those temple servants.
22
The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani son of Hashabiah son of Mattaniah son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers who sang while the service of the house of God was going on.
23
For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, as each day required.
24
Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah son of Judah, was at the king’s service in all matters concerning the people.
25
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;
26
in Jeshua, in Moladah, and Beth-pelet,
27
in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its towns,
28
in Ziklag, in Meconah and its towns,
29
in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth,
30
Zanoah, Adullam and its villages, in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its towns. So they settled from Beersheba as far as the Valley of Hinnom.
31
And the sons of Benjamin lived from Geba, at Michmash, at Aija, at Bethel and its towns,
32
at Anathoth, Nob, and Ananiah,
33
at Hazor, Ramah, and Gittaim,
34
at Hadid, Zeboim, and Neballat,
35
at Lod and Ono, the Valley of Craftsmen.
36
Some divisions of the Levites from Judah joined with Benjamin.
🏙️📖👣 Summary of Nehemiah 11 – The Lot for the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and the Commitment to Live in the Holy City
Nehemiah 11 explains how the people of Israel reorganized the population of Jerusalem after the city wall was completed. The city had been restored physically and spiritually, but it still lacked inhabitants. So some of the people voluntarily and by lot moved to Jerusalem, the city called the holy city. This chapter shows a spirit of sacrifice, service, and faithfulness in rebuilding the center of worship and the life of God’s people.
📌 1. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem Were Determined by Lot (verses 1–2)
➡️ The leaders lived in Jerusalem first
➡️ The rest, one out of ten from all the people was chosen by lot to live in Jerusalem
➡️ The people blessed those who were willing to live there, because living in Jerusalem was not easy at that time — there were many responsibilities and risks
🎯 Living in God’s city is a great responsibility, and sacrifice for the Lord is worthy of honor.
📌 2. The Inhabitants of Jerusalem (verses 3–24)
➡️ Various groups who lived in Jerusalem were recorded:
🔹 The people of Judah and Benjamin (verses 4–9)
➡️ Representing the two main tribes of the Southern Kingdom
🔹 The Priests (verses 10–14)
➡️ Assigned to lead the service in the house of God
🔹 The Levites and Singers (verses 15–18)
➡️ Serving in music, the care of the house of God, and spiritual oversight
➡️ Total: 3,044 people lived in Jerusalem
🎯 Each had a special role in building the city’s spiritual life
🔹 The Gatekeepers and the King’s Officials (verses 19–24)
➡️ They watched over security and administrative matters
🎯 A strong city needs not only walls — but also people who are faithful, trained, and spiritual
📌 3. The Inhabitants of Other Cities (verses 25–36)
➡️ Besides Jerusalem, the Israelites lived in various cities in the regions of Judah and Benjamin
➡️ The names of the cities and the families who settled there are recorded
🎯 God’s people are not only important in the spiritual center (Jerusalem), but also play a role in spreading the faith beyond the city.
📖 Main Teaching
- Refilling the city of God is an important part of the nation’s restoration
- The casting of lots to live in Jerusalem shows a devotion that was not forced
- Every person has a role and function in the life of God’s people — both at the center of worship and outside the city
- Those who served in spiritual matters (priests, Levites, singers) were greatly valued and needed
- The Lord records the names of those who are willing to sacrifice for His work — nothing is in vain
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“But God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body…”
➡️ As in Nehemiah 11, each person has a place and a function in the body of Christ
“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice…”
➡️ Living in Jerusalem at that time was an act of offering one’s life for the glory of the Lord
“…God has prepared for them a city.”
➡️ The earthly Jerusalem symbolizes the heavenly Jerusalem — a city for the faithful
“For our citizenship is in heaven…”
➡️ Just as they chose to live in the holy city, we too are called to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom
🕊️ “The people blessed all who were willing to live in Jerusalem.” – Nehemiah 11:2
🕊️ “Those who lived in Jerusalem were… mighty men.” – Nehemiah 11:6
🕊️ “All these did the work in the house of God.” – Nehemiah 11:12
🕊️ “All Israel lived in their cities.” – Nehemiah 11:20
