Neemias 11
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Neemias 11:1-2
11:1 "the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem" Since the terrible siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C., no one wanted to live in the city. The leaders (the wealthy laymen, cf. Neh. 11:3) and the temple personnel were the only large groups that lived within the city's walls (cf. Neh. 11:3; 2:16-17). They were to be joined by 10% of the Jewish population of the surrounding towns plus any volunteers (cf. Neh. 11:2). This involved leaving established homes and farms. This same subject is first introduced in Neh. 7:4. ▣ "cast lots" This VERB (BDB 656, KB 709, Hiphil PERFECT) means "casting lots (cf. 1 Chr. 24:31; 25:8; 26:13-14; Esth. 3:7; 9:24). This had religious connotations (cf. Neh. 10:34; Num. 26:55-56; Jos. 14:2; Pro. 16:33; 18:18). It was a way to know the will of YHWH, as was the Urim and Thummim (cf. Exod. 28:30; Lev. 8:8; Num. 27:21). The Urim was used exclusively by the High Priest, but "lots" were used to know YHWH's will by others (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 840-842). Special Topic: Urim and Thummim ▣ "the holy city" This was a way of referring to the place where YHWH dwelt (cf. Isa. 48:2; 52:1; Dan. 9:24). Special Topic: Holy Special Topic: Jerusalem
Neemias 11:3-6
11:3 "Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem" This list is quite similar to 1 Chronicles 9; about half of the names are the same. The exact relationship between these two lists as with other lists in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, is uncertain. ▣ "each lived on his own property" The term "property" (BDB 28) usually meant "to grasp" or "to seize," but in connection to tribal allotments it has the connotation of given by YHWH (both as a promise to Abraham, cf. Gen. 5:12-21 and by the Urim in Joshua 13-19). ▣ "Israelites" This refers to Jewish laymen. This verse lists the different elements of Jewish society. The different kinds of temple personnel and lay persons are included. ▣ "temple servants" This term (BDB 682) in post-exilic texts always has the ARTICLE and is PLURAL. It designates a temple labor force. The origin of the term may be "the given ones," referring to those non-Israelites defeated in battle by King David and given to the temple to help the Levites (cf. Ezra 8:20); therefore, they are like "Solomon's servants" (cf. Ezra 2:58; Neh. 7:60; 11:3). 11:4 "sons of Judah. . .sons of Benjamin" The preponderance of returning Jews were from these two tribes because they made up the last tribal groups to be exiled. Simeon was also part of the tribe of Judah but had lost their tribal identity. ▣ "Perez" See Gen. 38:29. 11:5 "the son of the Shilonite" This designation is surprising in a list of names (cf. 1 Chr. 9:5). There is no first name associated with this place (Shiloh, a city in Ephraim). It is possible that the consonants of "Shilonites" should refer to "Shelah," one of Judah's sons in Gen. 38:5,26, therefore, "Shelanite" (cf. Derek Kidner, Tyndale Commentary, p. 118), which is the way NEB and REB translate 1 Chr. 9:5 and the form appears in Num. 26:20.
Neemias 11:7-9
11:8 NASB, NKJV, JPSOA "after him" NRSV, NJB "his brothers" "close relatives" NET, NIV "his followers" NEB, REB "his kinsmen" This Hebrew term (BDB 29) has a large usage. All of the above translations are a possibility. For me those that focus on kinship fit the context best. However, "brothers" involves a textual emendation. The UBS Text Project, p. 539, gives a "B" rating (some doubt) to "and after him" (MT). and after him ‒ ואחריו and his brothers ‒ ואחיו (LXX) 11:9 "their overseer" This term (BDB 824) means "commissioner, deputy, overseer. It is used in Neh. 11:22 for a leader of Levites. It is used of the king's officers in 2 Chr. 24:11 and of the king's military officers in 2 Kgs. 25:19. This text does not specify exactly what kind of overseer. ▣ "second in command of the city" This may imply that he was next to Nehemiah's brother, Hanani (cf. Neh. 7:2). It is possible that Judah was the overseer of Benjamin's labor force who helped rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The NIV translates this phrase "was over the Second District of the city." The only other English translation that I have found that has this interpretation is James Moffatt, A New Translation of the Bible. It is also in the footnote of the NEB.
Neemias 11:10-14
11:11 NASB, NKJV "the leader of the house of God" "officer of the house of God" "who was High Priest" "the chief of the Temple of God" The term (BDB 617) means "one in front." It is used of political leaders, but also of religious leaders (cf. 2 Chr. 31:12; 35:8; Jer. 20:1, also of High Priest, 1 Chr. 9:11; 2 Chr. 31:13 [different word in Neh. 11:10]; Neh. 11:11; Dan. 11:22). 11:14 NASB, NRSV "valiant warriors" "mighty men of valor" "outstanding soldiers" "outstanding people" "capable men" "men of substance" This term (BDB 298) can refer to physical strength military prowess (e.g., Jos. 1:14; 8:3; 10:7; Jdg. 6:12; 11:1; 2 Chr. 13:3; 14:8) ability (cf. Neh. 11:6; Exod. 18:21,25; 1 Chr. 9:13) wealth (1 Sam. 9:1; 2 Kgs. 15:20) Because these men are priests either #1 or #3 fits the context best. NASB, NRSV "the son of Haggedolim" "the son of one of the great men" "a member of a leading family" "men of substance" The term (BDB 153, KB 177) means "great" and is used to describe many things and persons (NASB 1970 marginal note, p. 700, "the great ones"). The TEV translation carries the basic thought of the PLURAL form in this context.
Neemias 11:15-18
11:16 "who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God" In the context of Nehemiah, one wonders if this refers to normal temple activities, but done outside the precincts of the temple (e.g., raising sacrificial sheep) the work done on the walls and gates of the city which were near the temple area other administrative assignments (cf. 1 Chr. 26:29) The term has the connotation in this text of secular work. 11:17 "Asaph. . .Jeduthun" These were two of the three groups of temple singers appointed by David (cf. 1 Chr. 25:1-4; 2 Chr. 5:12). "who was the leader in beginning the thanksgiving at prayer" "who was the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer" "who was the leader to begin the thanksgiving with prayer" "He led the Temple choir in singing the prayer of thanksgiving" "who led the praises and intoned the thanksgiving associated with the prayer" This Levite was somehow related to the liturgical aspect of prayer/praise. The Hebrew "the begin" is close to the Hebrew "the praise" (cf. LXX & Vulgate). The JPSOA combines the meaning by "he would lead off with praise" (The Jewish Study Bible, p. 1706). The UBS Text Project, p. 540, gives "of the praise" a "C" rating (considerable doubt). Asaph was a leader of a Levitical family involved in temple music and praise (cf. 1 Chr. 25:1-2; 2 Chr. 5:12). ▣ "and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren" This seems to imply that this Levite was the assistant to Mattaniah (cf. TEV). This Hebrew term (BDB 1041) is often used to denote the second in charge/control/leadership (cf. 2 Kgs. 23:4; 25:18; 1 Chr. 5:12; 15:18; 2 Chr. 31:12; Jer. 52:24). ▣ "Abda the son of Shammua" 1 Chronicles 9:16 has Obadiah son of Shemaiah. 11:18 Many of the Levites lived outside of the city of Jerusalem (cf. Neh. 11:3,20), but 284 did live in the city.
Neemias 11:19-21
11:19 "the gatekeepers" These were also ancient families who were appointed to this special task at the temple (cf. 1 Chr. 9:17-27; 23:5; Ezra 2:42). 11:20 "each on his own inheritance" Originally the tribe of Levi did not inherit land. The Lord Himself was their inheritance (cf. Num. 18:20,24; Deut. 10:9; 18:1-2; Jos. 13:14,33). The Levites asked Joshua for houses in certain special cities called "Levitical cities" (cf. Joshua 21) along with a small part of the surrounding pasture land. In this way they could grow vegetable gardens or raise an animal. 11:21 "the temple servants" See note at Ezra 2:43.
Neemias 11:22-24
11:22 There are so many lists of people in Ezra and Nehemiah. Often the names are common. The only way to try to tell them apart is to check which group they are a part of (e.g., lay persons, priests, Levites, etc.) check the tribe check the order of the names Here in Neh. 11:22 it is obvious that Uzzi is from the same family of Asaph mentioned in Neh. 11:17. 11:23 "the king" This refers to David, not Artaxerxes I (cf. Neh. 12:24,45-46). These temple personnel were appointed special tasks to perform in the temple on a regular basis, many of the tasks going back to David's day. 11:24 "Pethahiah" This is the name of a priest in David's day who was involved in the twenty-four divisions (cf. 1 Chr. 24:16). There is another man by this same name mentioned in Neh. 11:24. The interpretive question is (1) do Neh. 11:23 and 24 go together and, thereby "the king" refers to David or (2) is the man a representative of Artaxerxes I, the Persian king during Ezra's and Nehemiah's day?
Neemias 11:25-36
11:25-36 The list of cities in chapter 3 which relates those who worked on the city wall is different from this list. The only name that is the same is Zanoah. This is hard to explain for the lists are supposed to be a list of the surrounding cities with Jewish populations. The possibilities are (1) that these cities mark the extent of the boundaries of Judah and Benjamin, not the cities close to Jerusalem or (2) that these are cities in the pre-exilic land allocations of Judah (cf. Neh. 11:25-30) and Benjamin (cf. Neh. 11:31-36) in which the returnees settled. 11:25 "Kiriath-arba" This is the ancient name for Hebron (cf. Gen. 23:2), which is 20 miles south of Jerusalem (cf. Jos. 14:15; 15:54; 20:7; Jdg. 1:10). ▣ "and its towns" This is literally the Hebrew idiom "daughters." ▣ "Dibon" This is possibly the same as Dimonah. See Jos. 15:21-26. ▣ "Jekabzeel" A village in southern Judah close to Edom. See Joshua 15:21. 11:25, 28, 32, 34 "Jekabzeel. . .Meconah. . .Ananiah. . .Neballat" These are cities which appear only here in the Bible. 11:26 "Moladah" See Jos. 15:26; 19:2; 1 Chr. 4:28. ▣ "Beth-pelet" This is a village in southern Judah. See Jos. 15:27. 11:27 "Hazar-Shual, in Beersheba" Both are mentioned in Jos. 15:28. 11:28 "Ziklag" See Jos. 15:31; 19:5; 1 Sam. 27:6; 30:1,14,25. 11:29 "En-rimmon" See Joshua 15:32. ▣ "Zorah" See Jos. 15:33. ▣ "Jarmuth" Like Lachish this was originally an Amorite city. See Jos. 10:3,5,23; 12:11; 15:35. 11:30 "Zanoah, Adullam" Both are mentioned in Jos. 15:34-35. ▣ "Lachish" This was a major walled city (e.g., Jos. 10; 12:3-16; 2 Chr. 11:9; 22:9). ▣ "Azekah" This is a city of Judah located on the coastal plain. See Jos. 15:35. ▣ "Beersheba" This is about 32 miles south of Jerusalem. The current Persian land allocation for Judah did not extend that far north. ▣"the valley of Hinnom" One of the valleys in Jerusalem known as the location of the worship of the Phoenician fire god Molech. This valley was later used as the garbage dump for Jerusalem. Jesus uses it to describe Hell — Gehenna. Special Topic: Where Are the Dead? II. D. Special Topic: Molech 11:31 "Geba" This was a northern city of Benjamin. Its name means "height" or "hill." See Joshua 18:24. ▣ "Michmash and Aija" Both are mentioned in Isa. 10:28-20. They were located near Bethel. Aija means "ruins" and may be a way of referring to Ai. 11:32 "Anathoth" This was a Levitical city three miles north of Jerusalem (cf. Jos. 21:18). It was Jeremiah's hometown (cf. Jer. 1:1). ▣ "Nob" Another Levitical city two miles north of Jerusalem (cf. 1 Sam. 21:1; 22:9,11,19; Isa. 10:32). 11:33 "Hazor" Often these village names, like the people, are hard to identify because there are several by the same name. Hazor is a good example. a major Canaanite walled city in the north of Palestine (cf. Joshua 11; 12:19; 19:36) a small city in the south of Judah (cf. Jos. 15:23; 1 Kgs. 9:15) another city in southern Judah (Hazor-Hadattah, cf. Jos. 15:25) a small post-exilic city north of Jerusalem (cf. Neh. 11:33) this term even refers to countries or chiefdoms east of Arabia (cf. Jer. 49:28,30,33) As an added point, people are hard to identify because in this period Levites and priests often used the names of ancestors in this period the Jewish families named their children after their grandfathers ▣ "Ramah" This is a city of Benjamin five miles north of Jerusalem. See Joshua 18:25; Judges 4:5; 19:13; Ezra 2:26. ▣ "Gittaim" The name means "two wine presses" and was northwest of Jerusalem. See 2 Sam. 4:3. 11:34, 35 "Hadid. . .Lod and Ono" See Ezra 2:33 and Neh. 7:37. 11:35 "the valley of craftsmen" The ancient guilds lived close together (cf. 1 Chr. 4:14). 11:36 As Neh. 11:25-30 describes the restored land of Judah in this Persian period, so Neh. 11:31-35 describes the extent of the land of Benjamin. The Levites lived in all areas of the restored land (cf. TEV).