Nehemiah 11 is the eleventh chapter of the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible,[1] or the 21st chapter of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, which treats the book of Ezra and the book of Nehemiah as one book.[2] Jewish tradition states that Ezra is the author of Ezra-Nehemiah as well as the Book of Chronicles,[3] but modern scholars generally accept that a compiler from the 5th century BCE (the so-called "Chronicler") is the final author of these books.[4] The chapter describes the repopulation of Jerusalem. Judahites (4-6), Benjamites (7-9), priests (10-14), Levites (15-18), gatekeepers (19) and "the rest of Israel" (20-21). Roles in relation to leadership, maintenance and prayer in the Temple are allocated. The people cast lots and 1 of 10 are to volunteer to live in the city (still having military duties) whilst the remainder repopulate the surrounding areas ( possession of the land theme).

Nehemiah 11
"Well of En-Rogel" (Nehemiah's Well) in ca. 1870, by Felix-Adrien Bonfils (1831-1885). Jerusalem, Israel.
BookBook of Nehemiah
CategoryKetuvim
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part16

Text

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The original text of this chapter is in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 36 verses.

Textual witnesses

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Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).[5][a]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B;  B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK:  S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A;  A; 5th century).[7]

Repopulation of Judah (11:1–30)

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Jerusalem, as the provincial capital, already had a sizeable number of population, but mostly of the ruling class, close to leadership positions. Nehemiah was recorded as having 150 officials dining with him in Nehemiah 5:17. Anglican commentator H. E. Ryle refers to a suggestion that the rulers or princes, before Nehemiah took the matter in hand, had resided in the country.[8] However, the city needed more general population in order to grow.[9] The people who would move to Jerusalem were determined by casting lots, one each out of groups of ten family representatives.[10] The detailed list (verses 3–24) demonstrates that each group living outside the city was well represented by families living within its walls.[10]

Among the cities resettled by the returning populations are mentioned Qiryat-arba, Zorah, Jarmuth, Zanoah, Adullam, and Lachish.[11]

Verse 1

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And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities..[12]

Jerusalem is also called "the holy city verse 18. Ryle notes that "the occurrence of this title in Scripture may be illustrated by Isaiah 48:2, For they call themselves of the holy city and Isaiah 52:1, O Jerusalem, the holy city", see also Daniel 9:24 and Joel 3:17. In the New Testament it occurs in Matthew 4:5 and Matthew 27:53, see also Revelation 11:2; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 21:10; Revelation 22:19.[8] The New English Translation explains that "the word 'hand' is used here in the sense or a part or portion".[13]

Verse 16

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And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.[14]
  • "Of the chief": Hebrew: "who were of the heads".[15]
  • "House" (as in Hebrew): refers to the "Temple".[16]

Verse 23

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For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.[17]
  • "The king's commandment concerning them": Hebrew: "the commandment of the king was over them".[18]
  • "A certain portion": or "fixed share".[19]
  • "Due for every day": Hebrew: "a thing of a day in its day".[20]

Outside Jerusalem (11:25–36)

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This part scans the Jewish habitation outside Jerusalem with enclaves and settlements throughout the Judean countryside, listing the towns of Judah (verses 25–30), the towns of Benjamin (verses 31–35) and a note on the dwellings of the Levites (verse 36).[21]

Verse 31

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Also the children of Benjamin from Geba dwelt in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel, and their villages;[22]
  • "Also the children of": Hebrew MT reads וּבְנֵי (ubene, "and the sons of"), but a few medieval Hebrew manuscripts and the Syriac Peshitta read וּמִבְּנֵי (umibene, "and some of the descendants of"; cf. NLT).[23]

Verse 36

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And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.[24]

Based on Joshua 21, the Levites was not given land as inheritance, for 'their portion was the Lord and the honor of his service', but they were given a share of specific towns among the various tribes of Israel.[25]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Since the anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo in 1947, the whole book of Ezra-Nehemiah has been missing from the text of the Aleppo Codex.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Halley 1965, p. 236.
  2. ^ Grabbe 2003, p. 313.
  3. ^ Babylonian Talmud Baba Bathra 15a, apud Fensham 1982, p. 2
  4. ^ Fensham 1982, pp. 2–4.
  5. ^ Würthwein 1995, pp. 36–37.
  6. ^ P. W. Skehan (2003), "BIBLE (TEXTS)", New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 2 (2nd ed.), Gale, pp. 355–362
  7. ^ Würthwein 1995, pp. 73–74.
  8. ^ a b Ryle, H. E., Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on Nehemiah 11, accessed 16 September 2020
  9. ^ Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, pp. 253–254.
  10. ^ a b Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, p. 254.
  11. ^ Nehemiah 11:25–30
  12. ^ Nehemiah 11:1 KJV
  13. ^ Note [a] at Nehemiah 11:1 in the New English Translation
  14. ^ Nehemiah 11:16 KJV
  15. ^ Note [a] on Nehemiah 11:16 in NET Bible
  16. ^ Note [a] on Nehemiah 11:16 in NKJV
  17. ^ Nehemiah 11:23 KJV
  18. ^ Note [a] on Nehemiah 11:23 in NET Bible
  19. ^ Note [a] on Nehemiah 11:23 in NKJV
  20. ^ Note [b] on Nehemiah 11:23 in NET Bible
  21. ^ Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, pp. 255–256.
  22. ^ Nehemiah 11:31 NKJV
  23. ^ Note [a] on Nehemiah 11:31 in NET Bible
  24. ^ Nehemiah 11:36 KJV
  25. ^ Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, p. 256.

Sources

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Further reading

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