Nehemiah 11
Israel seeks leaders to live in Jerusalem
Now Israel’s leaders lived in Jerusalem, and the common people cast lots to select one out of ten to live in Jerusalem (the holy city) while the other 9 remained in their towns. The people favored all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.
Most of the province’s officials lived in their own towns throughout Judah, but some of Judah and Benjamin’s descendants lived in Jerusalem (like the priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants).
Leaders already living in Jerusalem
Judah’s descendants:
Athaiah (son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel from Perez’s sons)
Maaseiah (son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite.)
Perez had 468 brave descendants who lived in Jerusalem.
Benjamin’s descendants:
Sallu (son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son if Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah) and 928 of his brave brothers.
Joel (Zichri’s son) was their overseer, and
Judah (Hassenuah’s son) was second over the city.
Priests:
Jedaiah (Joiarib’s son), Jachin, Seraiah (son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the ruler of God’s house) and 822 of their brothers who worked in the house.
Adaiah (son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah) and 242 of his brothers who were patriarchs.
Amashsai (son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer) and 128 of their strong and brave brothers.
Zabdiel (Haggedolim’s son) was their overseer
Levites:
Shemaiah (son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni)
Shabbethai and Jozabad (the Levite officials who oversaw the exterior work of God’s house)
Mattaniah (son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph) who was their praise and worship leader.
Bakbukiah (the second among his brothers), Abda (son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun)
There was a total of 284 Levites living in the holy city
Gatekeepers:
Akkub, Talmon and their brothers. There was a total of 172 gatekeepers.
The rest of the Israelites, priests, and Levites lived in their own towns throughout Judah according to their inheritances. The temple servants lived in Ophel with Ziha and Gishpa as their leaders.
The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi (son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, descendant of Asaph). These singers were in charge of the work in God’s house because the king commanded a fixed income for the singers as each day required. Pethahiah (son of Meshezabel, descendant of Zerah, the son of Judah) was at the king’s side regarding anything that concerned the people.
Leaders living in rural villages
In the rural villages, some of the people lived in these areas and their surrounding villages.
Judah’s people:
Kiriath-arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, Jeshua, Moladah, Beth-pelet, Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Ziklag, Meconah, En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, Zanoah, Adullam, Lachish, and Azekah.
So they lived from Beersheba to the Hinnom Valley.
Benjamin’s people also lived from Geba onward in:
Michmash, Aija, Bethel, Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, Lod, and Ono (the valley of craftsmen).
Certain divisions of Judah’s Levites were assigned to Benjamin.