Nehemiah 11

1 The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.

The [Israeli] leaders [and their families] settled in the sacred city, Jerusalem. The other people (cast lots/threw marked stones) to determine which family from each ten families would live in Jerusalem. The other people continued to live in the other towns and cities [in Judea].

2 The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.

Those people [asked God to] bless those who volunteered to [be among the 10% who] moved to Jerusalem.

3 Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah, everyone lived in his possession in their cities—Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the children of Solomon’s servants.

[Some of] the priests, [some of] the [other] descendants of Levi, [some of] the temple workers, and the descendants of King Solomon’s servants, and many of the other people lived on their own property in the towns [where their ancestors had lived].

4 Some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez;

But some people from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin [decided to] live in Jerusalem. One of them from the tribe of Judah was Athaiah. He was the son of Uzziah, who was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Shephatiah, who was the son of Mahalalel, who was a descendant of [Judah’s son] Perez.

5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.

[Another one from the tribe of Judah was] Maaseiah, [who was] the son of Baruch, [who was] the son of Colhozeh, [who was] the son of Hazaiah, [who was] the son of Adaiah, [who was] the son of Joiarib, [who was] the son of Zechariah, [who was] a descendant of [Judah’s son] Shelah.

6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.

There were 468 men who were descendants of Perez who were valiant/courageous soldiers who lived in Jerusalem.

7 These are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the 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.

[One of the men] of the tribe of Benjamin who decided to live in Jerusalem was Sallu, the 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.

8 After him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight.

Two of Sallu’s relatives, Gabbai and Sallai, also settled in Jerusalem. Altogether, 928 people from the tribe of Benjamin settled in Jerusalem

9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.

Their leader was Joel, son of Zichri. The official who was second in command in Jerusalem was Hassenuah.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,

The priests [who settled in Jerusalem] were Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jakin,

11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of God’s house,

Seraiah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub [who had previously been] the Supreme Priest.

12 and their brothers who did the work of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,

Altogether, 822 members of that clan worked in the temple. Another [priest who settled in Jerusalem] was Adaiah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah.

13 and his brothers, chiefs of fathers’ households, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

Altogether, there were 242 members of that clan who were leaders of the clan [who settled in Jerusalem]. Another [priest who settled in Jerusalem] was Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer.

14 and their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.

There were 128 members of that clan who were valiant soldiers [who settled in Jerusalem]. Their leader was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim.

15 Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

Another descendant of Levi who settled in Jerusalem was Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni.

16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of God’s house;

Two others were Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were prominent men who supervised the work outside the temple.

17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

Another one was Mattaniah, the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph. Mattaniah directed the temple choir when they sang the prayers to thank [God]. His assistant was Bakbukiah. Another one was Abda, the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four.

Altogether, there were 284 descendants of Levi who settled in Jerusalem.

19 Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred seventy-two.

The men who guarded the temple gates were Akkub and Talmon and 172 of their relatives who settled in Jerusalem.

20 The residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance.

The other Israeli people including priests and [other] descendants of Levi lived on their own property in other towns and cities in Judea.

21 But the temple servants lived in Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

But the temple workers lived on Ophel [Hill in Jerusalem]. They were supervised by Ziha and Gishpa.

22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers responsible for the service of God’s house.

The man who supervised the [other] descendants of Levi who [helped the priests and] lived in Jerusalem was Uzzi, the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. Uzzi belonged to the clan of Asaph, the clan that was in charge of the music in the temple.

23 For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.

The king [of Persia] had commanded that the clans should decide what each clan should do to lead the music in the temple each day.

24 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.

Pethahiah, the son of Meshezabel, [who was] from the clan of Zerah and a descendant of Judah, was the ambassador [of the Israelis] to the king of Persia.

25 As for the villages with their fields, some of the children of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, in Jekabzeel and its villages,

Some of the people [who did not settle in Jerusalem] lived in villages close to their farms. Some from the tribe of Judah lived in villages near Kiriath-Arba, Dibon, and Jekabzeel [cities].

26 in Jeshua, in Moladah, Beth Pelet,

Some lived in Jeshua [city], in Moladah [city], in Beth-Pelet [city],

27 in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its towns,

in Hazar-Shual [city], and in Beersheba [city] and the villages near it.

28 in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns,

Others lived in Ziklag [city], in Meconah [city] and the villages near it,

29 in En Rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,

in En-Rimmon [city], in Zorah [city], in Jarmuth [city],

30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.

in Zanoah [city], in Adullam [city], and in the villages near those cities. Some lived in Lachish [city] and in the nearby villages, and some lived in Azekah [town] and the villages near it. All of those people lived in Judea, in the area between Beersheba [in the south] and Hinnom Valley [in the north, at the edge of Jerusalem].

31 The children of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at Bethel and its towns,

The people of the tribe of Benjamin lived in Geba [city], Micmash [city], Aija [city which is also known as Ai], Bethel [city] and in nearby villages,

32 at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

in Anathoth [city], in Nob [city], in Ananiah [town],

33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

in Hazor [city], in Ramah [city], in Gittaim [city],

34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

in Hadid [city], in Zeboim [town], in Neballat [town],

35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

in Lod [town], in Ono [town], and in Craftsmen’s Valley.

36 Of the Levites, certain divisions in Judah settled in Benjamin’s territory.

Some of the groups of the descendants of Levi who had lived in Judea were sent to live with [the people of the tribe of] Benjamin.