Nehemiah 11

1 And the rulers of the people dwelled 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.

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 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

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

3 Now these are the chief of the province that dwelled in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelled every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, 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 And at Jerusalem dwelled certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. 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 Mahalaleel, 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 Shiloni.

[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 that dwelled at Jerusalem were four hundred three score and eight valiant men.

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

7 And 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 Jesaiah.

[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 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and 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 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah 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, was the ruler of the house of God.

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 that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah.

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, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, 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, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.

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

15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, 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 chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.

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

17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal 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 fourscore and four.

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

19 Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.

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

20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one 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 Nethinims dwelled in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.

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 Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.

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 it was the king’s commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.

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 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, 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 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelled at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,

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 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,

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

27 And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,

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

28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,

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

29 And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,

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

30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelled 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 also of Benjamin from Geba dwelled at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages.

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

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.