Nehemiah 11

People Settle in Jerusalem

1The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other cities. 2The people blessed all people who willingly offered themselves to live in Jerusalem. 3These are the heads of the province who lived in Jerusalem. In the cities of Judah, each person lived on their own property in their cities—Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants. 4Some of the descendants of Judah and some of the descendants of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, from the descendants of Perez; 5and Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite. 6All the descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight capable men.

Benjamin, Priests, and Levites

7These are the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah; 8and after him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight. 9Joel son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second over the city. 10From the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin; 11Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, ruler of the house of God; 12and their relatives who did the work of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah; 13and his relatives, heads of ancestral houses, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer; 14and their relatives, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty-eight. Their overseer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.

15From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; 16and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the heads of the Levites, who had oversight of the outside work of the house of God; 17and Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving in prayer; and Bakbukiah, second among his relatives; and Abda son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. 18All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four. 19The gatekeepers Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives who kept watch at the gates were one hundred seventy-two. 20The rest of Israel, along with the priests and Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each in their inheritance. 21The temple servants lived on Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

Service and Royal Administration

22The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, from the descendants of Asaph, the singers responsible for the service of the house of God. 23For there was a command from the king concerning them and a fixed provision for the singers, as each day required. 24Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, from the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, was at the king’s hand for every matter concerning the people.

Settlements of Judah and Benjamin

25As for the villages with their fields, some of the descendants of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its towns, Dibon and its towns, and Jekabzeel and its villages; 26in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth-pelet; 27in Hazar-shual, Beersheba and its towns; 28in Ziklag, Meconah and its towns; 29in En-rimmon, Zorah, and Jarmuth; 30in Zanoah, Adullam and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its towns. So they settled from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom. 31The descendants of Benjamin lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its towns; 32Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah; 33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim; 34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat; 35Lod and Ono, the Valley of Craftsmen. 36Some divisions of the Levites of Judah were assigned to Benjamin.