Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 11:3
Now these [are] the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt 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.
3. Now these are the chief, &c.] The heading of our list differs from that in 1Ch 9:2, which runs, ‘Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.’ The purpose of the list in 1 Chronicles 9 is apparently to give the names of the families who had either remained in Judea at the time when the mass of the people were transported to Babylon, or had returned to their own country either from exile or from voluntary flight in Egypt and the neighbouring nations. The purpose of the list in our passage is apparently to state the number of the inhabitants either before or after (Rawlinson) the measures taken to augment them in Nehemiah’s time.
The mention of ‘the king’ in Neh 11:23 and Neh 11:24 is apparently a reference to Artaxerxes; a conclusive proof that the list belongs to the age of Nehemiah.
According to some commentators, the list is intended to give the names of ‘the princes of the people’ mentioned in Neh 11:1. But the expression ‘the chiefs of the province’ (see on Ezr 2:1) suggests that the list and its superscription have no original connexion with Neh 11:1-2. It is more probable that the Compiler having access to this list belonging to the age of Nehemiah, in which the classification is that of ‘the dwellers in Jerusalem’ (4 19) and ‘the residue of Israel’ (20 36) has inserted it here in terms as nearly as possible corresponding to the division of the people in Neh 11:1.
Nethinims ] R.V. Nethinim.
and the children of Solomon’s servants ] See on Ezr 2:58; Neh 7:57. These are not mentioned in the parallel passage, 1Ch 9:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
3 10. From this verse to Neh 12:26 we have a succession of lists: (1) the chiefs of the provinces that dwelt in Jerusalem, 4 26; (2) the towns and villages occupied by the Jews, 25 36; (3) the priests and Levites that went up with Zerubbabel from Babylon, Neh 12:1-9; (4) the genealogy of the high-priests beginning at Jeshua, Neh 12:10-11; (5) the heads of the priestly houses in the days of Joiakim, Neh 12:12-21; (6) of the Levitical houses at the same period, Neh 12:22-26.
The origin of the lists is not recorded. That some of them may have been included in the ‘Memoirs’ of Nehemiah is very possible. But all doubtless bear traces of the Compiler’s work either by abridgement or by necessary adaptation from official records.
The first of the lists presents a close resemblance to a list contained in the Book of Chronicles: compare Neh 11:3-19 with 1Ch 9:2-17. The two lists are clearly the same although they differ in certain details. The best way of accounting for the presence of this duplicate list is to suppose that both were copied from the same official document, but by different hands and for different purposes. The Compiler found both copies extant, the one in connexion with the genealogies of the tribes (1 Chronicles 9), the other either embodied in, or preserved along with, the official documents of Nehemiah’s government.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 3. Now these are the chief] A good deal of difference will be found between the enumeration here and that in 1Ch 9:2, c. There, those only who came with Zerubbabel appear to be numbered here, those, and the persons who came with Ezra and Nehemiah, enter into the account.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The chief of the province, i.e. of Judea, which was now made a province.
To wit, Israel, i.e. the generality of the people of Israel, whether of Judah, or Benjamin, or any other tribe; as appears by this general enumeration of all the inhabitants of the land, in which either the people of Judah and Benjamin are included under the title of Israel, or they are not here mentioned; which is absurd to think, because they made up the greatest number of them. And these he calls
Israel rather than Judah, partly because there were many of the other tribes now joined and incorporated with them; and partly because none of the tribes of Israel, except Judah and Benjamin, dwelt in Jerusalem, as appears from the sequel.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. the chief of the provincethatis, Judea. Nehemiah speaks of it, as it then was, a small appendix ofthe Persian empire.
in the cities of Judah dweltevery one in his possession in their citiesThe returnedexiles, who had come from Babylon, repaired generally, and by anatural impulse, to the lands and cities throughout the country whichhad been anciently assigned them.
IsraelThis generalname, which designated the descendants of Jacob before the unhappydivision of the two kingdoms under Rehoboam, was restored after thecaptivity, the Israelites being then united with the Jews, and alltraces of their former separation being obliterated. Although themajority of the returned exiles belonged to the tribes of Judah andBenjamin, they are here called Israel because a large number out ofall the tribes were now intermingled, and these were principally theoccupiers of the rural villages, while none but those of Judah andBenjamin resided in Jerusalem.
the LevitesThese tookpossession of the cities allotted to them according as they hadopportunity.
the NethinimsA certainorder of men, either Gibeonites or persons joined with them, who weredevoted to the service of God.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem,…. That is, of Judea, reduced to a province by the king of Babylon, and now a province of the Persian monarchy:
but in the cities of Judah dwelt everyone in his possession in their cities; in which they or their ancestors had formerly dwelt: to wit, Israel: the people in general of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and such of the other tribes that returned with them:
the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants; of whom see Ezr 2:55.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The inhabitants of Jerusalem and the other cities. – Neh 11:3 The title reads: “These are the heads of the province who dwelt at Jerusalem; and in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Nethinim, and the sons of Solomon’s servants.” is, as in Ezr 2:1, the land of Judah, as a province of the Persian kingdom. The repetition of after is not to be understood as contrasting those who dwelt in the cities with the dwellers in Jerusalem in the sense of “but in the cities of Judah dwelt,” etc., but is here a mere pleonasm. Even the enumeration of the different classes of inhabitants: Israel, the priests, etc., clearly shows that no such contrast is intended; for Israel, the priests, etc., dwelt not only in Jerusalem, but also, according to Neh 11:20, in the other cities of Judah. And this is placed beyond all doubt by the contents of the list following; the inhabitants of Jerusalem being enumerated vv. 4-24, and the inhabitants of the other cities of Judah and Benjamin, Neh 11:25-36. If, however, this title refers to the whole of the following list, it cannot, as Rambach and others thought, contain only an enumeration of those who, in consequence of the lot, had taken up their residence at Jerusalem, but must be intended as a list of the population of the whole province of Judah in the times of Ezra and Nehemiah. It seems strange that the title should announce , while in the list of the inhabitants of Jerusalem are given, besides the heads, the numbers of their brethren, i.e., of the individuals or fathers of families under these heads; and that in the list of the inhabitants of the other cities, only inhabitants of Judah and Benjamin are spoken of. Hence this statement refers a potiori to the heads, including the houses and families belonging to them, while in the case of the other cities it is assumed that the inhabitants of each locality were under a head. With Neh 11:4 begins the enumeration of the heads dwelling in Jerusalem, with their houses; and the first clause contains a special title, which affirms that (certain) of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin dwelt at Jerusalem. On the parallel list of the inhabitants of Jerusalem before the captivity, 1 Chron 9:2-34, and its relation to the present list, see the remarks on 1 Chron 9.
Neh 11:4-6 Of the children of Judah two heads: Athaiah of the children of Perez (comp. 1Ch 2:4), and Maaseiah of the children of Shela. It has been already remarked on 1Ch 9:5, that is wrongly pointed, and should be read . is a proper name, as in Neh 3:15. Athaiah and Maaseiah are not further known. There were in all four hundred and sixty-eight able-bodied men of the sons of Perez, i.e., four hundred and sixty-eight fathers of families of the race of Perez, among whom are probably included the fathers of families belonging to Shela, the younger brother of Perez.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
2. People of Israel.
TEXT, Neh. 11:3-9
3
Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah each lived on his own property in their citiesthe Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomons servants.
4
And some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the sons 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 sons of Perez;
5
and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.
6
All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 able men.
7
Now 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;
8
and after him Gabbai and Sallai, 928.
9
And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second in command of the city.
COMMENT
In Neh. 11:3, the heads of the provinces are not the same as the leaders of the people in verse one, but are the persons who moved to Jerusalem (Neh. 11:4-19) or lived in the cities of Judah and Benjamin (Neh. 11:20-36). Next we have the classifications of the names which will follow, except that no names of descendants of Solomons servants will appear. It may be that they are synonymous with the gatekeepers in Neh. 11:19. All these groups are named in Ezra 2, in the same order, where also the gatekeepers are associated with the sons of Solomons servants, and with the temple servants (Ezr. 2:42; Ezr. 2:55; Ezr. 2:58).
The term Israelites (or Israel) corresponds with people of Israel in Ezr. 2:2, where also it is placed first after the rulers.
In Neh. 11:4 they are subdivided into sons of Judah and sons of Benjamin. Leaders from Judah are listed in Neh. 11:4-6, and those from Benjamin in Neh. 11:7-9.
WORD STUDY
LOT (Neh. 11:1, Goral; sound like gravel?): a small stone. Sometimes a number of stones, including one or more of an odd color, were shaken in a container and thrown onto the ground, thus deciding matters by chance; or they were shaken together and thrown into a vase, and each person drew one out, seeking for the odd-colored one. Eventually they were made into cubes and the faces numbered to form dice.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(3) Of the province.This betrays the hand of Nehemiah, who was still a Persian official as well as a governor of Judah; and it shows that here we have a general heading for the rest of the chapter. Both city and country are included in the rest of the verse.
Israel.The two Israelitish tribes were represented, but, like Judah before, this has become a generic name.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
LIST OF THE CHIEFS OF THE PROVINCE, Neh 11:3-16.
A comparison of this list with that of 1 Chronicles 9, (where see notes,) shows that they both agree in their plan, and in a considerable number of their names. The differences are too many to allow the opinion that the lists are substantially identical, and that each is an imperfect transcript of an older and fuller catalogue of names. The list in Chronicles contains, according to its heading, the names of those who first settled in their possessions after the exile; the present list is of later date, and belongs to the times of Nehemiah.
3. The chief of the province The chiefs or heads of families who represented the entire province of Judea in the time of Nehemiah. This providence was then one of the subdivisions of the Persian empire.
But in the cities of Judah Rather, and in the cities of Judah. The list contains the names of chief fathers dwelling in other cities of the province as well as in Jerusalem. See Neh 11:25-36.
Israel This word here denotes the entire body of the covenant people, (the laity, so to speak,) exclusive of the four special classes next named.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Names Of The Chief Men Who Took Up Dwelling In Jerusalem ( Neh 11:3-20 ).
A parallel list of those who ‘dwelt in Jerusalem’ is found in 1 Chronicles 9, but it is widely different from this list, although having some parallels. We should note, however, that 1 Chronicles 9 does not say when the people that it lists began to live in Jerusalem, and it certainly contains the names of many not mentioned here (and vice versa). That may well be because the Chronicler was using information which informed him of who was living in Jerusalem prior to the time of Nehemiah, whilst Nehemiah is only recording the names of those who now took up residence in Jerusalem. Nehemiah may well be giving here the names of the children of Judah and Benjamin who moved into Jerusalem at this time, mainly ignoring the names of those who already lived in Jerusalem (as possibly given in 1 Chronicles 9). Thus it is noteworthy that in Neh 11:1-9 of both Nehemiah 11 and 1 Chronicles 9 there are no parallels apart from the name ‘Sallu, the son of Meshullam’. But as there is good reason to believe that there were two men bearing this name, as the listing of their different ancestors demonstrates, there are really no parallels at all. The parallels only occur when we come to the priests and Levites. So 1 Chronicles 9 describes those who initially settled in the city during the period when it was unwalled. Nehemiah is now describing those who moved into the city now that it was walled, to join those described in 1 Chronicles 9 as already populating the whole city.
Neh 11:3
‘Now these are the chiefs of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem,’
That is, the chiefs who began to live in Jerusalem from this time forward. They were willing to make a personal sacrifice for the good of the nation. They did it because of their loyalty to God, and as an example to others. A good deal of building work would have to take place to make Jerusalem habitable (‘the houses had not been built’ – Neh 7:4), but again they probably ‘had a mind to work’. A dream was being fulfilled.
Neh 11:3
‘(But in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants).’
Meanwhile the remaining nine tenths of the people continued to dwell in their own cities, ‘every one in his own possession’, where they possessed houses and land, and this included priests, Levites and Temple servants. For this verse compare Neh 7:73. It would therefore appear to be a deliberate attempt to connect up chapter 7 with this passage, demonstrating the unity of purpose of these people with the first returnees, and that the situation continued. But its importance in its own right is found in the fact that it demonstrates that the whole of Judah continued to be populated because it had been given to them by God, and that many priests, Levites and Temple servants dwelt outside Jerusalem. The people were there because it was ‘their possession’. It was the land given to them by God.
Neh 11:4
‘And in Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin.’
The roll of honour of those who moved into Jerusalem is now given, and they are divided into their tribes. This division into tribes may indicate their protective role (consider the earlier ‘mustering of the tribes’ in Numbers and in Judges). They were there to watch over the city, just as in the Book of Numbers the tribes had watched over the Tabernacle.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
(3) Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt everyone in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants. (4) And at Jerusalem dwelt 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; (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. (6) All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men. (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. (8) And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight. (9) And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city. (10) Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin. (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. (12) And their brethren 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, (13) And his brethren, 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, (14) And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men. (15) Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, 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. (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 brethren, and 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. (19) Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.
That the dwellers in Jerusalem were counted worthy of double honor is evident from the Holy Ghost having caused their names to be thus honorably recorded. Oh! it is most valuable indeed to be recorded among the servants of the Lord.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Neh 11:3 Now these [are] the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt 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.
Ver. 3. Now these are the chief of the province ] So Judea is called, because now subject and tributary to the king of Babylon; as afterwards it was to the Romans (and is therefore called a province, Act 25:1 ), and is now to the Turk. How then could those Jews in the Gospel say, We are Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man; but that they cared not what they said in a bravado? Spaniards are said to be impudent braggers, and extremely proud in the lowest ebb of fortune. These Jews were so certainly; and so they continue.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Neh 11:3-6
3Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah each lived on his own property in their citiesthe Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. 4Some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the sons 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 sons of Perez; 5and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. 6All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 able men.
Neh 11:3 Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem This list is quite similar to 1 Chronicles 9; about half of the names are the same. The exact relationship between these two lists as with other lists in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, is uncertain.
each lived on his own property The term property (BDB 28) usually meant to grasp or to seize, but in connection to tribal allotments it has the connotation of given by YHWH (both as a promise to Abraham, cf. Gen 5:12-21 and by the Urim in Joshua 13-19).
Israelites This refers to Jewish laymen. This verse lists the different elements of Jewish society. The different kinds of temple personnel and lay persons are included.
temple servants This term (BDB 682) in post-exilic texts always has the ARTICLE and is PLURAL. It designs a temple labor force. The origin of the term may be the given ones, referring to those non-Israelites defeated in battle by King David and given to the temple to help the Levites (cf. Ezr 8:20); therefore, they are like Solomon’s servants (cf. Ezr 2:58; Neh 7:60; Neh 11:3).
Neh 11:4 sons of Judah. . .sons of Benjamin The preponderance of returning Jews were from these two tribes because they made up the last tribal groups to be exiled. Simeon was also part of the tribe of Judah but had lost their tribal identity.
Perez See Gen 38:29.
Neh 11:5 the son of the Shilonite This designation is surprising in a list of names (cf. 1Ch 9:5). There is no first name associated with this place (Shiloh, a city in Ephraim). It is possible that the consonants of Shilonites should refer to Shelah, one of Judah’s sons in Gen 38:5; Gen 38:26, therefore, Shelanite (cf. Derek Kidner, Tyndale Commentary, p. 118), which is the way NEB and REB translate 1Ch 9:5 and the form appears in Num 26:20.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
chiefs = heads.
but = and.
Israel. See note on 1Ki 12:17. The common name of the nation, not of the ten tribes merely.
the Nethinims. See note on Ezr 2:43.
children = sons. Compare Ezr 7:57; Ezr 7:60. Ezr 2:55, Ezr 2:58.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Neh 11:3-6
Neh 11:3-6
CHIEFS OF THE PROVINCE THAT DWELT IN JERUSALEM
“Now these are the chiefs of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants. And in Jerusalem dwelt 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 Mahalalel, of the children of Perez: 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 Shilonite. All the sons of Perez that dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.”
The emphasis among the Jews continued to be upon genealogy. In this enumeration of the children of Judah, they were all traced back to Perez, one of the twin sons of Judah by his daughter-in-law Tamar. All of those mentioned in Neh 11:3-9, according to Cundall, “Were the rulers of the people (the chiefs) already living in Jerusalem.” Significantly, the descendants of Judah and of Benjamin are named separately.
E.M. Zerr:
Neh 11:3. This and several verses following will give a list of persons, of the ones to reside in the city of Jerusalem, and the ones to dwell in other places.
Neh 11:4. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin had possessed the territory that included Jerusalem and that surrounding it, and those tribes naturally felt disposed to furnish a representation for the service. The group of names is given generation by generation to show the lineal connection with an important ancestor. He is here called Perez, which is another spelling for Pharez in Gen 38:29, in which chapter he is seen to have been a son of Judah.
Neh 11:5-6. More of the descendants of Parez are named, then a summing up is stated of the number altogether which is 468. This will give us some idea of the importance of that son of Judah, conceived and born under such unusual circumstances. See Genesis 38 for the history of the case.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Now: There is a good deal of difference between this enumeration and that in Chronicles; as this comprehends not only those who came first with Zerubbabel, but also those who came with Ezra and Nehemiah. See note on 1Ch 9:18.
the chief: Neh 7:6, Ezr 2:1
Israel: Neh 7:73, 1Ch 9:1-3, Ezr 2:70
Nethinims: Ezr 2:43, Ezr 2:55
the children: Neh 7:57-60, Ezr 2:55-58
Reciprocal: Jos 9:27 – made them 1Ki 9:21 – bondservice 1Ch 9:2 – the first Ezr 5:8 – the province Neh 1:3 – the province Neh 7:1 – the porters Psa 107:7 – that they Zec 1:17 – My cities
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 11:3. These are the chief of the province Of Judea, which was now made a province. Israel The generality of the people of Israel, whether of Judah, or Benjamin, or any other tribe. These he calls Israel, rather than Judah, because there were many of the other tribes now incorporated with them; and because none of the tribes of Israel, except Judah and Benjamin, dwelt in Jerusalem.