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 cities -the Israelites , the priests , the Levites , the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants . 4 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 e e e 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 e e e . 9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer , and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second in command of the city . 10 From 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 , the leader of the house of God , 12 and their kinsmen who performed the work of the temple , 822 e e e ; 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 , 13 and his kinsmen , heads of fathers' households, 242 e e ; and Amashsai the son of Azarel , the son of Ahzai , the son of Meshillemoth , the son of Immer , 14 and their brothers , valiant warriors , 128 e e . And their overseer was Zabdiel , the son of Haggedolim . 15 Now from the Levites : Shemaiah the son of Hasshub , the son of Azrikam , the son of Hashabiah , the son of Bunni ; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad , from the leaders of the Levites , who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God ; 17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica , the son of Zabdi , the son of Asaph , who was the leader in beginning the thanksgiving at 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 284 e e . 19 Also the gatekeepers , Akkub , Talmon and their brethren who kept watch at the gates , were 172 e e .
20 The rest of Israel , of the priests and of the Levites , were in all the cities of Judah , each on his own inheritance . 21 But the temple servants were living in Ophel , and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants . 22 Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani , the son of Hashabiah , the son of Mattaniah , the son of Mica , from the sons of Asaph , who were the singers for the service of the house of God . 23 For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the song leaders day by day . 24 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel , of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah , was the king's representative in all matters concerning the people .
25 Now as for the villages with their fields , some of the sons of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its towns , in Dibon and its towns , and in Jekabzeel and its villages , 26 and in Jeshua , in Moladah and Beth-pelet , 27 and in Hazar-shual , in Beersheba and its towns , 28 and in Ziklag , in Meconah and in its towns , 29 and in En-rimmon , in Zorah and in Jarmuth , 30 Zanoah , Adullam , and their villages , Lachish and its fields , Azekah and its towns . So they encamped from Beersheba as far as the valley of Hinnom . 31 The sons of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija , at Bethel and its towns , 32 at Anathoth , Nob , Ananiah , 33 Hazor , Ramah , Gittaim , 34 Hadid , Zeboim , Neballat , 35 Lod and Ono , the valley of craftsmen . 36 From the Levites , some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 11:3-36
Chapter Contents
The distribution of the people.
In all ages, men have preferred their own ease and advantage to the public good. Even the professors of religion too commonly seek their own, and not the things of Christ. Few have had such attachment to holy things and holy places, as to renounce pleasure for their sake. Yet surely, our souls should delight to dwell where holy persons and opportunities of spiritual improvement most abound. If we have not this love to the city of our God, and to every thing that assists our communion with the Saviour, how shall we be willing to depart hence; to be absent from the body, that we may be present with the Lord? To the carnal-minded, the perfect holiness of the New Jerusalem would be still harder to bear than the holiness of God's church on earth. Let us seek first the favour of God, and his glory; let us study to be patient, contented, and useful in our several stations, and wait, with cheerful hope, for admission into the holy city of God.