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Nehemiah 11-12
New American Standard Bible

Time Passes; Heads of Provinces

11 Now (A)the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people (B)cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, (C)the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men who (D)volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

3 (E)Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah (F)each lived on his own property in their cities—the [a]Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the [b](G)temple servants, and the [c](H)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 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 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second [d]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 overseer of the house of God, 12 and their kinsmen who did the work of the [e]temple, 822; 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; 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. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of [f]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 [g]leaders of the Levites, who were [h]in charge of (I)the outside work of the house of God; 17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of [i]Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the [j]leader in beginning the thanksgiving at prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his kinsmen; and [k]Abda the son of [l]Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in (J)the holy city were 284.

19 Also the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their kinsmen who kept watch at the gates, were 172.

Outside Jerusalem

20 The rest of Israel, of the priests and of the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each (K)on his own inheritance. 21 But (L)the temple servants were living in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were [m]in charge of the temple servants.

22 Now (M)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 [n]service of the house of God. 23 (N)For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a royal command for the singers (O)day by day. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons (P)of Zerah the son of Judah, was the (Q)king’s [o]representative for every matter concerning the people.

25 Now as for the villages with their fields, some of the sons of Judah lived in (R)Kiriath-arba and its [p]towns, in (S)Dibon and its [q]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 camped 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 And from the Levites, some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin.

Priests and Levites Who Returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel

12 Now these are (T)the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their kinsmen in the days of Jeshua.

8 And the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who was [r]in charge of the songs of thanksgiving, he and his brothers. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, stood opposite them (U)in their service divisions. 10 Jeshua fathered Joiakim, Joiakim fathered Eliashib, Eliashib fathered Joiada, 11 Joiada fathered Jonathan, and Jonathan fathered Jaddua.

12 Now in the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of fathers’ households were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 of [s]Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

The Chief Levites

22 As for the Levites, the heads of fathers’ households were registered in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua; so were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi, the heads of fathers’ households, were registered in the Book of the Chronicles up to the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24 And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, (V)to praise and give thanks, [t]as prescribed by David the man of God, (W)division corresponding to division. 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping watch at (X)the storerooms of the gates. 26 These men served in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of (Y)Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe.

Dedication of the Wall

27 Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they could celebrate the dedication with joy, with songs of thanksgiving and with songs (Z)to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28 So the sons of the singers were assembled from the territory around Jerusalem, and from (AA)the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth-gilgal and from their fields in Geba and Azmaveth, because the singers had built themselves villages around Jerusalem. 30 The priests and the Levites (AB)purified themselves; they also purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

Procedures for the Temple

31 Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large [u]choirs, [v](AC)the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward (AD)the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 and some of the sons of the priests with trumpets; and Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his kinsmen, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, (AE)with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. 37 At (AF)the Fountain Gate they went directly up (AG)the steps of the city of David by the stairway of the wall, above the house of David to (AH)the Water Gate on the east.

38 (AI)The second [w]choir proceeded to the [x]left, while I followed them with half of the people on the wall, (AJ)above the Tower of Furnaces, to (AK)the Broad Wall, 39 and above (AL)the Gate of Ephraim, by (AM)the Ancient Gate, by the (AN)Fish Gate, (AO)the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate; and they stopped at (AP)the Gate of the Guard. 40 Then the two choirs took their positions in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials with me; 41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with the trumpets; 42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers [y]sang, with Jezrahiah their leader, 43 and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because (AQ)God had given them great joy, and the women and children rejoiced as well, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from far away.

44 On that day (AR)men were also appointed over the chambers for the supplies, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who [z]served. 45 For they performed the [aa]worship of their God and the service of purification, together with the singers and the gatekeepers (AS)in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon. 46 For in the days of David and (AT)Asaph, in ancient times, there were [ab](AU)leaders of the singers, songs of praise and songs of thanksgiving to God. 47 So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers (AV)as each day required, and they [ac](AW)set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites [ad]set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 11:3 Lit Israel
  2. Nehemiah 11:3 Heb Nethinim
  3. Nehemiah 11:3 Lit sons
  4. Nehemiah 11:9 Lit over
  5. Nehemiah 11:12 Lit house
  6. Nehemiah 11:14 Or the great ones
  7. Nehemiah 11:16 Lit heads
  8. Nehemiah 11:16 Lit over
  9. Nehemiah 11:17 In 1 Chr 9:15, Zichri
  10. Nehemiah 11:17 Lit head
  11. Nehemiah 11:17 In 1 Chr 9:16, Obadiah
  12. Nehemiah 11:17 In 1 Chr 9:16, Shemaiah
  13. Nehemiah 11:21 Lit over
  14. Nehemiah 11:22 Or work
  15. Nehemiah 11:24 Lit hand
  16. Nehemiah 11:25 Lit daughters, and so throughout the ch
  17. Nehemiah 11:25 Lit daughters, and so throughout the ch
  18. Nehemiah 12:8 Lit over
  19. Nehemiah 12:14 In v 2, Malluch
  20. Nehemiah 12:24 Lit by the commandment of
  21. Nehemiah 12:31 Lit thanksgiving choirs
  22. Nehemiah 12:31 Heb and processions to the right
  23. Nehemiah 12:38 Lit thanksgiving choir
  24. Nehemiah 12:38 Heb uncertain, perhaps opposite
  25. Nehemiah 12:42 Lit made themselves heard
  26. Nehemiah 12:44 Lit stood
  27. Nehemiah 12:45 Lit service
  28. Nehemiah 12:46 Lit heads
  29. Nehemiah 12:47 Or gave votive offerings to
  30. Nehemiah 12:47 Or gave votive offerings to
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Nehemiah 11-12
New International Version

The New Residents of Jerusalem(A)

11 Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem,(B) the holy city,(C) while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns.(D) 2 The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

3 These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on their own property in the various towns,(E) 4 while other people from both Judah and Benjamin(F) lived in Jerusalem):(G)

From the descendants of Judah:

Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Kol-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah. 6 The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of standing.

7 From the descendants of Benjamin:

Sallu 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 his followers, Gabbai and Sallai—928 men. 9 Joel son of Zikri was their chief officer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the New Quarter of the city.

10 From the priests:

Jedaiah; the son of Joiarib; Jakin; 11 Seraiah(H) son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub,(I) the official in charge of the house of God, 12 and their associates, who carried on work for the temple—822 men; Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah, 13 and his associates, who were heads of families—242 men; Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and his[a] associates, who were men of standing—128. Their chief officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.

15 From the Levites:

Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 Shabbethai(J) and Jozabad,(K) two of the heads of the Levites, who had charge of the outside work of the house of God; 17 Mattaniah(L) son of Mika, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph,(M) the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.(N) 18 The Levites in the holy city(O) totaled 284.

19 The gatekeepers:

Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.

20 The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, each on their ancestral property.

21 The temple servants(P) lived on the hill of Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them.

22 The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah,(Q) the son of Mika. Uzzi was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the musicians responsible for the service of the house of God. 23 The musicians(R) were under the king’s orders, which regulated their daily activity.

24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, one of the descendants of Zerah(S) son of Judah, was the king’s agent in all affairs relating to the people.

25 As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba(T) and its surrounding settlements, in Dibon(U) and its settlements, in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 in Jeshua, in Moladah,(V) in Beth Pelet,(W) 27 in Hazar Shual,(X) in Beersheba(Y) and its settlements, 28 in Ziklag,(Z) in Mekonah and its settlements, 29 in En Rimmon, in Zorah,(AA) in Jarmuth,(AB) 30 Zanoah,(AC) Adullam(AD) and their villages, in Lachish(AE) and its fields, and in Azekah(AF) and its settlements. So they were living all the way from Beersheba(AG) to the Valley of Hinnom.

31 The descendants of the Benjamites from Geba(AH) lived in Mikmash,(AI) Aija, Bethel(AJ) and its settlements, 32 in Anathoth,(AK) Nob(AL) and Ananiah, 33 in Hazor,(AM) Ramah(AN) and Gittaim,(AO) 34 in Hadid, Zeboim(AP) and Neballat, 35 in Lod and Ono,(AQ) and in Ge Harashim.

36 Some of the divisions of the Levites of Judah settled in Benjamin.

Priests and Levites

12 These were the priests(AR) and Levites(AS) who returned with Zerubbabel(AT) son of Shealtiel(AU) and with Joshua:(AV)

Seraiah,(AW) Jeremiah, Ezra,

2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,

3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

4 Iddo,(AX) Ginnethon,[b] Abijah,(AY)

5 Mijamin,[c] Moadiah, Bilgah,

6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,(AZ)

7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah.

These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua.

8 The Levites were Jeshua,(BA) Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah,(BB) who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services.

10 Joshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib,(BC) Eliashib the father of Joiada, 11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.

12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families:

of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah;

of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;

13 of Ezra’s, Meshullam;

of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;

14 of Malluk’s, Jonathan;

of Shekaniah’s,[d] Joseph;

15 of Harim’s, Adna;

of Meremoth’s,[e] Helkai;

16 of Iddo’s,(BD) Zechariah;

of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;

17 of Abijah’s,(BE) Zikri;

of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;

18 of Bilgah’s, Shammua;

of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;

19 of Joiarib’s, Mattenai;

of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;

20 of Sallu’s, Kallai;

of Amok’s, Eber;

21 of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah;

of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.

22 The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24 And the leaders of the Levites(BF) were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.(BG)

25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.

Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem

27 At the dedication(BH) of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals,(BI) harps and lyres.(BJ) 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites,(BK) 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people,(BL) the gates and the wall.

31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of[f] the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of[g] the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate.(BM) 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin,(BN) Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets,(BO) and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments(BP) prescribed by David the man of God.(BQ) Ezra(BR) the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate(BS) they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate(BT) on the east.

38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of[h] the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens(BU) to the Broad Wall,(BV) 39 over the Gate of Ephraim,(BW) the Jeshanah[i] Gate,(BX) the Fish Gate,(BY) the Tower of Hananel(BZ) and the Tower of the Hundred,(CA) as far as the Sheep Gate.(CB) At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.

40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms(CC) for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes.(CD) From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.(CE) 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David(CF) and his son Solomon.(CG) 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph,(CH) there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise(CI) and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.(CJ)

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 11:14 Most Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew their
  2. Nehemiah 12:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 16); most Hebrew manuscripts Ginnethoi
  3. Nehemiah 12:5 A variant of Miniamin
  4. Nehemiah 12:14 Very many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also verse 3); most Hebrew manuscripts Shebaniah’s
  5. Nehemiah 12:15 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 3); Hebrew Meraioth’s
  6. Nehemiah 12:31 Or go alongside
  7. Nehemiah 12:31 Or proceed alongside
  8. Nehemiah 12:38 Or them alongside
  9. Nehemiah 12:39 Or Old
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