Nehemiah 11 | |
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![]() "Well of En-Rogel" (Nehemiah's Well) in ca. 1870, by Felix-Adrien Bonfils (1831-1885). Jerusalem, Israel. | |
Book | Book of Nehemiah |
Category | Ketuvim |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 16 |
Nehemiah 11 is the eleventh chapter of the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible,[1] or the 21st chapter of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, which treats the book of Ezra and the book of Nehemiah as one book.[2] Jewish tradition states that Ezra is the author of Ezra-Nehemiah as well as the Book of Chronicles,[3] but modern scholars generally accept that a compiler from the 5th century BCE (the so-called "Chronicler") is the final author of these books.[4] The chapter describes the repopulation of Jerusalem. Judahites (4-6), Benjamites (7-9), priests (10-14), Levites (15-18), gatekeepers (19) and "the rest of Israel" (20-21). Roles in relation to leadership, maintenance and prayer in the Temple are allocated. The people cast lots and 1 of 10 are to volunteer to live in the city (still having military duties) whilst the remainder repopulate the surrounding areas ( possession of the land theme).
Text
[edit]The original text of this chapter is in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 36 verses.
Textual witnesses
[edit]Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).[5][a]
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century).[7]
Repopulation of Judah (11:1–30)
[edit]Jerusalem, as the provincial capital, already had a sizeable number of population, but mostly of the ruling class, close to leadership positions. Nehemiah was recorded as having 150 officials dining with him in Nehemiah 5:17. Anglican commentator H. E. Ryle refers to a suggestion that the rulers or princes, before Nehemiah took the matter in hand, had resided in the country.[8] However, the city needed more general population in order to grow.[9] The people who would move to Jerusalem were determined by casting lots, one each out of groups of ten family representatives.[10] The detailed list (verses 3–24) demonstrates that each group living outside the city was well represented by families living within its walls.[10]
Among the cities resettled by the returning populations are mentioned Qiryat-arba, Zorah, Jarmuth, Zanoah, Adullam, and Lachish.[11]
Verse 1
[edit]- And the rulers of the people dwelt 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..[12]
Jerusalem is also called "the holy city verse 18. Ryle notes that "the occurrence of this title in Scripture may be illustrated by Isaiah 48:2, For they call themselves of the holy city and Isaiah 52:1, O Jerusalem, the holy city", see also Daniel 9:24 and Joel 3:17. In the New Testament it occurs in Matthew 4:5 and Matthew 27:53, see also Revelation 11:2; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 21:10; Revelation 22:19.[8] The New English Translation explains that "the word 'hand' is used here in the sense or a part or portion".[13]
Verse 16
[edit]- And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.[14]
- "Of the chief": Hebrew: "who were of the heads".[15]
- "House" (as in Hebrew): refers to the "Temple".[16]
Verse 23
[edit]- For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.[17]
- "The king's commandment concerning them": Hebrew: "the commandment of the king was over them".[18]
- "A certain portion": or "fixed share".[19]
- "Due for every day": Hebrew: "a thing of a day in its day".[20]
Outside Jerusalem (11:25–36)
[edit]This part scans the Jewish habitation outside Jerusalem with enclaves and settlements throughout the Judean countryside, listing the towns of Judah (verses 25–30), the towns of Benjamin (verses 31–35) and a note on the dwellings of the Levites (verse 36).[21]
Verse 31
[edit]- Also the children of Benjamin from Geba dwelt in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel, and their villages;[22]
- "Also the children of": Hebrew MT reads וּבְנֵי (ubene, "and the sons of"), but a few medieval Hebrew manuscripts and the Syriac Peshitta read וּמִבְּנֵי (umibene, "and some of the descendants of"; cf. NLT).[23]
Verse 36
[edit]- And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.[24]
Based on Joshua 21, the Levites was not given land as inheritance, for 'their portion was the Lord and the honor of his service', but they were given a share of specific towns among the various tribes of Israel.[25]
See also
[edit]- Jerusalem
- Tribe of Benjamin
- Related Bible parts: Joshua 21, Nehemiah 10
Notes
[edit]- ^ Since the anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo in 1947, the whole book of Ezra-Nehemiah has been missing from the text of the Aleppo Codex.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Halley 1965, p. 236.
- ^ Grabbe 2003, p. 313.
- ^ Babylonian Talmud Baba Bathra 15a, apud Fensham 1982, p. 2
- ^ Fensham 1982, pp. 2–4.
- ^ Würthwein 1995, pp. 36–37.
- ^ P. W. Skehan (2003), "BIBLE (TEXTS)", New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 2 (2nd ed.), Gale, pp. 355–362
- ^ Würthwein 1995, pp. 73–74.
- ^ a b Ryle, H. E., Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on Nehemiah 11, accessed 16 September 2020
- ^ Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, pp. 253–254.
- ^ a b Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, p. 254.
- ^ Nehemiah 11:25–30
- ^ Nehemiah 11:1 KJV
- ^ Note [a] at Nehemiah 11:1 in the New English Translation
- ^ Nehemiah 11:16 KJV
- ^ Note [a] on Nehemiah 11:16 in NET Bible
- ^ Note [a] on Nehemiah 11:16 in NKJV
- ^ Nehemiah 11:23 KJV
- ^ Note [a] on Nehemiah 11:23 in NET Bible
- ^ Note [a] on Nehemiah 11:23 in NKJV
- ^ Note [b] on Nehemiah 11:23 in NET Bible
- ^ Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, pp. 255–256.
- ^ Nehemiah 11:31 NKJV
- ^ Note [a] on Nehemiah 11:31 in NET Bible
- ^ Nehemiah 11:36 KJV
- ^ Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, p. 256.
Sources
[edit]- Fensham, F. Charles (1982). The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. New international commentary on the Old Testament (illustrated ed.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 978-0802825278. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
- Grabbe, Lester L. (2003). "Nehemiah". In Dunn, James D. G.; Rogerson, John William (eds.). Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible (illustrated ed.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 320–328. ISBN 978-0802837110. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
- Halley, Henry H. (1965). Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary (24th (revised) ed.). Zondervan Publishing House. ISBN 0-310-25720-4.
- Larson, Knute; Dahlen, Kathy; Anders, Max E. (2005). Anders, Max E. (ed.). Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Holman Old Testament commentary. Vol. 9 (illustrated ed.). B&H Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0805494693. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
- Levering, Matthew (2007). Ezra & Nehemiah. Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible. Brazos Press. ISBN 978-1587431616. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
- McConville, J. G. (1985). Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. The daily study Bible : Old Testament. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 978-0664245832. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
- Smith-Christopher, Daniel L. (2007). "15. Ezra-Nehemiah". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.). The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 308–324. ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- Würthwein, Ernst (1995). The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
Further reading
[edit]- Blenkinsopp, Joseph, "Ezra-Nehemiah: A Commentary" (Eerdmans, 1988)
- Blenkinsopp, Joseph, "Judaism, the first phase" (Eerdmans, 2009)
- Coggins, R.J., "The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah" (Cambridge University Press, 1976)
- Ecker, Ronald L., "Ezra and Nehemiah", Ecker's Biblical Web Pages, 2007.
- Grabbe, L.L., "Ezra-Nehemiah" (Routledge, 1998)
- Grabbe, L.L., "A history of the Jews and Judaism in the Second Temple Period, Volume 1" (T&T Clark, 2004)
- Throntveit, Mark A. (1992) "Ezra-Nehemiah". John Knox Press
External links
[edit]- Jewish translations:
- Nechemiah - Nehemiah - Chapter 11 (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
- Christian translations:
- Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
- Book of Nehemiah Chapter 11. Bible Gateway