Nehemiah

Nehemiah leads the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and reforms the community.

Chapter 11

1 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.

*The leaders lived in Jerusalem, and the others used a method to decide where to live. One out of every ten people stayed in Jerusalem, while the other nine lived in different cities.

2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

*The people praised all the men who chose to live in Jerusalem.

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.

*Now, these leaders lived in Jerusalem's area. In Judah's city areas, people lived in their own areas. This included Israel, priests, Levites, Nethinims, and kids of Solomon's helpers.

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;

*At Jerusalem lived some kids from the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin. From the tribe of Judah: Athaiah, who was Uzziah's son, Zechariah's grandson, Amariah's great-grandson, Shephatiah's great-great-grandson, Mahalaleel's great-great-great-grandson, all part of the Perez family.

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.

*And Maseiah, who was Baruch's son, Colhozeh's grandson, Hazaiah's great-grandson, Adaiah's great-great-grandson, Joiarib's great-great-great-grandson, Zechariah's great-great-great-great-grandson, and Shiloni's great-great-great-great-great-grandson.

6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.

*At Jerusalem, all the sons of Perez numbered 438 strong 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.

*These are Benjamin's sons: Sallu, whose father was Meshullam, who was the son of Joed, descendant of Pedaiah, Kolaiah's son, from Maaseiah's line, through Ithiel to Jesaiah.

8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.

*And then came Gabbai, followed by Sallai, totaling nine hundred twenty-eight.

9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.

*Joel, son of Zichri, was in charge. Judah, son of Senuah, was his assistant in the city.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.

*From the priests, Jedaiah, son of Joiarib, and 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.

*Seraiah, who came from Hilkiah, then Meshullam, Zadok, and Meraioth, and finally Ahitub, was in charge of God's house.

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,

*And there were 822 workers in the house. Also, Adaiah, a descendant of Jeroham, Pelaliah, Amzi, Zechariah, and Pashur, was another person involved.

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,

*And his brothers, leaders of the ancestors, numbered 242; and Amashai, son of Azareel, son of Ahasai, son of Meshillemoth, 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.

*And their strong brothers, brave fighters totaling 128, were led by Zabdiel, who was the son of a major leader.

15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

*Another from the Levites: Shemaiah, son of Hashub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, 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.

*Shabbetai and Josabad, leaders of the Levites, were in charge of the outside tasks for God's house.

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.

*Mattaniah, a descendant of Micha, Zabdi, and Asaph, led the beginning of the thankful prayer. Bakbukiah was second in his family, followed by Abda, son of Shammua, Galal, and Jeduthun.

18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.

*In the holy city, there were 288 Levites.

19 Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.

*Moreover, the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, totaled one hundred seventy-two.

20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.

*The rest of Israel, including the priests and Levites, lived in all the cities of Judah, with each person in their own area.

21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.

*But the Nethinims lived in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa led the Nethinims.

22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.

*The leader of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi, son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micha. The singers from the family of Asaph managed the work for God's house.

23 For it was the king’s commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.

*The king ordered that a part of the food was for the singers to have every day.

24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.

*Pethahiah, a descendant of Judah's family, was always by the king's side, handling everything related to the people.

25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,

*In the villages, some people from the family of Judah lived at Kirjatharba and its surrounding areas, also at Dibon and its surrounding areas, and at Jekabzeel and its surrounding areas.

26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,

*At Joshua, at Moladah, and at Bethphelet.

27 And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,

*At Hazarshual and Beersheba and their nearby towns,

28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,

*At Ziklag and Mekonah and their surrounding towns,

29 And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,

*At Enrimmon, Zareah, and Jarmuth,

30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.

*Zanoah, Adullam, and nearby places, including Lachish and its land, Azekah and its villages. They lived from Beersheba to the Hinnom Valley.

31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages,

*The kids from the Benjamin family lived at Michmash, Aija, Bethel, and nearby towns.

32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

*At Anathoth, Nob, and Ananiah.

33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

*Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim - these are the places mentioned.

34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

*Hadid means "weeping," Zeboim means "divination," Neballat means "calamity." So the verse is about weeping, divination, and calamity.

35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

*Lod and Ono, the valley where skilled workers live.

36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.

*The Levites had groups in Judah and in Benjamin.

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