Nehemiah 11:3-9 · Bible study
Nehemiah 11:3-9 Commentary: Study: Repopulating Jerusalem's Community
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does this list differ from 1 Chronicles 9? Explore the post-exilic community and the groups that resettled Jerusalem.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A census of the chiefs and families who resettled Jerusalem after the wall was rebuilt, emphasizing the diverse makeup of the restored community.
- Key words: Overseer (Hebrew paqid), a commissioner or deputy; second (Hebrew mishneh), the second district or officer.
- Main debate: How this list relates to 1 Chronicles 9, whether it records the same group, a later census, or a different official register.
- Theological theme: God’s faithfulness in repopulating Jerusalem and the value He places on every member of His people, regardless of background.
- Best use: Teaching on community, service, and the call to sacrifice personal comfort for the sake of God’s house.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
3These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants—
4while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem.) 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;
5and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah.
6The descendants of Perez who settled in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of valor.
7From 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;
8and his followers Gabbai and Sallai—928 men.
9Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the Second District of the city.
WEB World English Bible 2000
3Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah, everyone lived in his possession in their cities—Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the children of Solomon’s servants.
4Some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. 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;
5and 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 the Shilonite.
6All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.
7These 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.
8After him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight.
9Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.
KJV King James Version 1769
3Now 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.
4And 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;
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 Shiloni.
6All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
7And 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.
8And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.
9And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
3Now 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.
4And 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;
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 that dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
7And 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.
8And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.
9And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
3And these are heads of the province who have dwelt in Jerusalem, and in cities of Judah, they have dwelt each in his possession in their cities; Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the sons of the servants of Solomon.
4And in Jerusalem have dwelt of the sons of Judah, and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalaleel, of the sons of Perez;
5and Masseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-Hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of Shiloni;
6all the sons of Perez who are dwelling in Jerusalem are four hundred sixty and eight, men of valour.
7And these are sons of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jesaiah;
8and after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.
9And Joel son of Zichri is inspector over them, and Judah son of Senuah is over the city--second.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
3And 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, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon's servants.
4And in Jerusalem dwelt some 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 Pherez;
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 Shiloni.
6All the children of Pherez that dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.
7And these are the children 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 Isaiah;
8and after him, Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred and twenty-eight:
9and Joel the son of Zicri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
3These therefore are the chief men of the province, who dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda. And every one dwelt in his possession, in their cities: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon.
4And in Jerusalem there dwelt some of the children of Juda, and some of the children of Benjamin: of the children of Juda, Athaias the son of Aziam, the son of Zacharias, the son of Amarias, the son of Saphatias, the son of Malaleel: of the sons of Phares,
5Maasia the son of Baruch, the son of Cholhoza, the son of Hazia, the son of Adaia, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zacharias, the son of the Silonite:
6All these the sons of Phares, who dwelt in Jerusalem, were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.
7And these are the children of Benjamin: Sellum the son of Mosollam, the son of Joed, the son of Phadaia, the son of Colaia, the son of Masia, the son of Etheel, the son of Isaia.
8And after him Gebbai, Sellai, nine hundred twenty-eight.
9And Joel the son of Zechri their ruler, and Judas the son of Senua was second over the city.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Nehemiah 11:3
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Nehemiah 11:3-9 records the families and leaders who took up residence in Jerusalem after the wall was rebuilt. The list does not simply copy the earlier census of returnees in 1 Chronicles 9. As Adam Clarke and JFB note, the Chronicles list counts those who came with Zerubbabel, while Nehemiah’s register includes later arrivals with Ezra and Nehemiah, as well as those who volunteered or were chosen by lot to move into the city (see Nehemiah 11:1-2). The presence of groups like the Nethinim (temple servants) and the children of Solomon’s servants shows that the restored community was not limited to priests and Levites. These were families with a long history of service in the temple and royal household, now fully integrated into the life of Jerusalem. The label “Israel” in verse 3 is used as a title for all the people, reflecting the reunification of the tribes after the exile. The numbers given, 468 men from Perez (Judah) and 928 from Benjamin, are understood to represent adult males, implying a total population of several thousand.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Later census view: Nehemiah 11 records a later census (after Nehemiah’s arrival) that includes returnees from multiple waves, while 1 Chronicles 9 lists only the first returnees (Clarke, JFB).
- Same register, different excerpts: Both lists are extracts from the same official register, but Nehemiah’s version focuses on the results of the repopulation effort, whereas Chronicles gives a general genealogical overview (Barnes).
- Different purposes: 1 Chronicles 9 aims to trace the lineage of the first settlers; Nehemiah 11 focuses on the administrative structure of the city as it stood after the wall was completed (Cambridge Bible, Keil & Delitzsch).
What is clear: All Christians agree that the passage faithfully records the families and leaders who formed the restored community in Jerusalem after the exile.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship to 1 Chronicles 9 | Both passages record lists of inhabitants of post-exilic Jerusalem, and both derive from official registers. | Some commentators (e.g., Barnes, Clarke) see Nehemiah’s list as a later census that includes returnees from Ezra’s time, while 1 Chronicles 9 records only the first wave under Zerubbabel. Others (e.g., Cambridge Bible) see them as extracts from different official documents or as separate parts of a single larger register. |
| Identity of 'Solomon’s servants' | They were descendants of people who served Solomon, likely originally non-Israelite laborers. | Whether they were fully integrated into the covenant community or still held a distinct social status is unclear. Some see them as a separate class of temple workers; others as families absorbed into the general population. |
| Meaning of 'second over the city' | Judah the son of Hassenuah held a position of leadership in Jerusalem. | Some (Lange) interpret 'second' as referring to the Second Quarter (mishneh), a specific district of Jerusalem. Others (Clarke, Gill) read it as 'deputy' or 'second in command' to Joel the overseer. |
Historical & Cultural Context
When Nehemiah finished rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, the city was still dangerously underpopulated. The surrounding countryside was safer, and most people preferred to live on their ancestral lands. Nehemiah 11:1-2 describes a bold solution: the leaders already lived in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten families into the city. Those who volunteered were blessed by the community. This passage (verses 3-9) then gives the official list of the chiefs of the province who actually settled there.
The province was Judah, now a small district within the Persian Empire. The social structure of the post-exilic community was layered. At the top were the “chiefs of the province” (heads of families); then the general population called “Israel”; then the priests and Levites; and finally the temple servants (Nethinim) and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. The Nethinim were a group of non-Israelites (likely Gibeonites and others) assigned to assist the Levites in temple work (Ezra 2:43; 2:58). The “children of Solomon’s servants” were descended from the Canaanite forced laborers put to work by Solomon (1 Kings 9:20-21). By Nehemiah’s time, both groups had become permanent fixture of the covenant community.
The city of Jerusalem itself had districts. Verse 9 mentions Judah the son of Hassenuah as “second over the city”, likely the officer in charge of the Second Quarter (mishneh), a northern expansion of Jerusalem mentioned elsewhere (2 Kings 22:14; Zephaniah 1:10). The numbers given (468 from Perez, 928 from Benjamin) are adult males, suggesting a total population of perhaps 15,000, 20,000 when women, children, priests, and Levites are included.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants for this passage. The list in Nehemiah 11:3-9 corresponds closely in structure and names to the parallel in 1 Chronicles 9, but the differences in numbers and some names are attributed to different times of compilation or scribal transmission rather than textual corruption.
Reception History
Throughout church history, Nehemiah 11 has been read as a record of God’s faithfulness in re-establishing His people in the holy city. Early Christian interpreters saw the repopulation of Jerusalem as a type of the gathering of the church. The inclusion of temple servants and Solomon’s servants was noted as evidence that God welcomes people from all backgrounds into His community. During the Reformation, commentators like Matthew Henry used this passage to encourage believers to willingly serve where God places them, even if it means personal sacrifice. Modern readers often focus on the sociological diversity of the post-exilic community and the importance of shared leadership.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- A city worth repopulating. Jerusalem was the holy city, the place of the temple. God’s people were called to prioritize its life, even at personal cost.
- Every tribe and role mattered. The list includes not just priests but temple servants, former royal workers, and ordinary Israelites. The community needed every part.
- Leaders who served. Joel was overseer; Judah was second over the city. Order and care were part of God’s plan for the restored community.
Five-Point Outline
- The context of repopulation. Nehemiah 11:1-2 describes the lot and the voluntary settlers.
- The chiefs who moved. Verse 3 names the heads of the province in Jerusalem.
- The tribe of Judah. Two leading families: Perez (468 men of valor) and Shelah (line of Maaseiah).
- The tribe of Benjamin. Larger number (928 men), with two chiefs: Sallu and Gabbai/Sallai.
- The city’s administrators. Joel and Judah provided oversight and order.
Illustration Hooks
- Moving for the mission. A family today that relocates to a challenging neighborhood to serve in a church plant, similar to those who left their ancestral farms to live in Jerusalem.
- Every job matters. In a church, the people who clean the building or run the sound board are as important as the pastor. The Nethinim and Solomon’s servants remind us that no role is too small.
- Two leaders, one city. Joel as overseer and Judah as second illustrate the value of shared leadership and clear lines of responsibility.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Why does God seem so interested in names and numbers? Does my name matter to Him?
- Does God still call people to move into difficult places for the sake of His people?
- How can people from different backgrounds, like the Nethinim and Solomon’s servants, be united as one community in Christ?
Leading a Discussion
This passage records the resettlement of Jerusalem after the exile. It may seem like a dry list of names, but it tells a powerful story: God’s people were willing to leave their comfort zones to rebuild the life of the holy city. The list also shows that the community included people from many backgrounds, including those whose ancestors had been servants and temple helpers. Today, we can ask what it means to prioritize our spiritual community, and how we make room for everyone.
Discussion Questions
- Read Nehemiah 11:1-2. What motivated people to volunteer to live in Jerusalem? What might make it hard to say yes?
- Why do you think God inspired Nehemiah to record names and numbers so carefully? What does that say about how God sees each person?
- The list includes priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants. How does the diversity of the group reflect the nature of God’s people?
- Compare this list with the one in 1 Chronicles 9. What might the differences teach us about how communities change over time?
- In verse 6, the men of Perez are called “valiant men” (or “men of strength”). What kind of strength was needed to resettle Jerusalem? What strength does a faith community need today?
- Joel was the overseer, and Judah was second over the city. How does orderly leadership help a community flourish? What can we learn from their example?
- If your church or small group were to “cast lots” to see who would take on a difficult task for the sake of the community, how would you respond? What would make you more willing?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Chronicles 9:1 | So all Israel were listed by genealogies; and behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their disobedience. |
| I Chronicles 9:18 | who previously served in the king’s gate eastward. They were the gatekeepers for the camp of the children of Levi. |
| I Chronicles 9:34 | These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men. They lived at Jerusalem. |
| Ezra 2:1 | Now these are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city; |
| Ezra 2:43 | The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, |
| Ezra 2:55 | The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda, |
| Ezra 2:58 | All the temple servants, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety-two. |
| Ezra 2:70 | So the priests and the Levites, with some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke clarifies the discrepancy between the two lists: the earlier one counted only those returning with Zerubbabel, while this one includes those who came later with Ezra and Nehemiah. He adds that Joel was the chief overseer, with Judah serving as his deputy.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes treats the census lists in Nehemiah and Chronicles as extracts from an official register that Nehemiah himself compiled. He highlights the numerical differences between the two accounts but shows they can be harmonized
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the lists in Nehemiah 11 and 1 Chronicles 9 are copies of the same official document, made by different people for different purposes. Both were drawn from a fuller original record, which explains why names and numbers differ between them.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note observes that these verses record the leaders and genealogies of those who lived in Jerusalem after the exile, distinguishing them from those who settled in other cities of Judah. The careful listing underscores the importance of maintaining a faithful remnant in the holy city.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that among the returning exiles, more Benjaminites than Judahites chose to live in Jerusalem, suggesting Benjamin had a greater stake in the city or a stronger willingness to inhabit it. He also records the exact numbers of valiant men from each tribe and identifies the city's overseer and deputy governor.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that after the Babylonian captivity, the name "Israel" was restored to designate all the returned exiles, erasing the former division between Israel and Judah. Most who settled in Jerusalem were from Judah and Benjamin, while those from other tribes occupied the rural villages. The list in Nehemiah likely includes later returnees with Ezra, not just the first group from Chronicles.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argues that the title of the list records the whole population of the province of Judah, not just those who moved to Jerusalem by lot. The repeated phrasing simply means everyone lived in their own cities, and the following census includes both Jerusalem and the other towns.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that repopulating Jerusalem was not mainly about security or civic strength. The deeper aim was to bring the congregation into proximity to the Temple and its worship, where the prophetic promises rested. The willing volunteers, who accepted real hardship, earned public blessing and set a pattern for the church to hold faithfully to God’s assembly.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights the voluntary spirit behind the repopulation: those who willingly moved to Jerusalem received the people's blessing, while others were chosen by lot. He sees this as an act of faith, leaving settled homes for the holy city, and notes God's care in recording every family that answered the call.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley clarifies that "Israel" here means the whole gathered people from every tribe, not just Judah, since many from other tribes lived in Jerusalem after the exile. He also specifies that the "overseer" is a military captain commanding a thousand men.