Nehemiah 11 — Tyndale Study Notes
Neh.11.1-36
The narrative returns to the issue of repopulating the secure city of Jerusalem (see 7:1-5). The list of names roughly parallels the list in 1 Chr 9:2-17.
Neh.11.1-2
Sacred lots were probably the Urim and Thummim (10:34; Josh 7:14, 16-18; 14:2).
Neh.11.4
Perez was one of Judah’s sons (Gen 38:29).
Neh.11.16
The work outside the Temple probably included collecting tithes from people and caring for the tithes in storehouses (10:37-39; see also 1 Chr 26:29).
Neh.11.17
a descendant of Asaph: David had chosen Asaph and his sons to provide music for the Temple worship (1 Chr 25:1-8). Asaph’s descendants took up this role again when the new Temple was built.
Neh.11.21
The hill of Ophel was high ground just south of the Temple (3:26). It provided an ideal location to house those who worked in the Temple.
Neh.11.24
The royal adviser informed the king of events in Jerusalem and notified Jewish officials of the king’s public administration of Persian policies.
Neh.11.30
all the way from Beersheba . . . to the valley of Hinnom: Earlier descriptions of places where people settled concentrated on areas north of Jerusalem (ch 3; 11:31-36); this list (11:25-30) reflects progressive expansion of places where Jewish people lived as they occupied many of their preexilic towns, both north and south of Jerusalem.