Nehemiah Chapter 11
Please read: Nehemiah 11 –
Now that the two most important projects were finished, the rebuilding of the temple and the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, it was time to populate the city again. Jerusalem had been a barren place for over 70 years. Choosing to live in Jerusalem meant putting yourself and your family at risk. Jerusalem would be an even bigger target for attacks by enemy armies despite the strong defensive wall. The enemies of Judah did not want to see them rise to power again.
The Bible tells us that the leaders of the people stepped up and volunteered to live there. As for the rest of the people, they were willing to have their names put into a lot or drawing where one out of ten were drawn to live with their families inside the walls of Jerusalem. The Bible also tells us the names of the towns outside the city walls where the rest of the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were living. It was time to begin living as the blessed recipients of the promised land once again.
Let's Reflect
1. What did the people say about those who were willing to live within the city of Jerusalem?
2. Living within Jerusalem were descendants of the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin along with their families. Verse 10 tells us what other group lived within the city?
3. There were some 284 Levites living in the city and what were their various responsibilities?
4. How many men were assigned to be gatekeepers of Jerusalem?
5. The towns that the people lived in, outside the city of Jerusalem, are named in this chapter. This would have only been a small fraction of what used to be occupied by the people of Judah and Israel. What group of people were assigned to not only live in Jerusalem, but some were assigned to live in the small towns to continue teaching the people the Law of God?
