Nehemiah 11 – New International Reader’s Version NIRV

New International Reader’s Version

Nehemiah 11:1-36

People Are Chosen to Live in Jerusalem

1The leaders of the people made their homes in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots. They did it to choose one person out of every ten of them. That person was chosen to live in the holy city of Jerusalem. The other nine had to stay in their own towns. 2The people thanked everyone who agreed to live in Jerusalem.

3Here are the leaders from different parts of the country who made their homes in Jerusalem. Some Israelites, priests and Levites lived in the towns of Judah. So did some temple servants and some members of the family lines of Solomon’s servants. All of them lived on their own property in the towns of Judah. 4At the same time, other people from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem.

Here are the leaders from the family line of Judah.

There was Athaiah. He was the son of Uzziah. Uzziah was the son of Zechariah. Zechariah was the son of Amariah. Amariah was the son of Shephatiah. Shephatiah was the son of Mahalalel. Mahalalel belonged to the family line of Perez.

5There was also Maaseiah. He was the son of Baruch. Baruch was the son of Kol-Hozeh. Kol-Hozeh was the son of Hazaiah. Hazaiah was the son of Adaiah. Adaiah was the son of Joiarib. Joiarib was the son of Zechariah. Zechariah belonged to the family line of Shelah.

6Many important men who belonged to the family line of Perez lived in Jerusalem. The total number of them was 468.

7Here are the leaders from the family line of Benjamin.

There was Sallu. He was the son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Joed. Joed was the son of Pedaiah. Pedaiah was the son of Kolaiah. Kolaiah was the son of Maaseiah. Maaseiah was the son of Ithiel. Ithiel was the son of Jeshaiah. 8There were also Gabbai and Sallai. They were Sallu’s followers. The total number of men was 928.

9Joel was their chief officer. He was the son of Zikri. A man named Judah was in charge of the New Quarter of Jerusalem. He was the son of Hassenuah.

10Here are the leaders from among the priests.

There were Jedaiah, Jakin and the son of Joiarib.

11There was also Seraiah. He was the son of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Zadok. Zadok was the son of Meraioth. Meraioth was the son of Ahitub. Ahitub was the official in charge of God’s house. 12There were also people who helped them. They carried out the work for the temple. The total number of men was 822.

There was also Adaiah. He was the son of Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Pelaliah. Pelaliah was the son of Amzi. Amzi was the son of Zechariah. Zechariah was the son of Pashhur. Pashhur was the son of Malkijah. 13There were also people who helped Adaiah. They were family leaders. The total number of men was 242.

There was also Amashsai. He was the son of Azarel. Azarel was the son of Ahzai. Ahzai was the son of Meshillemoth. Meshillemoth was the son of Immer. 14There were also people who helped Amashsai. They were important men. The total number of them was 128.

Their chief officer was Zabdiel. He was the son of Haggedolim.

15Here are the leaders from among the Levites.

There was Shemaiah. He was the son of Hasshub. Hasshub was the son of Azrikam. Azrikam was the son of Hashabiah. Hashabiah was the son of Bunni.

16There were also Shabbethai and Jozabad. They were two of the leaders of the Levites. They were in charge of the work that was done outside God’s house.

17There was also Mattaniah. He led in prayer and in giving thanks. He was the son of Mika. Mika was the son of Zabdi. Zabdi was the son of Asaph.

There was also Bakbukiah. He was second among those who helped Mattaniah.

And there was Abda. He was the son of Shammua. Shammua was the son of Galal. Galal was the son of Jeduthun.

18The total number of Levites in the holy city was 284.

19Here are the leaders from among the men who guarded the gates.

There were Akkub, Talmon and those who helped them. They stood guard at the gates. The total number of men was 172.

20The rest of the Israelites were in all the towns of Judah. The priests and Levites were with them. All of them lived on their own family property.

21The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel. Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them.

22Uzzi was the chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem. He was the son of Bani. Bani was the son of Hashabiah. Hashabiah was the son of Mattaniah. Mattaniah was the son of Mika. Uzzi was one of the members of Asaph’s family line. They were musicians in charge of the worship services at the house of God. 23The musicians received their orders from the Persian king. He told them what they should do every day.

24Pethahiah worked for the king in all matters that were connected with the people. He was the son of Meshezabel. Meshezabel belonged to the family line of Zerah. Zerah was the son of Judah.

25Many of the people of Judah lived in villages that had fields around them. Some of them lived in Kiriath Arba and the settlements that were around it. Others lived in Dibon and its settlements. Others lived in Jekabzeel and its villages. 26Others lived in Jeshua, Moladah and Beth Pelet. 27Others lived in Hazar Shual and in Beersheba and its settlements. 28Others lived in Ziklag and in Mekonah and its settlements. 29Others lived in En Rimmon and Zorah. Others lived in Jarmuth, 30Zanoah and Adullam and their villages. Others lived in Lachish and its fields. Still others lived in Azekah and its settlements. So the people of Judah were living all the way from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.

31Some of the members of the family line of Benjamin who were from Geba lived in Mikmash. Others lived in Aija and in Bethel and its settlements. 32Others lived in Anathoth, Nob and Ananiah. 33Others lived in Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim. 34Others lived in Hadid, Zeboim and Neballat. 35Others lived in Lod and Ono. Still others lived in Ge Harashim.

36Some of the groups of the Levites from Judah made their homes in the territory of Benjamin.