Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community: The Repopulating

The Repopulating            (v. 1-2)

 

• Chapter 11 begins where Chapter 7 left off
  • City was in need of repopulating
  • Leaders were already in the city
    • Directed by the people, not Nehemiah
  • Need to bring people in from surrounding cities and the countryside
• Plan to bring 1 out of 10 to the city
  • 10% a common theme – (Neh. 10:37 tithe)
  • Plan was to cast lots
    • Common practice in the OT
    • No mention in the NT after Pentecost except in Acts 1:26 due to the Holy Spirit
  • Jerusalem called the “Holy City”
    • One of only 5 times in the OT
    • A city “set apart” or “made holy”
  • Those chosen by the lots had a choice
    • Stay put and refuse to go
    • Be apart of God’s bigger plan for the city
    • Count the cost*
  • Those that went were commended by the rest

The Background               (v. 3-9)

• Tribe of Judah
  • 468 able men (brave or valiant)
  • Descendants of Perez
    • Listed in the genealogy of David and Jesus in both Matthew and Luke
  • Tribe of Benjamin
    • 928 men
    • Genealogy include Saul (King) and possibly Saul of Tarsus (Paul)

The Workers                      (v. 10–24)

• 1192 priests listed
  • 822 “carried on the work of the temple”
  • 242 “heads of families” – (Lay ministers)
  • 128 “brave warriors”
• 284 Levites listed
  • “Outside work of the temple”
  • Musicians - Asaph
• Gatekeepers, temple servants, singers

The Cities            (v. 25-36)

• A listing of cities surrounding Jerusalem
  • Allies in times of trouble
  • Places they turned to when repopulating the city