The Israelites Who Lived Outside The City

People who refuse to get involved in problems of their community are like the two shipwrecked men in a lifeboat. From their end of the boat, the pair watched as those at the other end bailed frantically to keep the boat afloat. The one said to the other, “Thank heaven, the h … More

Community

The towns south of Jerusalem, from the Hinnom Valley just south of the city as far as Beersheba, were those in the territory belonging to the tribe of Judah. Those north of Jerusalem stretching to the neighboring province of Samaria were towns of Benjamin. These were the two sections of the Persian province of (Judah). Nehemiah mentioned 17 prominent towns in Judah (vv. 25-30), and 15 in Benjamin (vv. 31-35). The Levites lived among the other people, as when the Israelites first entered the Promised Land under Joshua, to be a good influence (v. 36). “In a time when self-centeredness seems to dominate Western life-styles, the Word of God calls us to work and live together as a community, to be dependent upon one another, and to help one another in achieving the task God has set before us.”

The gatekeepers or porters guarded the gates of the city (vv. 20-21). There were 172 of them. The rest of the people lived in their various family inheritances throughout the land. This included other priests and Levites. Also the Nethinim lived in a place named Ophel. The Nethinim were people who assisted the Levites in their jobs around the temple. (Ezra 8:20). The overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem was a man named Uzzi (vv. 22-23). He was also a descendant of Asaph, so he was one of the singers in charge of the worship in the temple. The king’s deputy states that the deputy of the king was a man named Pethahiah of the tribe of Judah (v. 24). He apparently represented the Persian king in all matters concerning the people. Though the Israelites had been allowed to return to Judah, the king of Persia still maintained power over them. This man was apparently his appointed representative. People living in the other cities of Judah are listed where various Jews lived (vv. 25-30). They generally lived south of Jerusalem (v30). We are also told that some of the Levites that had been assigned to Judea lived in the territory of Benjamin (vv.31-36).

Application

I must be willing to live in whatever community God places me in and do what He wants me to do.

Nehemiah 11:20-36 (English Standard Version)


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