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Nehemiah – Lesson Eight – Nehemiah 11-12 Introduction The wall was finished, the gates were set firmly in place, and the watchmen signaled the coming and going of tradesmen from well beyond their borders. With all this in place, it would seem that personal sacrifice and risk-taking was greatly reduced for the Israelites. Yet, one more opportunity would test their resolve. When the call came to repopulate the holy city, to come and live within the walls, it was met with resistance. What caused these chosen, set- apart people of God to hesitate in taking their rightful place in his holy city? Before you cast your first stone, consider your own excuse. What is keeping you from being all in with God? What fears or personal preferences are testing your resolve as one who has been chosen for a life of worship and obedience to holy living? As you study this lesson, ask the Holy Spirit to renew your desire to establish your claim in God’s place of blessing, and to be listed among those who will one day joyfully receive the words of the King, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Please note: Questions are based on the New International Version of the Bible. Personal application answers can reflect your opinion and/or spiritual growth. These questions are marked ‘PA.’ Unless otherwise noted, when answering questions that refer to a specific scripture verse, you can use the words of the verse itself or summarize the answer in your own words. The Settlers 1. (a) From Nehemiah 11:1-2, how were people selected to repopulate Jerusalem? (b) What do you learn about casting lots and God’s will from: Exodus 28:30 – Numbers 26:55; 27:18-21; 33:53-54 – Proverbs 16:33 – Ezra 2:63 – Nehemiah 10:34 – 1 (c) Why was it not necessary for Moses to cast lots? See Exodus 33:11a. (d) Why is it unnecessary for the casting of lots to be used by Christians today to determine God’s will? See Acts 1:21 – 2:4 with John 16:13. 2. (a) From Nehemiah 11:4, 7, 10, 15, and 19, list the names of the tribes and groups who settled in Jerusalem. (Note: A parallel passage is found in 1 Chronicles 9:2-21.) (b) From Nehemiah 11:4-6; Genesis 38:26-29; 46:12; Ruth 4:18-22, what is the name of Perez’ twin brother, and what is the significance of Perez’ family line? (c) What wall secured the New Quarter along the northwest side of Jerusalem, and who was in charge of this area? See Nehemiah 3:8; 11:9. (d) From what responsibility was the tribe of Levi exempt and why? See Numbers 1:44-50. (e) From Nehemiah 11:17, name the descent of Asaph and his responsibility. 3. (a) From Nehemiah 11:21 with Psalm 15 and Psalm 24:3-6, what does the psalmist say about those who can have access to God at his temple? (b) PA: From Nehemiah 11:23-24 and the Psalms, what is one of your favorite Psalms written by Asaph or David? 2 The Celebration 4. From Nehemiah 12:8, 24, what kinds of songs are mentioned and what style of singing is used? 5. From Nehemiah 12:27, what kind of musical instruments accompanied the songs of thanksgiving? 6. (a) From Nehemiah 12:30, what did the priests and Levites do? (b) What does Leviticus 16:30 say about the purpose and result of purification? (c) PA: The action of spiritual purification means to be set apart to God from sin. What are some ways you purify yourself in order to prepare for worship and thanksgiving to God? 7. (a) From Nehemiah 12:31-43, the two choirs circled the city from opposite directions and met in the temple. How does Nehemiah 12:43 compare with Psalm 150? (b) PA: Can you recall a time when God gave you great joy? If so, what was memorable about it and how did it affect other people around you? 8. (a) In Nehemiah 12:44-47, the people were pleased to contribute toward the support of the priests, Levites, singers and gatekeepers. What does 2 Chronicles 8:14-15 say about those “days long ago” mentioned in Nehemiah 12:46? (b) PA: What are some ways you or your church could benefit from Nehemiah’s example and even be pleased in following “ordinances from days long ago”? 3 Points to Ponder The Settlers The reestablishment of Jerusalem as the holy city of God was beginning to take shape. The leaders of the tribes and the temple moved into the city. Redistributing a cross-section of the remaining Israelites was done in an orderly fashion according to God’s divine will through casting lots. Some joyfully accepted the decision to move, but others needed a more obvious persuasion as the lot fell their way. Moving from the countryside into the city affected families economically and socially; requiring adjustments both in business and in a stricter discipline of obedience to God’s Law and worship practices. But overall, the Israelites were keenly aware of their calling as a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Confident in the fact that they had a clear claim in the historical right to being there (Nehemiah 2:20), it was their intention to see that Jerusalem and Judah were restored to their proper glory.1 Judah, Benjamin and Levi were the tribes that stayed with King David’s heirs in the Southern Kingdom under the leadership of King Rehoboam. During the Assyrian invasion of the Northern Kingdom under the rule of King Jeroboam, many Israelites escaped to Judah. Subsequent generations from all the tribes of Israel survived the exile and returned to resettle in Jerusalem, but Judah, Benjamin and Levi were the nucleus. “Now the future of Israel lay with them and with those who had rallied to them from the other tribes.”2 Combining the information from 1 Chronicles 9 with Nehemiah 11, a more complete list of the names of the Israelites who resettled in Jerusalem is given. 1 Chronicles 9:4-6 adds the descendants of Zerah, the twin brother of Perez (Genesis 46:12), to the list of those from Judah. The “men of standing” (Nehemiah 11:6) were men who were wealthy, strong in ability or valiant militarily. In this verse it is more likely associated with wealth or ability. There are more names from the tribe of Benjamin listed in 1 Chronicles 9:7-9 who are identified as the heads of their families. Showing that there was order to the resettlement, Joel is identified as the chief officer or overseer of this society.3 Judah, son of Hassenuah, is in charge of the New Quarter (a.k.a. second district or market district).4 (See 2 Kings 22:14; Nehemiah 3:8; 11:9; Zephaniah 1:10-11.) Much like the listing of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priestly names can refer to the families but may not name the current clan chief. Favorite names were passed down from one generation to another adding to the challenge of distinguishing the relationship of fathers, sons, uncles, etc.5 In Nehemiah 11:11,12, the official in charge of the temple is the high priest. Those who carried on the work are generally thought of as the priests, although the Levites were included in this description in 1 Chronicles 23:24-32. “The men of standing” (Nehemiah 11:14) most likely referred to those who served as military protection under the chief officer, Zabdiel. It was generally understood that the tribe of Levi was exempt from military service 1 Derek Kidner, Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Volume 12, InterVarsity Press, 1979, Downers Grove, IL, p. 128-129 2 Ibid., p.128 3 Ibid, p.129 4 Zondervan NIV Study Bible, Zondervan, 2011, Grand Rapids, MI, p.763, Note on Nehemiah 11:9 5 Kidner, p.129 4 (Numbers 1:44-50), but given the vulnerable condition of Jerusalem, it is possible that exceptions were made at this time in their history.6 “The glimpses of the people involved in temple duties are tantalizingly brief, but enough to indicate the hive of activity that was maintained there. The picture comes to life more fully in 1 Chronicles 9:17-34, where we see the posting of the gatekeepers, the checking in and out of utensils, the preparing of offering-cakes, and so on. Here the mention of the outside work (16) tells its tale of the supplies and maintenance that a large establishment requires, while the next verse recalls us to the point of it all, the thanksgiving in prayer (17). The names Asaph and Jeduthun in this verse go back to David’s founding of the temple choirs and bands (2 Chronicles 5:12). There is more about the singers in verses 22-24.”7 Here we have a reminder of how this holy city is defined and the particular attention given by those who devoted themselves to live up to its name.8 Such was the honor and obedience given to God by his chosen people. Oh, the effort, but when they got it, they got it right and God was pleased. The Levitical gatekeepers who were in charge of opening and closing the entrances to the temple were mentioned in 1 Chronicles 9:17-27 and Nehemiah 7:45. We know that others supplemented guard-keeping by coming in from the villages for a week at a time (Nehemiah 11:20).
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