Nehemiah 11 27

Nehemiah 11:27 kjv

And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,

Nehemiah 11:27 nkjv

Hazar Shual, and Beersheba and its villages;

Nehemiah 11:27 niv

in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its settlements,

Nehemiah 11:27 esv

in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its villages,

Nehemiah 11:27 nlt

Hazar-shual, Beersheba with its settlements,

Nehemiah 11 verses

Nehemiah 11 27 Meaning

Nehemiah 11:27 states three specific locations: Anathoth, Nob, and Ananiah, indicating towns where returning Jewish exiles, specifically descendants of Judah and Benjamin, settled after their return from Babylonian captivity. This verse is part of a larger list documenting the repopulation of the land of Judah, both in Jerusalem and the surrounding villages, under Nehemiah's leadership.

Nehemiah 11 27 Context

Nehemiah chapter 11 details the repopulation efforts of Judah after the return from Babylonian exile. Jerusalem, having its walls rebuilt, was strategically and symbolically significant, but required more inhabitants for proper functioning and defense. To address this, the leaders of the people chose one in ten to reside in Jerusalem by lot, and others volunteered. The chapter then provides lists of those who lived in Jerusalem (Neh 11:3-24) and those who settled in the villages surrounding Jerusalem (Neh 11:25-36). Nehemiah 11:27 is part of this latter list, specifically detailing locations where the returnees established their homes and communities, emphasizing the re-establishment of a physical presence across the ancestral lands, beyond just the capital city. These towns were crucial for providing agricultural support and defensive outposts for Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 11 27 Word analysis

• Also at: (Hebrew: וּבַ, u-va-). This prefix ("u-") means "and" or "also," connecting these locations to the previously mentioned towns and signifying a continuation of the repopulation effort beyond Jerusalem. The "ba-" indicates "in" or "at."
• Anathoth: (Hebrew: עֲנָתוֹת, Anātōth). The name means "answers" or "afflictions."
  • Significance: Anathoth holds profound spiritual and historical significance. It was the hometown of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 1:1), who suffered persecution there but also, strikingly, bought a field in Anathoth as a prophetic act demonstrating future restoration of the land, even during the time of Judah's exile (Jer 32:6-15).
  • Levitical City: It was a Levitical city allocated to the sons of Aaron in the territory of Benjamin (Josh 21:18; 1 Chr 6:60), highlighting its religious connection. Its reoccupation signifies the re-establishment of the land and its sacred institutions.
• Nob: (Hebrew: נֹב, Nov). The meaning of the name is uncertain, possibly related to "prophetic hill" or "high place."
  • Significance: Nob was a city of priests located very close to Jerusalem, serving as a sanctuary for the Ark before it was brought to Jerusalem. It is notably where David ate the consecrated bread when fleeing from Saul (1 Sam 21:1-6) and subsequently where Saul massacred eighty-five priests for their perceived assistance to David (1 Sam 22:9-19).
  • Strategic Location: Its mention in Isaiah's description of Assyria's advance (Isa 10:32) illustrates its strategic proximity to Jerusalem, making its repopulation vital for Jerusalem's defense and early warning system.
• Ananiah: (Hebrew: עֲנַנְיָה, Ananyah). The name means "Yah has covered" or "the cloud of Yah."
  • Significance: Less historically prominent than Anathoth or Nob, Ananiah is likely another town in the immediate vicinity of Jerusalem, possibly mentioned in connection with Anathoth (Isa 10:30, though the Masoretic Text has a different reading there in some versions for this town).
  • General Repopulation: Its inclusion emphasizes the widespread nature of the post-exilic resettlement beyond the most famous sites, indicating the complete re-establishment of Jewish life in the heartland of Judah and Benjamin.

Nehemiah 11 27 Bonus section

The mention of Anathoth, Nob, and Ananiah in Nehemiah 11:27 highlights a broader strategy in the post-exilic community: the systematic repopulation of areas traditionally part of the Benjaminite territory. While Nehemiah 11:25-30 generally lists Judean settlements and 11:31-36 lists Benjaminite, some geographical lists, like this one, intermix the regions. These three towns are situated North/Northeast of Jerusalem, acting as vital protective outposts and agricultural centers. This reoccupation directly counters any vacuum left by the exile that might have been filled by surrounding foreign peoples or discouraged former inhabitants, re-establishing Israel's claim and presence under the protection and guidance of the Persian decree and God's covenant faithfulness.

Nehemiah 11 27 Commentary

Nehemiah 11:27, though brief, provides essential details about the practical outworking of God's promise to restore His people to their land. By listing Anathoth, Nob, and Ananiah, the text underscores several critical points: the comprehensive repopulation beyond Jerusalem itself, highlighting a commitment to cultivating and inhabiting the entire tribal inheritance. The selection of these particular sites, including historically and prophetically significant places like Jeremiah’s hometown Anathoth, and the priestly city of Nob, carries symbolic weight. It speaks to the reassertion of the identity, heritage, and faith of Israel. God, through His providence and the obedience of His people, was actively fulfilling His promises, returning a scattered remnant to a land long desolate, enabling them to reclaim not just physical territory but also their historical and religious roots, forming a continuous line from their ancestors despite the seventy-year gap of exile. This strategic repopulation secured the area around the re-walled Jerusalem, ensuring agricultural supply lines and defense.