Nehemiah 11 28

Nehemiah 11:28 kjv

And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,

Nehemiah 11:28 nkjv

in Ziklag and Meconah and its villages;

Nehemiah 11:28 niv

in Ziklag, in Mekonah and its settlements,

Nehemiah 11:28 esv

in Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages,

Nehemiah 11:28 nlt

Ziklag, and Meconah with its settlements.

Nehemiah 11 verses

Nehemiah 11 28 Meaning

Nehemiah 11:28 identifies two specific towns, Ziklag and Mekonah, along with their surrounding hamlets or dependent settlements, as places where the people of Judah resided after the Babylonian exile. This verse is part of a larger list detailing the repopulation of the Judean countryside and Jerusalem, a critical step in re-establishing the Jewish community in their promised land under Persian rule. It signifies the ongoing efforts to rebuild a dispersed nation, securing the territories and consolidating the returning exiles beyond the walls of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 11 28 Context

Nehemiah chapter 11 describes the repopulation initiative following the completion of the wall of Jerusalem. Recognizing the city's vulnerability due to a sparse population (Neh 7:4), lots were cast to ensure one-tenth of the returning exiles moved into Jerusalem, while others remained in the various towns of Judah and Benjamin. Verse 28 specifically lists Ziklag and Mekonah as two such towns where the descendants of Judah resided. This logistical act of settlement was crucial for the restoration of a viable, self-sustaining community and the re-establishment of the twelve tribes of Israel within their covenant land, extending beyond Jerusalem's immediate confines to secure the broader territory. The repopulation was not merely a logistical necessity but a fulfillment of divine promise for restoration after the Babylonian exile.

Nehemiah 11 28 Word analysis

• and in (וּבְ - u-ve): The prefix "u-" is the conjunction "and," connecting this phrase to the preceding list of locations. "Be" (בְּ) means "in," indicating the geographical placement. This structure highlights the continuous nature of the listed settlements.
• Ziklag (צִקְלַג - Tsiyqlag): A very ancient town in the southern Negev region, primarily known for its association with David's period (1 Sam 27, 30). Its inclusion here signifies that this strategic, long-standing border town, part of the traditional territory of Judah, was re-inhabited by the returnees. Its history as a place of refuge and military importance underscored its role in the security and territorial claim of the returned exiles. The fact that it was resettled reinforces the reclaiming of their heritage.
• and in (וּבְ - u-ve): Again, linking another location in the list.
• Mekonah (מְכֹנָה - Mekonah): The meaning "base" or "foundation" can be implied, suggesting a place of stability or establishment. While not as historically prominent as Ziklag, its inclusion further delineates the geographic scope of the post-exilic settlements, indicating that new or less significant towns were also being re-established as part of the overall repopulation effort. It speaks to the comprehensive nature of the resettlement program.
• and in the villages thereof, (וּבְחַצְרֵיהֶם - u-vechatsreihem): "U-ve" ("and in") links it to the previous nouns. "Chatzreihem" (חַצְרֵיהֶם) comes from "chatser" (חָצֵר), meaning "courtyard" or, in this context, "unwalled village" or "settlement." The suffix "-hem" (הֶם) means "their." This phrase signifies not only the main towns but also the smaller, unwalled agricultural communities and hamlets dependent on or affiliated with the central towns. These were essential for agricultural production and economic sustenance of the larger region. The phrase shows the completeness of the reoccupation, extending to the vital economic hinterlands.

Nehemiah 11 28 Bonus section

The systematic listing of towns like Ziklag and Mekonah in Nehemiah 11 reflects the divine providence orchestrating the restoration, akin to the careful tribal land divisions described in Joshua. It demonstrates not just a physical return, but a spiritual and socio-political rebuilding where every location, no matter how small, held significance in the larger narrative of covenant fulfillment. The re-establishment of these peripheral towns was crucial for food supply, defense, and maintaining the cultural and religious identity of the Jewish people spread across Judah, connecting them physically and symbolically to their ancestral heritage and the promises of God.

Nehemiah 11 28 Commentary

Nehemiah 11:28, though a brief geographical reference, encapsulates a profound truth about the restoration of Israel. It shows the meticulous effort to repopulate the ancestral land, vital not only for security but also for fulfilling God's promises regarding His people's return and their inheritance. Ziklag's re-inhabitation recalls David's past and connects the present return to ancient covenant history. The inclusion of towns like Mekonah, with their dependent "villages," emphasizes a holistic reclamation of the land, affirming God's faithfulness in regathering His scattered flock. It underscores the communal re-establishment from the center of Jerusalem outwards to the furthest settlements, symbolizing the resurgence of the covenant people within their God-given territory.