Nehemiah 11 33

Nehemiah 11:33 kjv

Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

Nehemiah 11:33 nkjv

in Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim;

Nehemiah 11:33 niv

in Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim,

Nehemiah 11:33 esv

Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

Nehemiah 11:33 nlt

Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

Nehemiah 11 verses

Nehemiah 11 33 Meaning

This verse identifies Hazor, Ramah, and Gittaim as specific towns re-inhabited by the returning exiles from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. It forms part of a meticulous list detailing the locations where the re-established covenant community settled across their ancestral territory following the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. This precise record highlights the practical and organized efforts undertaken in the post-exilic restoration period, demonstrating the diligent process of repopulating the land and re-establishing a national presence rooted in God's promises.

Nehemiah 11 33 Context

Nehemiah chapter 11 primarily describes the re-population of Jerusalem and the surrounding towns in Judah and Benjamin after the completion of the city wall. Nehemiah 11:1 states that one-tenth of the returning exiles from the general population were chosen by lot to live in Jerusalem, while the rest were distributed among other cities of Judah and Benjamin. Verses 2-30 list those who resided in Jerusalem, followed by verses 31-36 which detail the settlements outside Jerusalem where the remainder of Judah and Benjamin's descendants resided. Nehemiah 11:33, therefore, names specific locations within the Benjaminite territory that were critical to the overall restoration and re-establishment of the Jewish presence in the land of Israel, fulfilling prophecies of return and rebuilding. This logistical detail underpins the practical steps of nation-building, securing both the capital and its surrounding vital areas.

Nehemiah 11 33 Word analysis

• Hazor (Hebrew: חָצוֹר, Chat͡sôr): The name means "enclosure" or "settlement," indicating a defined inhabited area. This is a common place name in ancient Israel; however, the Hazor mentioned here is not the large, prominent northern city (from Joshua's conquest in Josh 11:1), but rather a smaller, distinct settlement located within the tribal territory of Benjamin. Its inclusion underscores the meticulous detail of the registry and highlights the re-inhabitation of various places, large and small, that constituted the restored Judahite and Benjaminite regions. It points to a comprehensive and diligent re-occupation of the land promised by God.
• Ramah (Hebrew: רָמָה, Rāmāh): This name means "height" or "elevated place," common for its topographical feature. This is likely the significant Ramah located in the territory of Benjamin (Josh 18:25), a site known for its strategic location and historical importance (e.g., Samuel's hometown in 1 Sam 7:17; prophetic lament in Jer 31:15). The repopulation of Ramah indicates the re-establishment of key, sometimes strategically vital, centers within the returned territories. It connects the current act of dwelling with a long history of tribal presence.
• Gittaim (Hebrew: וְגִתַּיִם, Veḡittayim): The prefix "וְ" (ve-) means "and," connecting this town to the previous one. Gittaim is less commonly mentioned in the Bible but appears in 2 Sam 4:3 as the place where the Beerothites took refuge. The specific mention of this smaller or less prominent town emphasizes the thoroughness of Nehemiah's record. It illustrates that the re-settlement effort was not limited to major centers but extended to all possible inhabited locations within the ancestral boundaries, demonstrating a deep commitment to rebuilding every aspect of the dispersed community and reclaiming the breadth of their former land.
• Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim: This listing of distinct town names collectively represents the practical manifestation of divine promise and human obedience in the post-exilic period. These specific places, once desolate or sparsely inhabited, became active centers for the re-emerging covenant community. The very act of naming these towns highlights the tangible, geographical restoration of God's people to their inheritance, fulfilling the prophecies of return and illustrating the organized efforts to re-establish civic and religious life throughout Judah and Benjamin. This detail emphasizes order, divine purpose, and the foundational aspects of re-forming the nation.

Nehemiah 11 33 Bonus section

The inclusion of these specific towns, along with the others in Nehemiah 11, shows a practical fulfillment of God's prophecies regarding the return and re-settlement of Israel. This was not a symbolic act, but a tangible re-establishment of control and habitation over the land that had largely been emptied during the exile. The meticulous nature of this register also suggests an administrative purpose: keeping track of populations and potentially for future taxation or military organization under Persian rule, demonstrating an ordered community. The act of returning and dwelling in specific towns signifies a profound spiritual step of trust and obedience for the returnees, often in the face of local opposition.

Nehemiah 11 33 Commentary

Nehemiah 11:33, a succinct enumeration of three towns, underscores the pragmatic and faithful dimension of post-exilic restoration. Beyond the grand spiritual revival and wall-building, this verse highlights the vital, labor-intensive task of re-inhabiting and securing the physical land God had promised. Each town listed, from the well-known Ramah to the less common Gittaim, represents a reclaimed piece of the ancestral territory. This meticulous record keeping demonstrates the diligence of the leaders, recognizing that the fulfillment of God's promises involved specific geographical placements and the dedicated presence of His people in these very locations. It emphasizes that nation-building required settling down, rooting the community, and laying foundations for future generations in the precise places divinely allotted to them.