Who will Live where Nehemiah 11

Nehemiah 11:1 "And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities v2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem."

The thousands of people, the children of Israel, are back in Judah and the wall is built. Now, they decide who will live where and make arrangements that Jerusalem be occupied. The rulers stay in Jerusalem which would make it the capitol.

I'm sure most of the people were ready to claim their possessions and get to work on the fields and vineyards but as verse 2 says some stayed in Jerusalem.

v3 "Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah dwelt everyone in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants. See I Chronicles 9:1-3.

Nethinim: a class of persons who were employed as servants to the Levites in their ministrations in the tabernacle and in the Temple. See I Chronicles 9:2

The Zechariah in verse 4 is not the author of the Bible book by that name. His father is different. The same with Joel in v8. I expect the names are passed down and around. They are good names, I don't blame the parents for using them.

We are given the numbers of those staying in Jerusalem and what their jobs were. In verse 22-23 we find the descendants of Asaph, the singer and song writer's descendants in the number and still singing.

v23 "For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day." This I believe, if I remember correctly, was David's orders that the singers do this.

v20 "And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance."

Here we can see the importance of the scribes who kept records of the genealogy. When the remnant came back, they all knew exactly where their home was and who owned what. In many cases these were the children of those taken away into captivity, so the records were of utmost importance.

Joel 3:20-21 "But Judah shall dwell forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion."

The people are in their possessions except those designated to live in Jerusalem.