Nehemiah 11 - Simple English

1The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine parts stayed in the other cities.

2And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to live in Jerusalem.

3These are the chief men of the province who lived in Jerusalem. But in the cities of Judah everyone lived on his own property in his own city, that is, Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Nethinim, and the sons of Solomon's servants.

4In Jerusalem there lived some of the people of Judah and some of the people of Benjamin. Of the people of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalaleel, of the sons of Perez;

5and Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Colhozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of Shiloni.

6All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight brave men.

7These are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jesaiah.

8After him came Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred and twenty-eight in all.

9Joel son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah son of Senuah was second in charge of the city.

10Of the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, and Jachin.

11Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.

12Their brothers who did the work of the house were eight hundred and twenty-two. There was also Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashur, son of Malchiah,

13and his brothers, heads of families, two hundred and forty-two. There was also Amashai son of Azareel, son of Ahasai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer,

14and their brothers, strong and brave men, one hundred and twenty-eight. Their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.

15Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hashub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni;

16and Shabbethai and Jozabad, two of the chief Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God.

17Mattaniah son of Micha, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, was the leader who began the thanksgiving in prayer. Bakbukiah was second among his brothers. There was also Abda son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.

18All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four.

19The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers who guarded the gates, were one hundred and seventy-two.

20The rest of Israel, with the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each one on his own land.

21But the Nethinim lived in Ophel, and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinim.

22The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micha. He was of the sons of Asaph, the singers who were in charge of the work of the house of God.

23For the king had given a command about them, that a set portion should be given to the singers every day.

24Pethahiah son of Meshezabeel, of the sons of Zerah son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.

25As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived at Kirjath-arba and its villages, at Dibon and its villages, at Jekabzeel and its villages,

26at Jeshua, at Moladah, at Beth-phelet,

27at Hazar-shual, at Beersheba and its villages,

28at Ziklag, at Mekonah and its villages,

29at En-rimmon, at Zareah, at Jarmuth,

30at Zanoah, at Adullam and their villages, at Lachish and its fields, and at Azekah and its villages. So they lived from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.

31The people of Benjamin from Geba lived at Michmash, Aija, Bethel and their villages,

32at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,

34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,

35Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.

36And some divisions of the Levites were in Judah and in Benjamin.