SERIES O --- RETURN TO THE LAND --- LESSON 13

JERUSALEM OCCUPIED

THE VILLAGES AROUND JERUSALEM

From Nehemiah 11

At this time the leaders of Israel lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots so that one of every ten would live in the holy city while the others remained in the surrounding cities and villages. Some volunteered to live in Jerusalem and they were honoured by their fellow Israelites. There was a list of the heads of the province who also came to live in Jerusalem. The priests, Levites, temple assistants, descendants of Solomon’s servants, and many other leaders continued to live in their own homes in the other cities of Judah. Altogether there were eight hundred and twenty-two priests working in the temple under one group of leaders. There were two hundred and forty-two priests under the leadership of another man named Adaiah. Ainashai led a hundred and twenty-eight men. There were two hundred and eighty-four Levites in Jerusalem and a hundred and seventy-two gatekeepers, led by Akkub, Talinon, and other members of that family. The other priests, Levites, and common people lived in the cities of Judah where their inheritance lay. The temple workers, under the leadership of Ziha and Gishpa, lived in Ophel. Uzzi son of Bani was the man in charge of the work of the temple in Jerusalem. He was a descendant of Asaph, who had been appointed by King David and King Solomon to give praise before the Ark of the Covenant in the tabernacle. The king had also given a certain provision for these singers each day as necessary. Pethahiah, who had descended from Zerah and thus from Judah, was appointed the king’s representative for all matters concerning the people. Here are some of the towns where the people lived at this time: Kiriath-arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, and their surrounding villages; Jeshua, Moladah, Beth-pelet, Hazar-shual; Beersheba and its surrounding villages; Ziklag; Meconah and its villages, En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth; Zanoah and Adullam and their surrounding villages; Lachish and its surrounding fields; and Azekah and its villages. These people lived from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom. The people of the tribe of Benjamin lived in Geba, Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its surrounding villages, Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, Hazor, Rainab, Gittaim, Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, Lod, and Ono, the Valley of Craftsmen. Some of the Levites who originally lived in Judah were transferred to the territory of Benjamin.

COMMENTARY

THE TELL: BUILDING ON THE RUINS OF OTHER CITIES

Unlike our sprawling cities and suburbs, the ancient cities of the Near East grew up, not out. Long ago, towns sprouted up near water sources, for all water was carried home by hand. People did not want to move far from the water, even when their houses began to crumble. Land was expensive, and many had inherited their ancestors’ plots of ground. The easiest solution was to knock down the house walls. The rubble served to fill up the foundation, thus making a platform. Large pieces of brick or stone were reused to build a new house on the platform. In this way, and from the destruction of war, layer after layer of new houses and streets rose. The living space at the top grew smaller as the town grew higher. Eventually, the whole town moved a mile or two away and started the process again. This type of mound, formed by layers of human occupation, is called a {tell.}