Nehemiah 11:10
From the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib; Jachin;
From the priests
This phrase indicates the specific lineage and role of the individuals mentioned. The priests were descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses, and were set apart for sacred duties in the temple. Their role was crucial in maintaining the spiritual life of Israel, serving as mediators between God and the people. Historically, the priesthood was a hereditary office, emphasizing the continuity and faithfulness of God's covenant with Israel.

Jedaiah
The name "Jedaiah" means "Yahweh has known" or "Yahweh knows." This name reflects a deep theological truth about God's omniscience and personal relationship with His people. In the context of Nehemiah, Jedaiah represents those who are known by God and chosen for His service. The mention of Jedaiah underscores the importance of divine selection and the intimate knowledge God has of those who serve Him.

son of Joiarib
The phrase "son of Joiarib" identifies Jedaiah's lineage, linking him to a specific family within the priestly order. "Joiarib" means "Yahweh contends" or "Yahweh will plead." This name suggests a God who is actively involved in the affairs of His people, defending and advocating for them. The genealogical reference highlights the importance of family heritage and the transmission of faith and duty across generations.

Jachin
The name "Jachin" means "He will establish" or "He establishes." This name is significant in the context of rebuilding and reestablishing Jerusalem and its temple worship after the Babylonian exile. Jachin's inclusion in the list of priests symbolizes stability and the fulfillment of God's promises to restore His people. Theologically, it points to God's sovereignty and His ability to establish His purposes despite human frailty and opposition.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jedaiah
A priestly figure mentioned in the context of those who settled in Jerusalem. His name means "Yahweh knows" or "Yahweh has known," indicating a divine acknowledgment or recognition.

2. Joiarib
The father of Jedaiah, also a priestly figure. His name means "Yahweh contends" or "Yahweh will plead," suggesting a divine advocacy or defense.

3. Jachin
Another priest mentioned alongside Jedaiah. His name means "He will establish," which can be seen as a reference to God's establishment of His people and His promises.

4. Jerusalem
The central city of worship and the spiritual heart of Israel. The return of the priests to Jerusalem signifies the restoration of worship and religious order.

5. The Priests
The group of individuals responsible for maintaining the temple worship and rituals. Their presence in Jerusalem is crucial for the spiritual life of the community.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Spiritual Leadership
The return of the priests to Jerusalem highlights the necessity of strong spiritual leadership in guiding and maintaining the faith of a community.

God's Faithfulness in Restoration
The re-establishment of the priesthood in Jerusalem is a testament to God's faithfulness in restoring His people and His promises.

Names Reflecting Divine Purpose
The names of the priests (Jedaiah, Joiarib, Jachin) reflect aspects of God's character and His intentions for His people, reminding us of the significance of our identity in Christ.

The Centrality of Worship
The focus on the priests underscores the centrality of worship in the life of God's people, encouraging us to prioritize worship in our own lives.

Community and Commitment
The priests' return to Jerusalem demonstrates a commitment to community and the collective worship of God, challenging us to invest in our own faith communities.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the presence of priests like Jedaiah and Jachin in Jerusalem signify about the priorities of the returning exiles?

2. How do the meanings of the names Jedaiah, Joiarib, and Jachin enhance our understanding of God's character and His plans for His people?

3. In what ways can we apply the principle of strong spiritual leadership in our own communities today?

4. How does the restoration of the priesthood in Jerusalem reflect God's faithfulness, and how can we see similar patterns of restoration in our own lives?

5. What role does worship play in your life, and how can you ensure it remains central in your relationship with God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Chronicles 9:10
This passage also lists the priests who returned to Jerusalem, providing a broader context for understanding the roles and responsibilities of these individuals.

Ezra 2:36-39
Offers a parallel account of the priests who returned from exile, highlighting the continuity of priestly service and the importance of maintaining religious traditions.

Malachi 2:7
Emphasizes the role of priests as messengers of the Lord, which underscores the significance of their presence in Jerusalem as described in Nehemiah.
Repeopling the CapitalT. Campbell Finlayson.Nehemiah 11:1-19
The Holy CityW. F. Adeney, M. A.Nehemiah 11:1-19
The Holy City ReplenishedMatthew Henry.Nehemiah 11:1-19
The True CentralisationR.A. Redford Nehemiah 11:1-36
Three Elements in the Church of ChristW. Clarkson Nehemiah 11:3-36
People
Abda, Adaiah, Ahitub, Akkub, Amariah, Amashai, Amzi, Ananiah, Anathoth, Arba, Asaph, Athaiah, Azareel, Azrikam, Bakbukiah, Bani, Baruch, Benjamin, Benjamites, Bunni, Colhozeh, Gabbai, Galal, Gispa, Hashabiah, Hashub, Hasshub, Hazaiah, Hilkiah, Immer, Isaiah, Israelites, Ithiel, Jachin, Jedaiah, Jeduthun, Jeroham, Jesaiah, Jeshaiah, Jeshua, Joed, Joel, Joiarib, Jozabad, Kolaiah, Levites, Maaseiah, Malchiah, Malchijah, Mattaniah, Meraioth, Meshezabeel, Meshillemoth, Meshullam, Micha, Pashur, Pedaiah, Pelaliah, Pelet, Perez, Pethahiah, Sallai, Sallu, Senuah, Seraiah, Shabbethai, Shammua, Shelah, Shemaiah, Shephatiah, Shiloni, Shual, Solomon, Talmon, Uzzi, Uzziah, Zabdi, Zabdiel, Zadok, Zechariah, Zerah, Zichri, Ziha
Places
Adullam, Aija, Ananiah, Anathoth, Azekah, Beersheba, Bethel, Beth-pelet, Dibon, En-rimmon, Geba, Gittaim, Hadid, Hazar-shual, Hazor, Jarmuth, Jekabzeel, Jerusalem, Jeshua, Kiriath-arba, Lachish, Lod, Meconah, Michmash, Moladah, Neballat, Nob, Ono, Ophel, Ramah, Valley of Hinnom, Zanoah, Zeboim, Ziklag, Zorah
Topics
Jachin, Jakin, Jedaiah, Jedai'ah, Joiarib, Joi'arib, Priests
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Nehemiah 11:9

     5434   officer

Library
Lydda
"Lydda was a village, not yielding to a city in greatness." Concerning its situation, and distance from Jerusalem, the Misna hath these words: "The vineyard of four years" (that is, the fruit of a vineyard now of four years' growth; for, for the first three years, they were trees, as it were, not circumcised) "was brought to Jerusalem, in the space of a day's journey on every side. Now these were the bounds of it; Elath on the south; Acrabatta on the north; Lydda on the west; and Jordan on the east."
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Ezra-Nehemiah
Some of the most complicated problems in Hebrew history as well as in the literary criticism of the Old Testament gather about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from these books, all that we know of the origin and early history of Judaism is inferential. They are our only historical sources for that period; and if in them we have, as we seem to have, authentic memoirs, fragmentary though they be, written by the two men who, more than any other, gave permanent shape and direction to Judaism, then
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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