Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Nehemiah 11:10-14
Of The Priests (Nehemiah 11:10).
From this point on there are closer parallels with 1 Chronicles 9. But this may simply be because the contributor of this information in Nehemiah included some as moving into Jerusalem on a full-time basis who were already ‘living in Jerusalem' on a part time basis (as priests and Levites, etc), as described in 1 Chronicles 9. Then it had been on a secondary basis, with them also having homes elsewhere. Now they took up permanent residence. That he spoke in this way is clear from Nehemiah 11:16 where Berechiah is listed as ‘dwelling in Jerusalem', whilst at the same time ‘dwelling in the villages of the Neophathites'. As priests many would have had dual residence so that the Chronicler could include them as resident in Jerusalem (on a partial basis), whilst Nehemiah could include them in his list because they now took up sole residence in Jerusalem. Taking up full time residence was an important step, for it meant that they were continually available, if needed, to defend the city.
‘Of the priests:'
‘ Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,'
1 Chronicles 9:10 has ‘Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib and Jachin.' These three seemingly resided in Jerusalem on a part time basis from the first, (as became leading priests), but now had come the time for them to take up full residence. Jehoiarib was seemingly Jedaiah's father, and he had presumably died in the interim.
Jedaiah was a popular priestly name. One of the families of priests who returned with Zerubbabel was called ‘the sons of Jedaiah' and a Jedaiah was one of the prominent priests who returned with Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 12:6; Nehemiah 12:19). It was apparently a family name and had here been given to Jedaiah's grandson, clearly a man of great importance. Jachin was earlier the name of the leader of the twenty first course of priests under David (1 Chronicles 24:17), and was thus a prominent priestly name. Here he too was seen as an important man and priest. The High Priest himself may be unmentioned because he already had full-time residence in Jerusalem.
‘Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God,'
Also taking up full-time residence in Jerusalem was Seraiah the son of Hilkiah. 1 Chronicles 9:11 has ‘Azariah, the son of Hilkiah', etc, but otherwise the same words. However, Seraiah and Azariah appear to be two names of the same person as is evidenced by comparison of Ezra 2:2 with Nehemiah 7:7 (the two names are consonantally close). As a chief priest of the high priestly family of Ahitub (Ahitub was the ruler of the house of God, that is, he was the High Priest (2 Chronicles 31:10; 2 Chronicles 31:13)) he would necessarily have had a residence in Jerusalem. Now he was taking up residence full time.
‘And their brothers who did the work of the house, eight hundred and twenty two.
With these prominent priests came eight hundred and twenty two other priests who ‘did the work at the house of God', presumably on a time on, time off, basis. Thus part of their time they had spent in their cities and part of their time in Jerusalem. Now they were moving into Jerusalem full time. We do not know for certain exactly what was involved in ‘doing the work of the house of God' as distinguished from what the other priests did. But it may be that it was these who had responsibility for the maintenance of the cult worship in the Temple, while others had a preaching and teaching ministry, and various supervisory roles (such as watching over the gathering of the tithes - Nehemiah 10:38), or even a military role in protecting the holy city.
And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,'
1 Chronicles 9:12 abbreviates this to ‘Adaiah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah', giving only details of the name of his father, his clan and his sub-tribe. He too had dwelt part time in Jerusalem, but from now on would dwell there full time. The Chronicler mentions Maasai, the son of Adiel, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer who seemingly already had full time residence in Jerusalem.
It will be noted that Pashhur and Immer were two of the four priestly families who returned with Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 7:40). The sons of Jedaiah may be seen as represented by Jedaiah and those who came with him (Nehemiah 11:10). The sons of Harim seemingly did not take up residence in Jerusalem, possibly because of the type of duties they fulfilled.
‘And his brothers, chiefs of fathers' (houses), two hundred and forty two.'
With Adaiah came 242 priestly heads of families, who like him had previously resided part time but now took up full time residence. However, as their being ‘chiefs of fathers' (houses)' contrasts with those who ‘did the work of the house (of God' in Nehemiah 11:12, this may indicate that they were captains of priestly military units organised for the defence of the holy city. With the 822 mentioned previously, and the 128 mentioned in Nehemiah 11:14, this makes up 1,192 who now took up full time residence.
The Chronicler gives only one total, ‘1,760 very able men for the work of the service of the house of God'. The additional men presumably already resided full time, which would be why they are not included here.
‘And Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,'
Amashsai of the sons of Immer is not mentioned by the Chronicler. He may have included him in his 1,760 men (in view of the fact that he mentions Maasai of the sons of Immer as representing the sons of Immer), or it may be that up to this time Amashsai had no residence in Jerusalem. Now, however, he took up full time residence.
‘And their brothers, mighty men of valour, a hundred and twenty eight, and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.'
And with him came 128 ‘mighty men of valour' (which supports the idea that they formed military units), under their officer Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim. The priests thus provided Jerusalem with a permanently present force able to help in the protection of the city, something which they clearly saw as part of their duties.
This is a reminder that all of God's people are called on to be both servants and warriors, walking in obedience with His will, and ever ready to defend the truth, ‘always ready to give an answer to all who ask concerning the hope that is in us' (1 Peter 3:15). We are His servants and engaged in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10). And we do well if we volunteer to commit ourselves full time to God's holy city.