Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Nehemiah 11:26-29
Towns In The Negeb And the Related Area. The Extreme South Of Former Judah (Nehemiah 11:26 a).
The Negeb (‘the Dry') was the southernmost part of ancient Judah, its expansive area forming its southern border. It was on the whole pasture land, being semi-desert, with its towns built at ancient springs, although it had at times been more extensively farmed by the use of irrigation techniques. It would probably not have been so badly affected by the Babylonian invasion. The towns now described were all in that area.
‘And in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and Beth-pelet,'
These cities appear to have been in the Negeb, and thus again outside the Persian province of Judah. Jeshua may be identical with Shema (Joshua 15:26) and Sheba (Joshua 19:2). Originally being called Shema, it would develop into Sheba, and finally into Shewa, with the Je (Yah) being added. For Moladah see Joshua 15:26; Jos 19:2; 1 Chronicles 4:28. It was probably east of Beersheba. Beth-pelet is unknown.
‘And in Hazar-shual, and in Beer-sheba and its towns,'
Hazar-shual, mentioned in Joshua 19:2, is unknown, but was in the Negeb, along with Beer-sheba which was definitely so (Joshua 19:2; Genesis 21:31; Genesis 22:19). They were originally in Simeonite territory. Beersheba indicated the southernmost part of ancient Israel (‘from Dan to Beersheba' - Judges 20:1; etc). It will be apparent that there was thus a good settlement of returnees (along with Jews who were wholly loyal to YHWH who had not gone into exile), in the Negeb region.
‘And in Ziklag, and in Meconah and in its towns, and in En-rimmon,''
For Ziklag see Joshua 15:31. It was the city over which David presided during his exile among the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:6), and he retained possession of it when he became king of Judah and then of Israel. It was in the south-west of former Judah near the border with the province of Ashdod (Philistia). Meconah was near Ziklag. It was either a border city of, or outside, the Province.
En-rimmon (meaning ‘spring of the pomegranate') was also called Rimmon (Joshua 15:32; Joshua 19:7; 1 Chronicles 4:32). It may have been combined with Ain to form one small town (1 Chronicles 4:32). Originally in Judah's territory (Joshua 15:32) it had soon transferred to Simeon (Joshua 19:7). It was probably fifteen kilometres (ten miles) north of Beersheba.