Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Nehemiah 11:31-36
The Dwellingplaces Of The Children Of Benjamin (Nehemiah 11:31).
In contrast with the description of Judah, the cities and towns of Benjamin are detailed, although this may partly indicate how thoroughly Judah had been devastated during and after the capture of Jerusalem. The Benjamites had settled back into their cities and towns north of Jerusalem.
‘The children of Benjamin also dwelt from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at Beth-el and its towns,'
Geba (meaning ‘a hill') and Michmash are well known from the activities of Saul (1Sa 13:2-3; 1 Samuel 13:5; 1 Samuel 13:16; 1Sa 13:23; 1 Samuel 14:5; 1 Samuel 14:31). Geba was 11 kilometres (7 miles) north of Jerusalem, and was 5 kilometres (3 miles) from Gibeah. It was previously a Levitical city (Joshua 21:17). It was the site of Saul's camp during his resistance to the Philistine invasion (1 Samuel 13:23). At one point it was the northernmost town in Judah (2 Kings 23:8). It was mentioned in Isaiah's description of the Assyrian advance on Jerusalem (Isaiah 10:29). Today it is called Jeba. Michmash was 12 kilometres north of Jerusalem, and east of Bethel. It was a centre for the Philistines when they invaded Israel in the time of Saul (1 Samuel 13:5; 1 Samuel 13:16). It is mentioned by Isaiah as a stage in the advance of the Assyrian army on Jerusalem, the point at which they laid up their baggage (Isaiah 10:28). It was thus situated at a crucial point. It was on the pass between Bethel and Jericho. It is at present a ruined village called Mukhmas, on the northern ridge of the Wadi Suweinit. Nothing is known of Aija, although some identify it with modern Khirbet Haiyan. It was seemingly in the same area as Geba, Michmash and Bethel.
‘Bethel and its towns' was well known throughout Israel's history. It was about 19 kilometres (12 miles) north of Jerusalem and was known in some form to Abraham and Jacob (Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3; Genesis 31:13; Genesis 35:7), but its site is not certainly identified. A good number of scholars identify it with Burg Beitin or Tel Beitin, but this, like most identifications, is uncertain. There are many tels in the area and there is no certain way of identifying them. All we can do is consider them in terms of the Biblical narrative. Its king was defeated by Joshua, although Bethel itself was probably not taken at the time. It was one of the two major religious centres of Northern Israel after the division of the kingdom following the death of Solomon, infamous for its idol worship (‘come to Bethel and transgress' - Amos 4:4), the other being Dan. It became incorporated in Judah under Josiah, at which point Jerusalem then became the centre of the people's worship.
‘At Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,'
Anathoth was a Benjamite city and the home town of Abiathar (1 Kings 2:26) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1). It was previously a Levitical city (Joshua 21:18). Its possible site (Deir-es-Sid) Isaiah 5 kilometres (3 miles) north east of Jerusalem. It was one of the areas affected by Nebuchadnezzar's march on Jerusalem (Isaiah 10:30). Nob was another such affected area, and was the last stage prior to Jerusalem itself, indicating its nearness to Jerusalem (possible site Ras umm et-Tais). It was where David ate holy bread while on the run from Saul (1 Samuel 21:6), and where in retaliation Saul slaughtered Ahimelech and his priestly brothers (1 Samuel 22:9). Ananiah is possibly Beit Hanina, which is seven kilometres (between three and four miles) north-north-west of Jerusalem. As will be observed, these three towns were all within 7 kilometres (four miles) of Jerusalem, looking north.
‘Hazor, Ramah.'
This Hazor (which simply means ‘village, settlement') was not the well known Hazor mentioned in Joshua 11:1, but was rather a lesser known one found in Benjamite territory. It is possibly modern Khirbet Hazzur, north of Bethel. Ramah was a resting-place on the way north. It was near Bethel (Judges 4:5) and in the region of Gibeon and Beeroth (Joshua 18:25). It was one of the places in which the Levite planned to stay, with his concubine, and had he finally stayed there rather than in Gibeah (Judges 19:13). the history of the Benjamites might have been different. It was where Nebuzaradan gathered the prospective exiles after the fall of Jerusalem, and from where he released Jeremiah (Jeremiah 40:1). At one stage it was a border fortress of northern Israel (1 Kings 15:17). The non-mention of Mizpah, which was previously prominent in this area, may suggest that it had been laid waste by Nebuchadnezzar in retaliation for the death of Gedaliah (Jeremiah 40:6 to Jeremiah 41:3).
‘ Gittaim Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,'
These four towns, along with Lod and Ono, were in the northern Shephelah. Gittaim was the place to which Ish-bosheth's captains fled in the time of David (2 Samuel 4:3). It is possibly modern Ras Abu Hamid. Hadid is named alongside Lod and Ono in Ezra 2:33; Nehemiah 7:37, and is probably to be identified with Adida (Septuagint Hadida) as mentioned in 1Ma 12:38; 1Ma 13:13, which was described as "over against the plain." It was fortified by Simon Maccabeus. It is represented by modern el-Haditheh, about 5 kilometres (3 miles) north-east of Lydda. Zeboim is unknown but was presumably in the same area. Neballat is probably to be identified with modern Beit Nebala, 6 kilometres (4 miles) north-east of Lydda.
‘Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.'
Lod and Ono are always mentioned together. They are described as built by the Benjamites, in 1 Chronicles 8:12, and spoken of, together with Hadid, in Ezra 2:33; Nehemiah 7:37. They were presumably in ‘the plain of Ono' (Nehemiah 6:2), in which Nehemiah's opponents intended to trap him. This may be the same as, or contain, ‘the valley of the craftsmen' (see also 1 Chronicles 4:14 RV margin). This latter may have obtained its name from woodworking activity carried out there in consequence of its nearness to Joppa, through which timber from Lebanon would be imported. Ono is probably to be identified with modern Kafr ‘Ana, which lies near Lydda.
‘And of the Levites, certain courses in Judah (were joined/allocated) to Benjamin.'
Among these Benjamites as previously described were located a number of courses of Levites, who would be responsible, among other things, for gathering tithes, and teaching and guiding the people. As God's servants they were called on to be flexible. YHWH Himself, together with the tithes, were the inheritance of Levi, not some earthly portion of land (Numbers 18:24; Deuteronomy 10:9).
This was not just an appended afterthought. It was a reminder that provision was being made for the fulfilment of the covenant provisions in Nehemiah 10:38. The responsibility of the Benjamites towards God was not to be overlooked. (Previously it had been stated that the residue of the Levites were in ‘all the cities of Judah' - Nehemiah 11:20). It also serves as a connecting verse with chapter 12 where details concerning the Priests and Levites is given.