Tyndale Open Study NotesNehemiah 11

Sacred lots were likely the Urim and Thummim (Nehemiah 10:34; Joshua 7:14, 16–18; 14:2).

The story goes back to the topic of bringing people back to live in the safe city of Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 7:1–5). The list of names is similar to the one in 1 Chronicles 9:2–17.

Perez was a son of Judah (Genesis 38:29).

Outside the temple, the work likely involved collecting tithes from people and managing them in storehouses (Nehemiah 10:37–39; see also 1 Chronicles 26:29).

the son of Asaph: David selected Asaph and his sons to create music for temple worship (1 Chronicles 25:1–8). Asaph's descendants resumed this role when the new temple was built.

The hill of Ophel was high ground just south of the temple (Nehemiah 3:26). It was a perfect place for housing temple workers.

The royal adviser told the king about events in Jerusalem and informed Jewish officials about the king's management of Persian policies.

from Beersheba all the way to the Valley of Hinnom: Earlier descriptions of where people settled focused on areas north of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3; 11:31–36). This list (Nehemiah 11:25–30) shows the expansion of places where Jewish people lived as they returned to many of their towns from before the exile, both north and south of Jerusalem.