尼希米 Nehemiah11:1-35, 12:1-26
11:1 人民的領袖們都住在耶路撒冷；其餘的人民抽籤，
以下是住在耶路撒冷的猶大省領導者的名單：11:4 猶大支族的族人有：亞他雅─他是烏西雅的兒子，撒迦利雅的孫子。
11:7 便雅憫支族的族人有：撒路─他是米書蘭的兒子，約葉的孫子。
11:10 祭司有：約雅立的兒子耶大雅，還有雅斤。11:11 西萊雅─他是希勒家的兒 子，米書蘭的孫子。他的祖先還有撒督、
11:31 便雅憫支族的人住在迦巴、密抹、艾、伯特利和周圍的村莊、11:
12:1 以下是祭司和利未人的名單；
Nehemiah 11:1-35
1 Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. 2 The people commended all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. 3 These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon's servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on his own property in the various towns, 4 while other people from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem): From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah. 6 The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem totaled 468 able men. 7 From the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah, 8 and his followers, Gabbai and Sallai—928 men. 9 Joel son of Zicri was their chief officer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the Second District of the city. 10 From the priests: Jedaiah; the son of Joiarib; Jakin; 11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, supervisor in the house of God, 12 and their associates, who carried on work for the temple—822 men; Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah, 13 and his associates, who were heads of families—242 men; Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and his [a] associates, who were able men—128. Their chief officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim. 15 From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, two of the heads of the Levites, who had charge of the outside work of the house of God; 17 Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 The Levites in the holy city totaled 284. 19 The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men. 20 The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, each on his ancestral property. 21 The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them. 22 The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. Uzzi was one of Asaph's descendants, who were the singers responsible for the service of the house of God. 23 The singers were under the king's orders, which regulated their daily activity. 24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, one of the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, was the king's agent in all affairs relating to the people. 25 As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its surrounding settlements, in Dibon and its settlements, in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 in Jeshua, in Moladah, in Beth Pelet, 27 in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its settlements, 28 in Ziklag, in Meconah and its settlements, 29 in En Rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam and their villages, in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its settlements. So they were living all the way from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
31 The descendants of the Benjamites from Geba lived in Micmash, Aija, Bethel and its settlements, 32 in Anathoth, Nob and Ananiah, 33 in Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim, 34 in Hadid, Zeboim and Neballat, 35 in Lod and Ono, and in the Valley of the Craftsmen.
Nehemiah 12:1-26
Priests and Levites
1 These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethon, [a] Abijah, 5 Mijamin, [b] Moadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Jeshua. 8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services. 10 Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada, 11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua. 12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families: of Seraiah's family, Meraiah; of Jeremiah's, Hananiah;
13 of Ezra's, Meshullam; of Amariah's, Jehohanan; 14 of Malluch's, Jonathan; of Shecaniah's, [c] Joseph; 15 of Harim's, Adna; of Meremoth's, [d] Helkai; 16 of Iddo's, Zechariah; of Ginnethon's, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah's, Zicri; of Miniamin's and of Moadiah's, Piltai; 18 of Bilgah's, Shammua; of Shemaiah's, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib's, Mattenai; of Jedaiah's, Uzzi; 20 of Sallu's, Kallai; of Amok's, Eber; 21 of Hilkiah's, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah's, Nethanel. 22 The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God. 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest and scribe.
一、中心內容：Core Message
內容：Content
01>分配居住地方的方法。The method to allot the habitation area（11:1-3a）
02>住在耶路撒冷的猶太人。The sons of Judah dwell in Jerusalem.（11:3b-6）
03>住在耶路撒冷的便雅憫人。The sons of Benjamin dwell in Jerusalem.（11:7-9）
04>住在耶路撒冷的祭司。The priests dwell in Jerusalem.（11:10-14）
05>住在耶路撒冷的利未人。The Levites dwell in Jerusalem.（11:15-24）
06>住在耶路撒冷以外的猶太人。The sons of Judah dwell outside of Jerusalem（11:25-30）
07>住在耶路撒冷以外的便雅憫人。The sons of Benjamin dwell outside of Jerusalem（11:31-35）
08>住在耶路撒冷以外的利未人。The Levites dwell outside of Jerusalem（11:36）
09>回歸的祭司和利未人的名字。 Restoration of priests and the name of Levites（12:1-11）
10>作族長的祭司。The family’s head is the priest.（12:12-21）
11>作族長的利未人。The family’s head is the Levites.（12:22-26）
主題：Theme
1>恢復聖城的榮景。Restoration of the prosperity of the Holy Jerusalem
2>核定事奉的資格。Appraisal and decision of the qualification of service
二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？Who is God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit?
1>配得歌頌讚美的上帝。God is worthy to be praised
2>信實守約的上帝。God is faithful and keeps his promises
三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？
What lessons (command, covenant, role modeling, rebuking and warning)
are God teaching us?
1>住民稀少的原因Reduction of the habitation’s population
人民的領袖們都住在耶路撒冷；其餘的人民抽籤，
Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.（v1-2）
根據第七章第四節的記載：耶路撒冷城又大又寬，
然而，為什麼在耶路撒冷居住的人，會是稀少的呢？原因如下：
a.歷史因素：主前五八六年，
b.治安沒落因素：因為城牆損毀，城門被火焚燒，安全失去保障。
c.生計因素：由於城內無田可耕，也沒飼養牲畜之處，
d.宗教因素：當時以色列百姓，尚未能體會上帝的心意，
In chapter 7:4 it is written: the city of Jerusalem was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. But why weren’t there many people that lived in the city of Jerusalem?
a). Historical factors: Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon since B.C. 586 destroyed the city causing a decline in the population of Jerusalem.
b). Security factors: There was damage to the walls and gate, because of the fires. People lost the security. Therefore, few people were willing to stay. Even when Nehemiah returned and rebuilt the walls, people were not willing to stay, because Jerusalem was still being assaulted, harassed and robbed by the enemy.
c). Livelihood factors: Since there was no land under cultivation, there was no place to breed livestock. There was a lot of inconvenience for the animal husbandry and farmers, , and it also affected their economies.
d). Religious factors: the people of Israel were not yet able to understand God's will, so they did not know how to value the holy city.
反省：面對上帝的國度、上帝的家、耶路撒冷聖城，
Reflection: Do I consider too many factors causing hesitation when I’m before
God's kingdom, the house of God, the holy city of Jerusalem?
2>恢復聖城的榮景Restoration of the prosperity of the Holy Jerusalem
當時的情景就是：耶路撒冷的住民十分稀少。然而，
The situation of Jerusalem was that the population was very small; in order to revive the prosperity of Jerusalem they had to let more people move in. Few people wanted to move in, due to the downfall, bleak situation and the security problems. The leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people had to cast lots to bring one family out of every ten families to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. Nehemiah planned to allocate the habitation to make Jerusalem prosperous again through regulation, encouragement, and the drawing of lots.
反省：上帝的國度、上帝的家，是否要有更多人投入，
Reflection: Do we need to put more efforts to recover the original prosperous to God's kingdom, the house of God?
3>抽籤決定的意義 the meaning of casting lots
以色列百姓原本各自住在所屬的城裏，
抽籤是在律法規範之下，上帝讓以色列百姓使用的方法。
The Israeli used to live where they belonged. Now Nehemiah planned to revive the prosperity of Jerusalem. He used lot drawing to decide who was going to move in. Casting lots was a legislative decree. It looks like it is all a fluke, but actually God controls it. The purpose was to choose the one who met and understood God’s will.
反省：在事奉的過程中，我透過什麼方式，讓合上帝心意的人、
Reflection: What kind of method do I use to meet God’s will or let God’s will be clearly shown in my service?
4>十分之一的原則 The principle of one out of ten
在抽籤的過程中，比例是：每十家就選出一家，
那麼，這抽中的十分之一，也是上帝所給珍貴的份位。
In the process of balloting, the ratio was one family out of ten families, which is one-tenth principle. The Bible emphasizes this principle which includes financial donation, especially in tithe. This one-tenth lot drawing is a precious blessing by God. It also proves that those who were selected by the drawing lots were chosen by God. God wants to use people that please Him to enter the Holy City to testify for Him.
反省：我是否明白十分之一的原則？是否遵行十分之一的奉獻？
Reflection: Do I understand the tithe principle; am I following the Christian’s privilege and duty of tithing?
5>甘心樂意的原則The principle of volunteer
經文中特別提到：每一個自願住在耶路撒冷的人，民眾都稱讚他。
顯然，甘心樂意，是上帝所給的另一個原則。甘心樂意的進住，
因為他們原本已經安頓在別的城邑，如今要進住耶路撒冷，
Volunteer is a principle granted by God. That’s why the people who volunteered to live in Jerusalem were commended. They lived in other places; now they have to move to Jerusalem. They needed to sacrifice and abandon something and make some new arrangement. It is very difficult to do such a sacrifice if it is not for God. Why are the people willing to pay sacrifice all things for God’s will? God will certainly grant blessing to this kind of people
反省：為了上帝國度的事，為了上帝託付的使命，
Reflection: Am I willing to sacrifice all for the Kingdom of God and God’s great commission?
6>進住為預備爭戰 To live in and prepare for war
法勒斯的後代有四百六十八名勇士住在耶路撒冷。（v6）
這宗族有一百二十八名是善戰的勇士。他們的監督是撒巴第業，
事實上，凡是要為上帝作見證的人，都要面對一場激烈的屬靈爭戰。
We can see that God blessed the people who lived in Jerusalem. At the same time, some of them were preparing to battle for Holy Spirit. In the Bible it is written: The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem totaled 468 able men (v6). His associates, who were able men—128. Their chief officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.(v14)
The brave soldiers were preparing for a battle. Whoever decided to be a witness for God, needed to face a fierce spiritual battle.
反省：我是否配得稱為上帝的見證人？
Reflection: Am I worthy to be God’s witness? Am I well-prepared to face the battle?
7>進住為預備事奉 To live in and prepare for service
他的祖先還有撒督、米拉約，和亞希突；他們都是大祭司。（v11
他是米迦的兒子，撒底的孫子，亞薩的後代。
進住耶路撒冷城，除了為爭戰之外，同時也為了敬拜與事奉。
因此，在進住耶路撒冷的人當中，有大祭司、在聖殿任職的、
the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, supervisor in the house of God (v11b), and their associates, who carried on work for the temple—822 men(v.12); Shabbethai and Jozabad, two of the heads of the Levites, who had charge of the outside work of the house of God(v.16); Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer(v17a);The singers were under the king's orders, which regulated their daily activity(v.23).
To worship and serve are also the purpose of living in Jerusalem. These are the best ways to glorify God, to acknowledge His status of holiness and honor. Only God is worthy of all the power and the glory, honor, wisdom, ability, praise. Therefore there are many priests who lead the inside-outside affairs, in thanksgiving, daily praise and prayer….etc. all these services are only for worshiping and serving God.
反省：目前的我，配得在聖殿中敬拜與事奉嗎？
Reflection: Am I worthy to worship and serve in the holy sanctuary? What else do I need to do changes and efforts?
8>核定事奉的資格Appraisal and decision of the qualification of service
以下是祭司和利未人的名單；
利未人有：負責主唱感謝詩歌的耶書亞、賓內、甲篾、示利比、
在哈沙比雅、示利比、約書亞、賓內、甲篾的指導之下，
以色列百姓在歷史上每一次按家譜點數，都有一定的意義在其中。
尤其在律法之下，可以在上帝面前敬拜事奉的，
These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra(v.1), The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, were in charge of the songs of thanksgiving(v.8). And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God(v.24). Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates (v.25).
The people of Israel in the history have a certain significant meaning. This time, the people who serve God, the meaning is approved eligible persons to serve. In particular, under the law, only the priests and Levites can serve and worship before God. Therefore, when the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, the priests and Levites would assume to take this responsibility. So the Bible records: The following priests and Levites of the list; they are like Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel and the high priest Jeshua with people returning from exile.
反省：再一次反省，我的事奉是上帝所喜悅的嗎？我夠資格事奉嗎？
Reflection: Is God in favor of my services? Am I qualified to serve? What else do I need to make more efforts?
Translated into English by Teresa Yang
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