Nehemiah 11:25
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What's striking here is the revival of ancient names like "Kiriath-arba," hinting that the people aren't just rebuilding cities, but reclaiming their foundational identity. This verse also uses a distinct word for the "villages thereof," suggesting a network of dependent settlements around the main towns, emphasizing community and shared life beyond the city walls.
And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages,
English Standard Version (ESV)
After detailing who settled back in Jerusalem, this passage shifts to describe the distribution of the rest of the people, specifically the tribe of Judah, into the surrounding villages and their agricultural lands. It highlights the resettlement of ancient territories, with the reoccupation of cities like Hebron (formerly Kirjath-arba) and other towns like Dibon and Jekabzeel. This shows the deliberate repopulation and re-establishment of Judah's ancestral homeland after the exile.
Why does Nehemiah use an old name for a familiar city? This verse points to a deeper connection with their history as they resettled.
Notice how Nehemiah calls Hebron "Kiriath-arba." This wasn't its common name at the time, but its ancient one, meaning "city of Arba" or "city of four."
A Name From the Past
Reclaiming Their Inheritance
The focus often goes to rebuilding Jerusalem, but what about the rest of the land? This verse reminds us that life continued and was restored in the surrounding areas too.
This verse shifts our attention from Jerusalem to the countryside, mentioning specific towns like Dibon and Jekabzeel.
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The Importance of Villages
A Scattered Yet United People
The mention of specific cities like Kiriath-arba (Hebron), Dibon, and Jekabzeel in Nehemiah signifies the post-exilic effort to repopulate and re-establish Jewish presence in the ancestral lands after the devastation of the Babylonian conquest.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites under Joshua conquered Canaan. Cities like Hebron (also known as Kiriath-arba) were assigned to the tribes of Judah and Simeon.
c. 1000 BC
David's Kingdom
Hebron served as King David's capital for seven years before he moved his court to Jerusalem, solidifying its importance as a significant city in Judah.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and its temple, and exiled a significant portion of the population. This event led to the abandonment of many cities and villages.
c. 516 BC
Return from Exile and Temple Rebuilding
After the Persian decree, many Judeans returned to their homeland and began rebuilding the Second Temple. The focus was initially on Jerusalem, but repopulating the surrounding areas began.
c. 445-430 BC— this verse
Nehemiah's Reforms and Repopulation Efforts
Nehemiah led a successful effort to rebuild Jerusalem's walls and reorganize the community. This included resettling people in the cities and villages of Judah to reestablish the land.
This passage lists many of the same towns, like Dibon (Dimonah) and Jekabzeel (Kabzeel), giving us a sense of these places' historical significance within Judah long before Nehemiah's time.
Genesis 23:2It connects Kiriath-arba to Abraham's purchase of the cave of Machpelah, highlighting the ancient and patriarchal roots of this region where the Judahites were resettling.
2 Samuel 2:1-4This passage recalls David being anointed king over Judah at Hebron (Kiriath-arba), showing the continued importance of this city as a center for the tribe of Judah, even centuries later.
Numbers 21:25This passage mentions inhabitants of Dibon, linking the name to a place with a history of Israelite settlement and conflict, underscoring the re-occupation of these territories.
ellicottNehemiah 11:25: "And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,"
(25) The children of Judah are now described very generally with respect to their distribution. Kirjath-arba.—Hebron no longer, the ancient name being now recovered. In the villages thereof.—Literally, the daughters thereof; being a different word from the “villages” a…
cambridgeNehemiah 11:25: "And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,"
25 . And for the villages, with their fields ] The preposition ‘for’ = ‘with respect to.’ The verse takes up the thread which had been interrupted by the parenthesis (21–24). at Kirjath-arba, and in the villages thereof ] R.V. in Kirjath-arba and the towns (Marg. Heb.…
What's striking here is the revival of ancient names like "Kiriath-arba," hinting that the people aren't just rebuilding cities, but reclaiming their foundational identity. This verse also uses a distinct word for the "villages thereof," suggesting a network of dependent settlements around the main towns, emphasizing community and shared life beyond the city walls.
After detailing who settled back in Jerusalem, this passage shifts to describe the distribution of the rest of the people, specifically the tribe of Judah, into the surrounding villages and their agricultural lands. It highlights the resettlement of ancient territories, with the reoccupation of cities like Hebron (formerly Kirjath-arba) and other towns like Dibon and Jekabzeel. This shows the deliberate repopulation and re-establishment of Judah's ancestral homeland after the exile.
After detailing who settled back in Jerusalem, this passage shifts to describe the distribution of the rest of the people, specifically the tribe of Judah, into the surrounding villages and their agricultural lands. It highlights the resettlement of ancient territories, with the reoccupation of cities like Hebron (formerly Kirjath-arba) and other towns like Dibon and Jekabzeel. This shows the deliberate repopulation and re-establishment of Judah's ancestral homeland after the exile.
"And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages," — What's striking here is the revival of ancient names like "Kiriath-arba," hinting that the people aren't just rebuilding cities, but reclaiming their foundational identity. This verse also uses a dis…
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Last reviewed October 2026
