Nehemiah 11 describes the process of repopulating the city of Jerusalem after it was rebuilt. The chapter begins with the leaders of the people settling in Jerusalem, and they cast lots to determine who among them should live there. One out of every ten people volunteered to relocate to Jerusalem, while the remaining nine stayed in their own cities.
The people praised those who volunteered, and the chapter goes on to list the names of those who settled in Jerusalem. The people also appreciated the residents of other cities who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. This ensured that the city would have a significant population.
The chapter concludes by mentioning the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, temple servants, and other workers who lived in their ancestral towns but commuted to Jerusalem to serve in the temple. This arrangement allowed for the orderly functioning of the temple worship and its associated duties.