And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
Having given an account of the principal persons that dwelt in Jerusalem (a larger account of whom he had before, Ch1 9:2, etc.), Nehemiah, in these verses, gives us some account of the other cities, in which dwelt the residue of Israel, Neh 11:20. It was requisite that Jerusalem should be replenished, yet not so as to drain the country.
Commenting on Nehemiah 11:20-36
And for the villages, with their fields,.... The cities and villages in the country, an account of the inhabitants of them next follows: some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof; the same with Hebron, Jos 15:54 and at Dibon; the same with Dimonah, Jos 15:22 and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof; the same with Kabzeel, one...
THEIR NAMES. (Neh. 11:3-36) the chief of the province--that is, Judea. Nehemiah speaks of it, as it then was, a small appendix of the Persian empire. in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities--The returned exiles, who had come from Babylon, repaired generally, and by a natural impulse, to the lands and cities throughout the country which had been anciently assigned them.
Commenting on Nehemiah 11:3-36