Of The Children Of Benjamin (Nehemiah 11:7-9).
Again when comparing with 1 Chronicles 9 there is not a single duplication. A Sallu, the son of Meshullam, is mentioned in both, but these were clearly popular Benjamite names and their antecedents reveal that the name refers to different men. Otherwise the names in each are totally distinctive. This demonstrates that they are referring to different times. Again the ones named in 1 Chronicles 9 may be those who settled in Jerusalem prior to the time of Nehemiah because it was ‘their own city', with the ones described here seen as moving to live in Jerusalem at the instigation of Nehemiah.
‘And these are the sons of Benjamin:'
‘Sallu the 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.' 11:8 ‘And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred and twenty eight. 11:9 ‘And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.'
This Sallu, the son of Meshullam, was a different one than that in 1 Chronicles 9:7 as is demonstrated by his antecedents. That Joel was appointed as ‘overseer/officer' (2 Kings 25:19; Genesis 41:34; Judges 9:28) may refer to his being given a military responsibility, and not one necessarily limited to Benjamin. Judah was his second in command. How this reconciles with the appointment of Hanani and Hananiah as having ‘charge over the city' (Nehemiah 7:2) we are in no position to judge. This may well have been a specifically military appointment.