נחמיה, פרק י״א, פסוק כ״ה

After detailing the list of people who settled in Jerusalem, the focus expands to capture the broader resettlement of the nation. The descendants of Judah and Benjamin returned to live on their ancestral estates, repopulating the cities of their heritage [מלבי״ם]. This movement extended beyond major urban centers into open, unwalled towns and villages. The primary approach among commentators is that these unfortified settlements were located within their natural regional borders [ביאור שטיינזלץ], or situated in open areas defined by an abundance of agricultural fields [מצודת דוד].

A major hub for the returning people of Judah was Kiriath-arba, recognized as the city of Hebron [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The repopulation effort around main cities like Dibon and Jekabzeel followed a distinct regional structure, expanding into surrounding satellite communities. This network included adjacent, dependent villages closely tied to the central city, alongside even smaller unfortified settlements [מצודת דוד]. These smaller outposts often served as semi-permanent living quarters for the returning families [ביאור שטיינזלץ].