Nehemiah 12:28

Which were a certain family, and had their possessions in the fields, 1 Chron. 2:54.

Hebrew, the sons of the singers.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

28. the plain country] R.V. the plain. Marg. ‘Or, circuit’. The word here used, ‘the kikkar,’ is technically applied to the Jordan valley, e.g. Gen_13:10-12; Gen_19:17; 2Sa_18:23. Here, however, as in Neh_3:22, it seems very doubtful whether this application is at all possible at a time when the territory occupied by the Jews was of so limited an area. If the special signification be here retained, only the southern most portion of the Jordan valley, the district of Jericho, can be intended. The other and more probable alternative is to give the word its strict meaning of ‘the circle,’ and to suppose that it is here used to denote the country ‘round about Jerusalem.’ This is not improbable; for (1) the word does not necessarily mean a level surface, but something circular; (2) the country villages occupied by the singers (Neh_12:29) were in the vicinity of Jerusalem. In confirmation of this, it should be remembered that, even in its special application, it is generally found with a qualifying substantive, e.g. ‘the plain, or kikkar = circuit, of the Jordan.’ (Gen_13:10-11; 1Ki_7:46. Cf. Mat_3:5, ἡ περίχωρος τοῦ Ἰορδάνου).

of Netophathi] R.V. of the Netophathites. See note on Ezr_2:22.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Also from the house of Gilgal,.... Which likewise was in a champaign country in the plains of Jericho, Deu 11:30,

and out of the fields of Geba; which was a Levitical city in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 21:17

and Azmaveth; the same with Bethazmaveth, Neh 7:28 where it follows Anathoth and Netophah, as it does in Ezr 2:24, and was very probably in the tribe of Benjamin:

for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem; that they might be near it, to do their duty when required; by which it appears that the said places were near Jerusalem.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The plain country round about Jerusalem - Perhaps the valleys of Hinnom and Jehoshaphat, which enclose Jerusalem on three sides, are intended.

The villages of Netophathi - Rather, as in 1Ch 9:16. Netophah lay near Bethlehem 1Ch 2:54, and is perhaps represented by the modern Antubeh.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

28. The plain country — The ciccar, (הככר.) The word is always elsewhere applied to the Jordan valley, but the additional phrase round about Jerusalem has led most interpreters to understand here the country immediately around Jerusalem. Keil, however, with good reason, adheres to the established usage of the word.

Villages of Netophathi — Towns in the vicinity of Netopha, a village apparently in the neighbourhood of Bethlehem, (comp. Neh_7:26; 1Ch_2:54,) but not yet with certainty identified. Some suggest its identity with Beit Nettif, about fifteen miles southwest of Jerusalem.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The sons of the singers. i.e. the Levites who belonged to the class of singers. (1Ch_15:16-22 Neh_7:44, etc.) The plain country round about Jerusalem. Dean Stanley understands by this "the Jordan valley" ("Lectures on the Jewish Church," Third Series, p. 129); but that is a district too remote to be intended by the words "round about Jerusalem." The valleys of Hinnom and Jehoshaphat better suit the description. The villages of Netophathi. Rather, "of the Netophathites", (see 1Ch_9:16) or people of Netophah, which was a country town not far from Bethlehem.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

and from the plain the singers came from [the plain] surrounding Jerusalem.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.