Ramah
Ramah is another town in the territory of Benjamin, located near Gibeah and Mizpah. It holds significant historical and prophetic importance. Ramah was the home of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 7:17) and served as a center for his ministry. It is also mentioned in the context of the Babylonian exile; Jeremiah 40:1 describes the gathering of exiles at Ramah before being taken to Babylon. This town is associated with mourning in Jeremiah 31:15, a prophecy later applied to the massacre of the innocents in Matthew 2:18. The inclusion of Ramah in the list of resettled towns underscores the restoration of places with deep spiritual and historical roots in Israel's history.

Gittaim
Gittaim is less frequently mentioned in the Bible, with its most notable reference being in 2 Samuel 4:3, where it is described as a refuge for the Beerothites. The exact location of Gittaim is uncertain, but it is believed to be in the region of Benjamin. The mention of Gittaim in Nehemiah 11:33 indicates its reoccupation during the post-exilic period, contributing to the repopulation and stabilization of the area. This reflects the broader theme of restoration and renewal found throughout the book of Nehemiah, as the Jewish people sought to rebuild their communities and reestablish their identity in the land promised to their ancestors.

Nehemiah 11:33 simply names this town—“Hazor…”—yet even a short mention has purpose. God is documenting the resettlement of Benjamin after the exile.

• Joshua 11:10 shows that a northern Hazor once “was formerly the head of all these kingdoms.” The returnees now occupy a Benjaminite Hazor, proving that the Lord restores what was once prominent but laid waste.

• Jeremiah 49:30 records judgment on another Hazor, reminding us that God both tears down and builds up. In Nehemiah, the rebuilding side of the promise shines: the same God who judged nations now graciously plants His people back in their inheritance.

• Each family that unpacked its bags here testified, “The land really is ours again” (compare Ezra 2:70, where people settled “in their towns”).

Key takeaway: Hazor’s inclusion underscores the literal fulfillment of God’s pledge in Jeremiah 29:10–14 to “bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” Every brick laid was living proof.

Right after Hazor comes “Ramah….” Ramah sits just north of Jerusalem and often surfaces at pivotal moments.

• 1 Samuel 1:19—Hannah and Elkanah live in Ramah, tying the town to Samuel’s birth and the dawn of prophetic leadership in Israel.

• Jeremiah 31:15—“A voice is heard in Ramah… Rachel weeping for her children,” a verse later echoed in Matthew 2:17–18 concerning Herod’s massacre. Ramah became a symbol of sorrow in exile and oppression.

• Jeremiah 40:1—Jeremiah himself was released “at Ramah” after the fall of Jerusalem, marking it as a transit point for captives.

Seeing Ramah repopulated in Nehemiah 11 turns lament into hope. The very place that once echoed with weeping now rings with the sounds of families, livestock, and worship. It illustrates Isaiah 61:3: the Lord gives “a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

Finally, Nehemiah lists “Gittaim”. Though lesser-known, its earlier cameo carries weight.

• 2 Samuel 4:3 tells how the Beerothites fled “to Gittaim” and lived there as sojourners. It was a refuge town for displaced Israelites centuries before the exile.

• By Nehemiah’s day, Gittaim itself had experienced abandonment, yet now Benjaminite families move back in. What once sheltered refugees now needs repopulation—another reversal demonstrating God’s mercy.

• The pattern fits Leviticus 25:23–24, where the Lord promises that the land ultimately belongs to Him and will not be sold permanently. He always has a plan to return it to His people.

Practically, Gittaim reminds us that no corner of God’s covenant land is forgotten. Psalm 16:6 says, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” Every boundary line—yes, even Gittaim’s—matters to the Lord.

Nehemiah 11:33 is more than a geographic footnote. Hazor shows God restoring prominence, Ramah turns mourning into joy, and Gittaim highlights His care for even the obscure. Together they declare: the Lord keeps His pledges down to the smallest town, honoring every tribe, every family, every plot of earth He has promised.