Albert Barnes Commentary Nehemiah 12:28

"And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites;" — Nehemiah 12:28 (ASV)

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 (1 Chronicles 9:16). Netophah lay near Bethlehem (1 Chronicles 2:54), and is perhaps represented by the modern Antubeh.