Chapter 11
And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.
the rulers
7:4,5 Deuteronomy 17:8,9 Psalms 122:5
cast lots
Jerusalem certainly had many inhabitants at this time, but not sufficient to preserve the city, which was now encompassed with a wall, the building of which was going on fast. Nehemiah, therefore, obliged one-tenth of the country people to come and dwell in it, that the population might be sufficient for the defence of the city. Some volunteered their services, which was at that time considered a sacrifice to patriotism; as Jerusalem then afforded very few advantages, and was a place of considerable danger: hence "the people blessed them that willingly offered themselves."
10:34 Joshua 18:10 1 Chronicles 26:13 Proverbs 16:33 Acts 1:24
one of ten
the holy
18 Isaiah 48:2 52:1 Matthew 4:5 27:53
And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
blessed
Deuteronomy 24:13 Job 29:13 31:20
willingly
Judges 5:9 2 Corinthians 8:16,17
Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.
Now
There is a good deal of difference between this enumeration and that in Chronicles; as this comprehends not only those who came first with Zerubbabel, but also those who came with Ezra and Nehemiah: see on 1 Ch 9:18.
the chief
Israel
7:73 1 Chronicles 9:1-3 Ezra 2:70
Nethinims
the children
And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;
dwelt
Perez
The variation of Pharez and Perez is only found in the translation; the original being uniformly
Pharez
Phares
Verse 5
And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.
Col-hozeh
Shiloni
Some suppose Shiloni to be the name of a man; others derive it from Shiloh, the city so called; and others derive it from Shelah, son of Judah.
Shelah
Shelanites
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 Jesaiah.
the sons
Joed
It is probable that Joed was also called Hodaviah, and that Pedaiah had also the name of Hasenuah.
And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.
Judah
Hodaviah
Hasenuah.
Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.
Jedaiah
One of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. omits, [ben (ab)] ben, "son of," and reads "Jedaiah, Joiarib, Jachin:" which is nearly that of the parallel place. Joiarib, [Yowyariyb (byrywy)] is merely a contracted form of [Y@howyariyb (byrywhy)] Jehoiarib, by the elision of [HÍ'] hay.
Jehoiarib
Joiarib
Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.
Seraiah
Seraiah probably had also the name of Azariah.
Azariah
the ruler
He had the command over all secular matters; as the high priest had over all those which were spiritual.
Numbers 3:32 1 Chronicles 9:1 2 Chronicles 19:11 31:13 Acts 5:24
And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah,
Adaiah
And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.
of one of the great men
or, of Haggedolim.
Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
Shemaiah
And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.
Shabbethai
had the oversight of
Heb. were over.
outward
Calmet supposes they provided the victuals for the priests, the victims for the sacrifices, the sacerdotal vestments, the sacred vessels, and other necessaries for the service of the temple.
And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
Zabdi
In the parallel passage, instead of Zichri, many manuscripts have Zabdi, as here: he is also called Zaccur.
Zichri
to begin.
12:8,31 1 Chronicles 16:4,41 25:1-6
thanksgiving
Philippians 4:6 1 Thessalonians 5:17,18
Bakbukiah
All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.
the holy
1 1 Kings 11:13 Daniel 9:24 Matthew 24:15 27:53 Revelation 11:2 21:2
Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.
Akkub
7:45 12:25 1 Chronicles 9:17-22
that kept
the gates
Heb. at the gates.
But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.
the
Ophel
or, the tower.
The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.
overseer
Uzzi
Bani
Hashabiah
Mattaniah
17 12:25,35 13:13 1 Chronicles 9:15
Of the sons
were over
For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
the king's
1 Chronicles 9:33 Ezra 6:8,9 7:20-24
a certain portion
or, a sure ordinance.
And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.
Meshezabeel
Zerah
Zarah
Zara
at the king's.
1 Chronicles 18:17 23:28 *margins
And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,
Kirjath-arba
Dibon
Dimonah
Jekabzeel.
Kabzeel
Verse 26
And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,
Moladah
Beth-phelet
Beth-palet
Verse 27
And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,
Hazar-shua
Beth-sheba
Genesis 21:31 26:33 Judges 20:1
And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,
Ziklag
Mekonah
Probably the Mechanam which Jerome (in Beth-macha) places eight miles from Eleutheropolis, towards Jerusalem.
And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,
En-rimmon
Rimmon is placed by Eusebius in the south of Judah, 16 miles south of Eleutheropolis.
Rimmon
Zareah. These variations are only chargeable to the translator; the original being uniformly Zor‚h.
Zoreah
Zorah
Jarmuth.
Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.
Zanoah
Adullam
Lachish
Azekah
the valley
Joshua 15:8 18:16 2 Kings 23:10 Jeremiah 7:31,32 19:2,6 32:35
The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages,
from Geba
or, of Geba.
Gaba
at Michmash
or, to Michmash.
Michmas
1 Samuel 13:11,23 Isaiah 10:28
Aija
Ai
Hai
Ai
Beth-el.
And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
Anathoth
7:27 Joshua 21:18 Isaiah 10:30 Jeremiah 1:1
Nob
1 Samuel 21:1 22:19 Isaiah 10:32
Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
Ramah
Joshua 18:25 1 Samuel 7:17 Matthew 2:18
Rama
Gittaim.
Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
Zeboim
Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
Lod
the valley
And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.
And of
Joshua 21:1-45 1 Chronicles 6:54-81