3 Now these are the chief H7218 of the province H4082 that dwelt H3427 in Jerusalem: H3389 but in the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 dwelt H3427 every one H376 in his possession H272 in their cities, H5892 to wit, Israel, H3478 the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and the Nethinims, H5411 and the children H1121 of Solomon's H8010 servants. H5650
4 And at Jerusalem H3389 dwelt H3427 certain of the children H1121 of Judah, H3063 and of the children H1121 of Benjamin. H1144 Of the children H1121 of Judah; H3063 Athaiah H6265 the son H1121 of Uzziah, H5818 the son H1121 of Zechariah, H2148 the son H1121 of Amariah, H568 the son H1121 of Shephatiah, H8203 the son H1121 of Mahalaleel, H4111 of the children H1121 of Perez; H6557
5 And Maaseiah H4641 the son H1121 of Baruch, H1263 the son H1121 of Colhozeh, H3626 the son H1121 of Hazaiah, H2382 the son H1121 of Adaiah, H5718 the son H1121 of Joiarib, H3114 the son H1121 of Zechariah, H2148 the son H1121 of Shiloni. H8023
6 All the sons H1121 of Perez H6557 that dwelt H3427 at Jerusalem H3389 were four H702 hundred H3967 threescore H8346 and eight H8083 valiant H2428 men. H582
7 And these are the sons H1121 of Benjamin; H1144 Sallu H5543 the son H1121 of Meshullam, H4918 the son H1121 of Joed, H3133 the son H1121 of Pedaiah, H6305 the son H1121 of Kolaiah, H6964 the son H1121 of Maaseiah, H4641 the son H1121 of Ithiel, H384 the son H1121 of Jesaiah. H3470
8 And after H310 him Gabbai, H1373 Sallai, H5543 nine H8672 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and eight. H8083
9 And Joel H3100 the son H1121 of Zichri H2147 was their overseer: H6496 and Judah H3063 the son H1121 of Senuah H5574 was second H4932 over the city. H5892
10 Of the priests: H3548 Jedaiah H3048 the son H1121 of Joiarib, H3114 Jachin. H3199
11 Seraiah H8304 the son H1121 of Hilkiah, H2518 the son H1121 of Meshullam, H4918 the son H1121 of Zadok, H6659 the son H1121 of Meraioth, H4812 the son H1121 of Ahitub, H285 was the ruler H5057 of the house H1004 of God. H430
12 And their brethren H251 that did H6213 the work H4399 of the house H1004 were eight H8083 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and two: H8147 and Adaiah H5718 the son H1121 of Jeroham, H3395 the son H1121 of Pelaliah, H6421 the son H1121 of Amzi, H557 the son H1121 of Zechariah, H2148 the son H1121 of Pashur, H6583 the son H1121 of Malchiah, H4441
13 And his brethren, H251 chief H7218 of the fathers, H1 two H8147 hundred H3967 forty H705 and two: H8147 and Amashai H6023 the son H1121 of Azareel, H5832 the son H1121 of Ahasai, H273 the son H1121 of Meshillemoth, H4919 the son H1121 of Immer, H564
14 And their brethren, H251 mighty men H1368 of valour, H2428 an hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and eight: H8083 and their overseer H6496 was Zabdiel, H2068 the son H1121 of one of the great men. H1419
15 Also of the Levites: H3881 Shemaiah H8098 the son H1121 of Hashub, H2815 the son H1121 of Azrikam, H5840 the son H1121 of Hashabiah, H2811 the son H1121 of Bunni; H1138
16 And Shabbethai H7678 and Jozabad, H3107 of the chief H7218 of the Levites, H3881 had the oversight of the outward H2435 business H4399 of the house H1004 of God. H430
17 And Mattaniah H4983 the son H1121 of Micha, H4316 the son H1121 of Zabdi, H2067 the son H1121 of Asaph, H623 was the principal H7218 to begin H8462 the thanksgiving H3034 in prayer: H8605 and Bakbukiah H1229 the second H4932 among his brethren, H251 and Abda H5653 the son H1121 of Shammua, H8051 the son H1121 of Galal, H1559 the son H1121 of Jeduthun. H3038
18 All the Levites H3881 in the holy H6944 city H5892 were two hundred H3967 fourscore H8084 and four. H702
19 Moreover the porters, H7778 Akkub, H6126 Talmon, H2929 and their brethren H251 that kept H8104 the gates, H8179 were an hundred H3967 seventy H7657 and two. H8147
20 And the residue H7605 of Israel, H3478 of the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 were in all the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 every one H376 in his inheritance. H5159
21 But the Nethinims H5411 dwelt H3427 in Ophel: H6077 and Ziha H6727 and Gispa H1658 were over the Nethinims. H5411
22 The overseer H6496 also of the Levites H3881 at Jerusalem H3389 was Uzzi H5813 the son H1121 of Bani, H1137 the son H1121 of Hashabiah, H2811 the son H1121 of Mattaniah, H4983 the son H1121 of Micha. H4316 Of the sons H1121 of Asaph, H623 the singers H7891 were over H5048 the business H4399 of the house H1004 of God. H430
23 For it was the king's H4428 commandment H4687 concerning them, that a certain portion H548 should be for the singers, H7891 due H1697 for every day. H3117
24 And Pethahiah H6611 the son H1121 of Meshezabeel, H4898 of the children H1121 of Zerah H2226 the son H1121 of Judah, H3063 was at the king's H4428 hand H3027 in all matters H1697 concerning the people. H5971
25 And for the villages, H2691 with their fields, H7704 some of the children H1121 of Judah H3063 dwelt H3427 at Kirjatharba, H7153 and in the villages H2691 thereof, and at Dibon, H1769 and in the villages H1323 thereof, and at Jekabzeel, H3343 and in the villages H1323 thereof,
26 And at Jeshua, H3442 and at Moladah, H4137 and at Bethphelet, H1046
27 And at Hazarshual, H2705 and at Beersheba, H884 and in the villages H1323 thereof,
28 And at Ziklag, H6860 and at Mekonah, H4368 and in the villages H1323 thereof,
29 And at Enrimmon, H5884 and at Zareah, H6881 and at Jarmuth, H3412
30 Zanoah, H2182 Adullam, H5725 and in their villages, H2691 at Lachish, H3923 and the fields H7704 thereof, at Azekah, H5825 and in the villages H1323 thereof. And they dwelt H2583 from Beersheba H884 unto the valley H1516 of Hinnom. H2011
31 The children H1121 also of Benjamin H1144 from Geba H1387 dwelt at Michmash, H4363 and Aija, H5857 and Bethel, H1008 and in their villages, H1323
32 And at Anathoth, H6068 Nob, H5011 Ananiah, H6055
33 Hazor, H2674 Ramah, H7414 Gittaim, H1664
34 Hadid, H2307 Zeboim, H6650 Neballat, H5041
35 Lod, H3850 and Ono, H207 the valley H1516 of craftsmen. H2791 H2798
36 And of the Levites H3881 were divisions H4256 in Judah, H3063 and in Benjamin. H1144
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Nehemiah 11
Commentary on Nehemiah 11 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 11
Ne 11:1, 2. The Rulers, Voluntary Men, and Every Tenth Man Chosen by Lot, Dwell at Jerusalem.
1. the rulers … dwelt at Jerusalem—That city being the metropolis of the country, it was right and proper that the seat of government should be there. But the exigency of the times required that special measures should be taken to insure the residence of an adequate population for the custody of the buildings and the defense of the city. From the annoyances of restless and malignant enemies, who tried every means to demolish the rising fortifications, there was some danger attending a settlement in Jerusalem. Hence the greater part of the returned exiles, in order to earn as well as secure the rewards of their duty, preferred to remain in the country or the provincial towns. To remedy this state of things, it was resolved to select every tenth man of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin by lot, to become a permanent inhabitant of the capital. The necessity of such an expedient commended it to the general approval. It was the more readily submitted to because the lot was resorted to on all the most critical conjunctures of the Jewish history, and regarded by the people as a divine decision (Pr 18:18). This awakened strongly the national spirit; and patriotic volunteers came forward readily to meet the wishes of the authorities, a service which, implying great self-denial as well as courage, was reckoned in the circumstances of so much importance as entitled them to the public gratitude. No wonder that the conduct of these volunteers drew forth the tribute of public admiration; for they sacrificed their personal safety and comfort for the interests of the community because Jerusalem was at that time a place against which the enemies of the Jews were directing a thousand plots. Therefore, residence in it at such a juncture was attended with expense and various annoyances from which a country life was entirely free.
Ne 11:3-36. Their Names.
3. the chief of the province—that is, Judea. Nehemiah speaks of it, as it then was, a small appendix of the Persian empire.
in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities—The returned exiles, who had come from Babylon, repaired generally, and by a natural impulse, to the lands and cities throughout the country which had been anciently assigned them.
Israel—This general name, which designated the descendants of Jacob before the unhappy division of the two kingdoms under Rehoboam, was restored after the captivity, the Israelites being then united with the Jews, and all traces of their former separation being obliterated. Although the majority of the returned exiles belonged to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, they are here called Israel because a large number out of all the tribes were now intermingled, and these were principally the occupiers of the rural villages, while none but those of Judah and Benjamin resided in Jerusalem.
the Levites—These took possession of the cities allotted to them according as they had opportunity.
the Nethinims—A certain order of men, either Gibeonites or persons joined with them, who were devoted to the service of God.
4. at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah—The discrepancy that is apparent between this [Ne 11:4-36] and the list formerly given in 1Ch 9:1-9, arose not only from the Jewish and Oriental practice of changing or modifying the names of persons from a change of circumstances, but from the alterations that must have been produced in the course of time. The catalogue in Chronicles contains those who came with the first detachment of returned exiles, while the list in this passage probably included also those who returned with Ezra and Nehemiah; or it was most probably made out afterwards, when several had died, or some, who had been inserted as going on the journey, remained, and others came in their stead.
9. overseer—that is, "captain" or "chief."
11. the ruler of the house of God—assistant of the high priest (Nu 3:32; 1Ch 9:11; 2Ch 19:11).
16. the oversight of the outward business of the house of God—that is, those things which were done outside, or in the country, such as the collecting of the provisions (1Ch 26:29).
17. the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer—that is, the leader of the choir which chanted the public praise at the time of the morning and evening sacrifice. That service was always accompanied by some appropriate psalm, the sacred music being selected and guided by the person named.
22. the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God—They were selected to take charge of providing those things which were required for the interior of the temple and its service, while to others was committed the care of the "outward business of the house of God" (Ne 11:16). This duty was very properly assigned to the sons of Asaph; for, though they were Levites, they did not repair in rotation to Jerusalem, as the other ministers of religion. Being permanent residents, and employed in duties which were comparatively light and easy, they were very competent to undertake this charge.
23. it was the king's commandment—It was the will of the Persian monarch in issuing his edict that the temple service should be revived in all its religious fulness and solemnity. As this special provision for the singers is said to have been by the king's commandment, the order was probably given at the request or suggestion of Ezra or Nehemiah.
24. Pethahiah … was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people—This person was entrusted with judicial power, either for the interest, or by the appointment, of the Persian monarch, and his duty consisted either in adjusting cases of civil dispute, or in regulating fiscal concerns.
25. some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba—The whole region in which the villages here mentioned were situated had been completely devastated by the Chaldean invasion; and, therefore, it must be assumed, that these villages had been rebuilt before "the children dwelt in them."
36. And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin—Rather, there were divisions for the Levites; that is, those who were not resident in Jerusalem were distributed in settlements throughout the provinces of Judah and Benjamin.