Nehemiah 11:28

ss them, Neh 11:2 . An enumeration of the families that dwell in Jerusalem, of Judah, and Benjamin, Neh 11:3-9 ; of those of the priests, Neh 11:10-12 ; of the chiefs of the fathers, Neh 11:13 ; of the mighty men, Neh 11:14 ; of the Levites, Neh 11:15-18 ; of the porters, Neh 11:19 ; of the residue of Israel and the officers, Neh 11:20-24 . The villages at which they dwelt, Neh 11:25-35 . Certain divisions of the Levites were in Judah and Benjamin, Neh 11:36 . Verse 1 To bring one of ten - Jerusalem certainly had many inhabitants at this time; but not sufficient to preserve the city, which was now encompassed with a wall, and the rebuilding 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 preservation and defense of the city. Ten were set apart, and the lot cast among them to see which one of the ten should take up his residence in the city. Verse 2 All the men that willingly offered - Some volunteered their services, which was considered a sacrifice to patriotism at that time, as Jerusalem afforded very few advantages, and was a place of considerable danger; hence the people spoke well of them, and no doubt prayed for God's blessing upon them. Verse 3 Now these are the chief - A good deal of difference will be found between the enumeration here and that in 1Chr 9:2 , etc. There, those only who came with Zerubbabel appear to be numbered; here, those, and the persons who came with Ezra and Nehemiah, enter into the account. Verse 9 And Joel - was their overseer - Joel was chief or magistrate over those, and Judah was his second or deputy. Perhaps each had a different office, but that of Joel was the chief. Verse 11 Ruler of the house of God - He had the command over all secular matters, as the high priest had over those which were spiritual. Verse 14 Mighty men of valor - Noted for strength of body, and military courage. Verse 16 And Shabbethai - This verse, with Neh 11:20 , Neh 11:21 , Neh 11:28 , Neh 11:29 , Neh 11:32 , Neh 11:33 , Neh 11:34 , and Neh 11:35 , are all wanting in the Septuagint and the whole chapter is wanting in the Arabic, the translator not being concerned in Jewish genealogies. The outward business - Calmet supposes that he provided the victuals for the priests, victims for the sacrifices, the sacerdotal vestments, the sacred vessels, and other necessaries for the service of the temple. Verse 17 The principal to begin the thanksgiving - The precentor, pitcher of the tune, or master-singer. Verse 22 The overseer also of the Levites - פקיד pekid, the visitant, the inspector; translated επισκοπος, bishop, both by the Septuagint and Vulgate. Verse 23 It was the king's commandment - By the king some understand David, and others Artaxerxes. It is most probable that it was the latter; who wished that a provision should be made for these, a part of whose office was to offer up prayers also, as well as praises. For we know that Darius made an ample provision for the priests, that they might offer sacrifices of sweet savor unto the God of heaven; and pray for the life of the king and of his sons, Ezr 6:10 . Some have thought that they had been Jewish singers employed in the service of the Persian king, to whom he had given a salary, and to whom he wished still to continue the same. Verse 24 Pethahiah - was at the king's hand - He was the governor appointed by the Persian king over the Jewish nation in those matters in which the civil government interfered with Jewish concerns. He no doubt fixed, levied, and received the tribute. Verse 26 And at Jeshua - This city is nowhere else mentioned. Verse 28 Mekonah - This city is also unknown. Verse 31 Geba - Probably the same as Gibeah of Saul. Verse 32 Ananiah - No city of this name is known. Verse 33 Hadid - This place is also unknown. Neballat - Also unknown. Verse 35 Lod, and Ono - These towns were built by the sons of Elpaal, 1Chr 8:12 . The valley of craftsmen - See 1Chr 4:14 . Probably this latter town was built in this valley. Verse 36 And of the Levites were divisions - The Levites had their dwellings in the divisions of Judah and Benjamin. This is probably the meaning: the Syriac says, They had the half of Judah and Benjamin; which is not likely. That the people whose hearts were now turned towards the Lord, would make the best provision for the support of God's work, and all those engaged in it, we may naturally suppose; but this could not be very great, as the complete service was not yet established, and the Levites themselves were few in number. Introduction Account of the priests and Levites that come up with Zerubbabel, Neh 12:1-7 . Of the Levites, Neh 12:8-

The Distribution of the People. ( b. c. 444.) 20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance. 21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims. 22 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. 23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. 24 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. 25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof, 26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet, 27 And at Hazar-shual, and at Beer-sheba, and in the villages thereof, 28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof, 29 And at En-rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom. 31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages, 32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin. Having given an account of the principal persons that dwelt in Jerusalem (a larger account of whom he had before, 1 Chron. ix. 2 , &c.), Nehemiah, in these verses, gives us some account of the other cities, in which dwelt the residue of Israel, v. 20 . It was requisite that Jerusalem should be replenished, yet not so as to drain the country. The king himself is served of the field, which will do little service if there be not hands to manage it. Let there therefore be no strife, no envy, no contempt, no ill will, between the inhabitants of the cities and those of the villages; both are needful, both useful, and neither can be spared. 1. The Nethinims, the posterity of the Gibeonites, dwelt in Ophel, which was upon the wall of Jerusalem ( ch. iii. 26 ), because they were to do the servile work of the temple, which therefore they must be posted near to, that they might be ready to attend, v. 21 . 2. Though the Levites were dispersed through the cities of Judah, yet they had an overseer who resided in Jerusalem, superior of their order and their provincial, to whom they applied for direction, who took care of their affairs and took cognizance of their conduct, whether they did their duty, v. 22 . 3. Some of the singers were appointed to look after the necessary repairs of the temple, being ingenious men, and having leisure between their hours of service; they were over the business of the house of God, v. 22 . And, it seems, the king of Persia had such a kindness for their office that he allotted a particular maintenance for them, besides what belonged to them as Levites, v. 23 . 4. Here is one that was the king's commissioner at Jerusalem. He was of the posterity of Zerah ( v. 24 ); for of that family of Judah there were some new settled in Jerusalem, and not all of Pharez, as appears by that other catalogue, 1 Chron. ix. 6 . He is said to be at the king's hand, or on the king's part, in all matters concerning the people, to determine controversies that arose between the king's officers and his subjects, to see that what was due to the king from the people was duly paid in and what was allowed by the king for the temple service was duly paid out, and happy it was for the Jews that one of themselves was in this post. 5. Here is an account of the villages, or country towns, which were inhabited by the residue of Israel—the towns in which the children of Judah dwelt ( v. 25-30 ), those that were inhabited by the children of Benjamin ( v. 31-35 ), and divisions for the Levites among both, v. 36 . We will now suppose them safe and easy, though few and poor, but by the blessing of God they were likely to increase in wealth and power, and they would have been more likely if there had not been that general profaneness among them, and lukewarmness in religion, with which they were charged in God's name by the prophet Malachi, who, it is supposed, prophesied about this time, and in whom prophecy ceased for some ages, till it revived in the great prophet and his forerunner.