Nehemiah 10

Nehemiah 10:38

38. And the priest — shall be with the Levites, &c.] As the people gave the tithes of their land to the Levites, so the Levites gave a tithe of the tithes to the priests. And when the people brought them to the Levites, one of the priests was appointed to be present to inspect them, and to see that they justly allotted to the priests the tenth of what they had received: this portion belonging to the priests was brought and deposited in the chambers of the temple. Bp. Patrick.

Chap. XI. ver. 1. And the rulers of the people &c.] Although the city was now fortified by a wall, yet it was very thinly inhabited; and the neighbouring nations continuing restless in their designs of demolishing the works again, so as to terrify many of the Jews from residing there, it was necessary to take measures for the better security of the place. Accordingly the chief magistrates of the other towns, who were eminent for valour and discretion, agreed to come and dwell at Jerusalem, and the common people consented to send one out of ten for the same purpose. But, besides those

whose lot it was to remove thither, there were others (ver. 2.) who “willingly offered themselves;” whom “the people blessed,” that is, highly commended and favoured with their good wishes, for their seasonable zeal for the safety of the chief city and the temple of God. Pyle.