Nehemiah 11
PATcountry, and come and dwell there; leaving the rest to dwell where they pleased. For which end they cast lots, that among ten men it might be known whom God chose to come thither; and the lot falling by a Divine appointment upon such a person, rather than another, no doubt, he removed the more contentedly to this city. Vcr. 2. And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.] Beside those who were chosen by lot, it seems there were some that voluntarily’ chose to go and live there; whom the people highly commended and praised, beseeching God to bless and prosper them: for indeed they wero worthy to be honoured as men that sought the welfare of their country, the glory of God, the restoring of their nation, the defence of their •city, and had a zeal for the Divine service performed there.
Nehemiah 11:3
Now these are the chief of the province. Of those Jews that came from Babylon into the province of Judca. That dwelt in Jerusalem.’] Whose names are mentioned ver. 4, &c. But in the cities ofJudah 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.] But those that dwelt in the other cities of Judah, he would not reckon in this catalogue; whom he comprehends under the name of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Nethinims, # and Solomon’s servants. By Israel he means all the people of the ten tribes, as well as Judah and Benjamin, who were the chief; but he calls them Israel, because those of Judah and Benjamin dwelt at Jerusalem, the rest of Israel were in the other cities of Judah.
Nehemiah 11:4
And at Jeimsalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. For these were the tribes that anciently possessed Jerusalem; which stood partly in the one, partly in the other tribe. Therefore, in some places of Scripture, Jerusalem is reckoned, as belonging to the children of Judah, (see Josh. xv. G3. Judg. i. 8.) and sometimes in the same words to the children of Benjamin, (Judg. xviii. 20. xxi. 28.) and here to both. But what part of the city belonged to the one, and what to the other, is not agreed among learned men. Pineda hath represented the several opinions about it at large, in his book de’IlebusSolomonis, lib. v. cap. 5. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the^son of m Uzziah,the son of Zechariah, the son ofAmariah, the son of Shephatiah,the son of Mahaldleel,of the children of Perez.] These were all of that family of Pharez, the son of Judah. If the names of these persons mentioned in this chapter be compared with the names of those who came back with Zerubfcabel, it will appear, that thoy wero the fourth, fifth, and sixth generation from Zenibbabcl; which is a demonstration, that Nehemiah did not come to Jerusalem in the timo of Artaxerxcs Longimanus, but of Artaxerxes Mnemon. For this observation I am beholden to my worthy friend Dr. Alix.
Nehemiah 11:5
And Maaseiah the son ofBaruch, the son ofColhozeh, the so?i of Hazaiah,’ the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. These *were all of tho same family, as the next verse informs us. Ver. G. All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem, were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.] Who fceem to me to have offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem, and help to defend it by their valour, whose chiefs were Athaiah and Maaseiah.
Nehemiah 11:7
And these are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the<$on of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son ofPedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Jthiel, the son of Jesaiah.
Nehemiah 11:8
And after him Gabbai, Sallau. These two and Sallu (beforenamed) were the chief men among them. Nine hundred twenty and eight.] There were almost as many more of Benjamin as of Judah (who were but four hundred sixty and eight); for though Mount.Zion was in the tribe of Judah, yet the city of Jerusalem was in the tribe of Benjamin; which made them have a great desire to see it inhabited, and inflamed the minds of theimost valiant, who were best able to defend it, to come and live there?.
Nehemiah 11:9
And Joel the son of Zichri tvas their overseer; and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city. The former, of these was the governor of the city; and the other was his deputy; who is called secondanj, because he was next to him in the discharge of that office. Who is he, as Bertram thinks, that is called in tho second book of Maccabees, chap.iii.4. irpoaTar^g tov Upov, the prefect of the ternpie; and by Josephus, Antiq. xiv.Gtl. i-rroarpaT^ybg,tv *Upooo’Xtfiois, the under governor in Jerusalem. (See his Repub. Jud.p.163.)
Nehemiah 11:10
Of the priests; Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin. Now he comes to speak of the tribe of JLevi; many of which it was necessary should dwell there, to attend the house of God. And first he begins with the priests, who were his chief ministers.
Nehemiah 11:11
Seraiah the son ofHilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahilub, was the rttler of the house of God. This Seraiah was such a chief man among the priests, as he that is mentioned in 2Chron.xix. 11. (See there.) Some take him to be the " same with him that is called in the New Testament orparriybg tov Ugov, which we translate the captain of the temple.
Nehemiah 11:12
And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two. Who discharged all the officesof the priests in the temple. And Adaiah the son ofJeroham, the son of.Pelaliah,the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son ofPaShur, the son of Malchiah.
Nehemiah 11:13
And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two; and Amashai, the son of Azareel,the son ofAhasai, the son ofMeshillemoth, the son oflmmer. * Vcr. 14. And their brethren, mighty men of valour, ahundred twenty and eight.] Some of the priests were noted to be men of great courage, who, when there was occasion, fought for their country, especially to defend the house ■of God. And tlteir overseer was Zabdiel, the so?i of one ofjhe great men.] Or, as the margin, the son of Haggedolim, w r as Set over these valiant men; being descended (it is supposed by some) from some of the great men among the priests; as tho word- Haggedolim imports.
Nehemiah 11:15
Also of the Levites; Shemaiah the soil ofllashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son ofBunnu. After tho priests he gives an account of the Levites; among whom this person, and the two other mentioned in the next verses, were the chief.
Nehemiah 11:16
*And Shabbethai andJozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house )f God. There were a great many things to be done without the temple, as well as within, to prepare for the service of it; particularly, to gather the third part of a shekel, which every one was to give to make provision for it, (chap. x. 32.) which work was committed to these men. Though Bertram (de Republica Judaica, p. 160. 363.) thinks this may be the meaning, That they were judges and officers in the country, whero their presence was necessary, when there were but few to discharge such outward business in Israel, «s it is called in 1 Chron. xxvi. 29.
Nehemiah 11:17
And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer. He was the precentor (as we call him in our ehoirs) who began to sing the hymn at morning and evening sacrifice; which seems to be that in £ Chron. xvi. 7, 8, &c. in the latter part of which they pray to God, as in the former they give thanks. And Bakbukiah the second qmong his brethren, andAbda the son ofShammua, the son of Galal, the son ofJeduthunl] The first of these seems to have supplied the place of Mat*- taniah when he was absent.
Nehemiah 11:18
All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.*. Who certainly attended there; unless we suppose, with Bertram, that they went forth some time about some outward business, which they were required to dispatch… f
Nehemiah 11:19
Moreover, the porters: Akhib, Talmon,and their brethren that kept the gates, were a hundred seventy and two. Who had the custody of the gates of the temple. VcV. 20. And the residue of Israel, of the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities ofJudah, every one in his inheritance.] He had said before that the rest of Israel dwelt in their own cities, (ver. 3.) and new he saith, that so did the rest of the priests and the LeVites dwell in the cities anciently appointed for them.
Nehemiah 11:21
But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel. Which was a place upon the wall of Jerusalem, or a tower near it. (See chap. iii. 26. 2 Chron. xxvii. 3.) And Ziha andGipsa were over the Nethinims.] Two persons of their own body, I suppose, who were appointed to see them do their duty.
Nehemiah 11:22
The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the sonofHashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. He was set over the Levites, to govern them, and see them discharge their offices in an orderly manner. The LXX. translate it’EthWwtocj and so doth the Vulgar; for he was supervisor of those below him. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.] They were ordered to look after the reparation of the temple; for which they had the more leisure, both because they did not come in their courses to Jerusalem, as others did, but were settled there; and were to attend at the temple only at certain hours, after which they might look after other business.
Nehemiah 11:23
For it was the king’s commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers’. due for every day. Beside the forenamed reasons, they had great encouragement from the king, who ordered them a certain portion for their maintenance every day. Some are of opinion, that this was king David, who first apvou. II. pointed them to attend in a settled course; but it is more likely it was the king of Persia, who out of his mqnificenc^ made them a daily allowance for their better support; they that sang hymns to their gods being persons much valued in all countries: and if David made any provision for them, it being lost, most likely was not yet restored,.
Nehemiah 11:24
And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children ofZerah the son ofJudah. We had the children of Pharez named before, who settled at Jerusalem, (ver. 6.) And now it appears that some of the posterity of his brot ther did the same; for here is one man mentioned who was of great authority under the king of Persia, as it here follows., Was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.] The king appointed him to receive all petitions from the people, and by him returned them answers. This seems the plain sense, according to our translation. But some translate it, not at the king’s hand, but on the king’s part, that is, he heard all causes in civil matters between the king and the people; as, about his tribute, or any griev* ance of which they complained. And Bertram thinks it appears by the very context, that he was appointed by the king (so at his hand, or by his hand, may be understood) to see all things supplied which the people were bound to furnish for the temple: or rather, as Pellicanus thinks, to see that what the king allowed for public sacrifices to be made for him, and for his family, (Ezra vi. 10.) was duly paid out of the treasury of the province.
Nehemiah 11:25
And for the villages, with their fields, some ofthg children ofJudah dwelt at Kirjath-arba, and in the villages thereof, and atDibon, and in the villages thereof, and atJekabzeel, and in the villages thereof] He gives no account of the families that dwelt in the country, as he doth of those that settled in Jerusalem, but only jnentions the town$ wherein they dwelt, which formerly had been walled cjties, but now open villages, wherein houses were built, but not their walls.. r. ■ *:- /><• V
Nehemiah 11:26
And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet. In this and in the following verses unto ver. 31*. he mebtioris the other towns wherein the children of Judah dwelt, who. did not come to inhabit at Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 11:27
And at Hazar-rshual, and at Beer-shefya; and in the villages thereof. *.,. * - • vv
Nehemiah 11:28
And at Ziklag, and at Mekona, and in the villages thereof’ v’…v.iY
Nehemiah 11:29
And. qt En-rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth.’ /
Nehemiah 11:30
Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-shebaunto the valley of Hinnom. It appears by this accountthat some of these great towns or cities without walls had little villages about them, but others had only fields and no villages’ in them, the country.being as,yet but thinly.peopled; •
Nehemiah 11:31
The children also jof Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Beth-el, and in their villages. Geba had formerly been an eminent place in this tribe, and so was Beth-el.
Nehemiah 11:32
And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananidh:
Nehemiah 11:35
Lod, and Ono,the.valley of craftsman. WfcJead 4Y