Nehemiah 11:1

1 The leaders of the people were already living in Jerusalem, so the rest of the people drew lots to get one out of ten to move to Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine remained in their towns.

Nehemiah 11:1 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 11:1

And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem
Where it was proper they should, being the metropolis of the nation, both for the performance of their offices, and to protect and defend it, as well as to set an example to the people, and encourage them to dwell there also:

the rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in
Jerusalem the holy city;
so called, because of the temple and the worship of God in it; and so it is called by Julian the emperor ^F7; and some ^F8 have thought that the Cadytis of Herodotus ^F9 is the same with Jerusalem, which had its name from (hvdq) , "holy", and is now called by the Turks "cuds", that is, "holy" ^F11: now, though it was the chief city, and the place of public worship, yet the people were not forward of settling in it, partly because of the rage of the enemy, which this city was the butt of, and partly because it was more to their worldly advantage to dwell in the country, and where they could have better supplies; they consulted their own ease, safety, and profit; wherefore this method was taken to oblige some to dwell in it, by taking one out of ten by lot, that there might be a sufficient number to rebuild the houses of it, repopulate and defend it:

and nine parts to dwell in other cities;
to which they belonged, or where they pleased, any where in the land of Israel.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 Ep. 25. p. 154.
F8 Prideaux's Connection, par. 1. p. 56, 57.
F9 Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 159. & Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 5.
F11 Sandys's Travels, l. 5. p. 121. Ed. 5.

Nehemiah 11:1 In-Context

1 The leaders of the people were already living in Jerusalem, so the rest of the people drew lots to get one out of ten to move to Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine remained in their towns.

2 The people applauded those who voluntarily offered to live in Jerusalem.

3 These are the leaders in the province who resided in Jerusalem (some Israelites, priests, Levites, Temple staff, and descendants of Solomon's slaves lived in the towns of Judah on their own property in various towns;

4 others from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem): From the family of Judah:

5 Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.