Nehemiah 11:1

1 And the chiefs of the people dwelt in Jerusalem: and the rest of the people cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the cities.

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 And the chiefs of the people dwelt in Jerusalem: and the rest of the people cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the cities.

2 And the people blessed all the men that volunteered to dwell in Jerusalem.

3 Now these the chiefs of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda; man dwelt in his possession in their cities: Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nathinim, and the children of the servants of Solomon.

4 And there dwelt in Jerusalem of the children of Juda, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Juda; Athaia son of Azia, the son of Zacharia, the son of Samaria, the son of Saphatia, the son of Maleleel, and of the sons of Phares;

5 and Maasia son of Baruch, son of Chalaza, son of Ozia, son of Adaia, son of Joarib, son of Zacharias, son of Seloni.