24. Pethahiah . . . was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people—This person was entrusted with judicial power, either for the interest, or by the appointment, of the Persian monarch, and his duty consisted either in adjusting cases of civil dispute, or in regulating fiscal concerns. read more
1. The residents of Jerusalem 11:1-24Some leaders had already chosen to live in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:1). Nehemiah initiated a plan to determine which one family in ten, of those not living in the city, would move into it (Nehemiah 11:1). Additional immigrants volunteered to live there (Nehemiah 11:2). There was a cross section of leaders, therefore, who lived in Jerusalem, while other leaders lived in the other towns of Judah (Nehemiah 11:3)."The city wall was built, and now a new measure to... read more
B. The Residents of the Land 11:1-12:26When the exiles returned to the Promised Land, living in Jerusalem was not an attractive prospect because the city lay in ruins. However, with the rebuilding of the temple and the walls, the capital became a more desirable place to live. Nehemiah as governor saw the wisdom of populating Jerusalem with pureblooded Jews and set about to encourage the people to live within the city walls. Most of this section of the book (Nehemiah 11:3 to Nehemiah 12:26) is a... read more
Measures to Supplement the Population of Jerusalem1. This v. resumes the subject of the paucity of population in Jerusalem: see Nehemiah 7:4. The rulers were already residing in the capital, and means were now taken to transport thither a proportion of the commons that had made their homes in the country towns (Nehemiah 11:3). The city had received fortifications; but these were useless unless they were manned.3. The province] i.e. Judæa: Ezra 5:8.4. At Jerusalem, etc.] The list that follows... read more
(20-36) The heads in the country. read more
(24) Of the children of Zerah.—This makes the absence of Zerah in the beginning of the chapter very remarkable, and suggests some accidental omission.At the king’s hand.—Pethahiah was the king’s agent in all the country matters of the “province.” read more
Nehemiah 11:16 What is the House of God? 'A church.' Not necessarily. 'A chapel, a sanctuary, a tabernacle, a temple.' Not necessarily. You may have a cathedral without a house of God, and you may find in some little thatched cottage or chapel on the hillside all the cathedrals out of heaven. Hence it is that we must not look at magnitudes, sizes, revenues, apparatus, but at the ideal, the symbolic, the spiritual, the sacramental; then the great may become little and the little may become... read more
III. THE PEOPLE ESTABLISHED, THE DEDICATION OF THE WALL, AND NEHEMIAH’s FINAL ACTS CHAPTER 11 1. The willing offerers (Nehemiah 11:1-2 ) 2. The heads of the residents of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:3-24 ) 3. The inhabitants outside of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:25-36 ) Nehemiah 11:1-2 . A splendid example of self-sacrifice is given in these two verses. Certain men willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem, and the people blest them for the willing sacrifice. It must be explained that... read more
11:24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, {h} [was] at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.(h) Was chief about the king for all high affairs. read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1-36
Lists of Jerusalem residents (11:1-36)Most of the people who returned from exile had settled in the country around Jerusalem rather than in the city itself. Therefore, because Jerusalem was thinly populated, a resettlement scheme was put into practice. Under this scheme one tenth of the residents from the country areas came to live in Jerusalem and so increase its stability. In addition to these, a large group offered willingly to come and live in the city (11:1-2).A list is then given of the... read more