And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two ,.... That offered the sacrifices, burnt incense, set on the shewbread, lighted the lamps, &c.; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham ; see 1 Chronicles 9:12 whose genealogy is traced here through Pelaliah, Amzi, Zechariah, Pashur, to Malchiah. read more
And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two ,.... That is, the brethren or relations of Adaiah: and Amashai ; called Maasiai, 1 Chronicles 9:12 , whose lineage is traced here through Azareel, Ahasai, Meshillemoth, to Immer. read more
And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight ,.... The brethren of Adaiah and Amashai, who were able men to do the work of their office as priests, and men of courage to fight the enemy, and defend the city upon occasion: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men ; or the son of Hagedolim, or Gedolim, as some, who take it to be the proper name of a man. read more
Mighty men of valor - Noted for strength of body, and military courage. read more
PART III . ENLARGEMENT OF THE POPULATION OF JERUSALEM , WITH THE NUMBER OF THE ADULT MALES , AND THE NAMES OF THE CHIEFS . VARIOUS LISTS OF PRIESTS AND LEVITES AT DIFFERENT PERIODS ( Nehemiah 11:1-36 ; Nehemiah 12:1-26 ). Having been led, in speaking of this matter, to give a sort of catalogue of the chief dwellers at Jerusalem (verses 4-19), and another of the country towns and villages occupied at this time by those... read more
Town and country. Variety in unity. Nehemiah had been some time before (see Nehemiah 7:4 , Nehemiah 7:5 ) impressed with the necessity of increasing the population of Jerusalem, and had taken preliminary steps; but other more pressing matters had intervened. He now proceeded with his design. His purpose was, that of the whole population one-tenth should inhabit the metropolis, and he arranged that the additional families to dwell there should be determined by lot. First, however,... read more
The true centralisation. We separate the nation from the world not to surround it with a false patriotism which means self-interest, but that in the fulfilment of the Divine purpose and law we may be the greater blessing to mankind. I. The true centre of the life of the community is THE RELIGIOUS CENTRE . Jerusalem as the sacred city. The secular and religious are not opposed. The man of God is the true man. There is no true strength and prosperity where there is an inversion of... read more
Three elements in the Church of Christ. In the first verse of this chapter Jerusalem is called "the holy city;" as such it was the type of the Church of Christ. In three respects it bore to the Christian Church a real and close resemblance. 1. It was a separated city; separated and fenced from surrounding idolatries and immoralities. 2. It was a distinguished city; distinguished by 3. It was a commissioned city; charged to hold and preserve a certain deposit of sacred truth... read more
Their brethren that did the work of the house . The priests of ordinary rank, who—divided originally into twenty-four, but now apparently into twenty-two, courses ( Nehemiah 12:2-7 )—had the care of the temple service in turn, amounted to the large number of 1192 persons, of whom between fifty and sixty would be employed in some work connected with the service at one time. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1-19
Jerusalem is called here the holy city (Neh. 11:1), because there the temple was, and that was the place God had chosen to put his name there; upon this account, one would think, the holy seed should all have chosen to dwell there and have striven for a habitation there; but, on the contrary, it seems they declined dwelling there, 1. Because a greater strictness of conversation was expected from the inhabitants of Jerusalem than from others, which they were not willing to come up to. Those who... read more