Nehemiah 11:1-3 NIV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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 Ep.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 11:2

And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. Who were not taken by lot, but of their own accord settled at Jerusalem; they praised them for it, and wished them all happiness and prosperity, since they denied themselves of ease and profit for the sake of the public good; and it is this which makes the difference between the list of the inhabitants of Jerusalem in 1 Chronicles 9:2 &c.; and this here, that takes in all that settled there,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 11:3

Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem ,.... That is, of Judea, reduced to a province by the king of Babylon, and now a province of the Persian monarchy: but in the cities of Judah dwelt everyone in his possession in their cities ; in which they or their ancestors had formerly dwelt: to wit, Israel: the people in general of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and such of the other tribes that returned with them: the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 11:1

To bring one of ten - Jerusalem certainly had many inhabitants at this time; but not sufficient to preserve the city, which was now encompassed with a wall, and the rebuilding of which was going on fast. Nehemiah therefore obliged one tenth of the country people to come and dwell in it, that the population might be sufficient for the preservation and defense of the city. Ten were set apart, and the lot cast among them to see which one of the ten should take up his residence in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 11:2

All the men that willingly offered - Some volunteered their services, which was considered a sacrifice to patriotism at that time, as Jerusalem afforded very few advantages, and was a place of considerable danger; hence the people spoke well of them, and no doubt prayed for God's blessing upon them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 11:3

Now these are the chief - A good deal of difference will be found between the enumeration here and that in 1 Chronicles 9:2 , etc. There, those only who came with Zerubbabel appear to be numbered; here, those, and the persons who came with Ezra and Nehemiah, enter into the account. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1

The rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem . Jerusalem was the residence of all the nobles from the first (see Nehemiah 2:16 ); no increase could be made in this element of the population. Nehemiah had to look lower, and to obtain his new settlers from the ranks of the "people . " The people … cast lots. No doubt under direction. The Jews had frequent recourse to the lot for the determining of doubtful matters, believing, as they did, that "the whole disposing thereof was of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1-2

Duty: its peril, its excellency, and its reward. We learn from Nehemiah 7:4 that "the city was large and great, but the people were few therein." Less than 50,000 inhabitants were scattered over Judaea; but these would not have been too many to have occupied Jerusalem itself. It was a matter of the first importance that the metropolis should be well supplied with those who would worship in her courts, and with those who would guard her walls. It was therefore the aim of Nehemiah and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1-36

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1-19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 11:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 11:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 11:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 11:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 11:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1-36

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