Nehemiah 11:3

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 11:3

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 11:3

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 11:1-36

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1-36

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 11:1-36

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 11:3

These are the chief of the province . A comparison is in the writer's mind between the Jews of Palestine and those of the great Persian capitals, Babylon and Susa, to which, as a Persian official, he himself properly belongs. Compare Nehemiah 1:3 and Ezra 2:1 . That dwelt in Jerusalem . i.e. "that were entered in Nehemiah's census among the inhabitants of Jerusalem after the transfer of population had been made." The names which follow appear in most cases to be personal, but a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 11:3-36

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 11:3

Nehemiah 11:3. These are the chief of the province Of Judea, which was now made a province. Israel The generality of the people of Israel, whether of Judah, or Benjamin, or any other tribe. These he calls Israel, rather than Judah, because there were many of the other tribes now incorporated with them; and because none of the tribes of Israel, except Judah and Benjamin, dwelt in Jerusalem. read more

Donald C. Fleming

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

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