And after him ,.... That is, Sallu: were Gabbai and Sallai; in all nine hundred and twenty eight; there were more of the tribe of Benjamin than of the tribe of Judah, they having perhaps a greater share in the city, or were better disposed to dwell in it. 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
Neither Gabbai nor Sallai is mentioned in Chronicles, where the Benjamite chiefs inferior to Shallu are Ibneiah, Elah, and Meshullam ( 1 Chronicles 9:8 ). Nine hundred and twenty-eight . Nine hundred and fifty-six, according to Chronicles ( 1 Chronicles 9:9 ). Probably in one place or the other the figures have suffered corruption. read more
See the margin reference notes. Both accounts appear to be extracts from a public official register which Nehemiah caused to be made of his census. The census itself seems to have been confined to the dwellers at Jerusalem. The subjoined table exhibits the differences between the accounts of the entire population of Jerusalem as given in Nehemiah and in Chronicles: 1 Chron Nehemiah Tribes of Judah Of Pharez 468 Of Zerah 690 Tribe of Benjamin 956 928 ... read more
Nehemiah 11:8-9. Nine hundred twenty and eight So there were more of Benjamin than of Judah, because the city did chiefly, and most properly, belong to that tribe, as hath been observed before. Joel was their overseer The captain of their thousand. read more
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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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