Nehemiah 11 -13

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Nehemiah 11 -13
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Nehemiah 11 -13

• In other words, to the conclusion of the book.

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The leaders dwelt at Jerusalem

• (Neh 111 NKJV) Now the leaders of the people
  dwelt at Jerusalem the rest of the people cast
  lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in
  Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to
  dwell in other cities.

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To bring one of ten to Jerusalem

• 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. . . .
• --Adam Clarke

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To bring one of ten to Jerusalem

• 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 city. --Adam Clarke

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Jerusalem had problems

• (Neh 112 NKJV) And the people blessed all the
  men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at
  Jerusalem.

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Whats different about Jerusalem?

• 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 Gods
  blessing upon them.
• --Adam Clarke

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Distributing the People

• (Neh 113 NKJV) These are the heads of the
  province who dwelt in Jerusalem. (But in the
  cities of Judah everyone dwelt in his own
  possession in their cities Israelites, priests,
  Levites, Nethinim, and descendants of Solomon's
  servants.)

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Neh_113-36. Their names. JFB

• the chief of the province that is, Judea.
  Nehemiah speaks of it, as it then was, a small
  appendix of the Persian empire.
• in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his
  possession in their cities The returned exiles,
  who had come from Babylon, repaired generally,
  and by a natural impulse, to the lands and cities
  throughout the country which had been anciently
  assigned them.

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Neh_113-36. Their names. JFB

• Israel This general name, which designated the
  descendants of Jacob before the unhappy division
  of the two kingdoms under Rehoboam, was restored
  after the captivity, the Israelites being then
  united with the Jews, and all traces of their
  former separation being obliterated.

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Neh_113-36. Their names. JFB

• Israel Although the majority of the returned
  exiles belonged to the tribes of Judah and
  Benjamin, they are here called Israel because a
  large number out of all the tribes were now
  intermingled, and these were principally the
  occupiers of the rural villages, while none but
  those of Judah and Benjamin resided in Jerusalem.

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Neh_113-36. Their names. JFB

• . the Levites These took possession of the
  cities allotted to them according as they had
  opportunity.
• the Nethinims A certain order of men, either
  Gibeonites or persons joined with them, who were
  devoted to the service of God.

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By the Kings Command

• (Neh 1122-23 NKJV) Also the overseer of the
  Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani,
  the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the
  son of Micha, of the sons of Asaph, the singers
  in charge of the service of the house of God.
  23 For it was the king's command concerning
  them that a certain portion should be for the
  singers, a quota day by day.

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Neh 1123

• it was the kings commandment It was the will
  of the Persian monarch in issuing his edict that
  the temple service should be revived in all its
  religious fullness and solemnity. As this special
  provision for the singers is said to have been by
  the kings commandment, the order was probably
  given at the request or suggestion of Ezra or
  Nehemiah. JFB

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Nehemiah 11 Summarized

• As already noted by Jamieson, Fausset, and
  Brown, much of the chapter is devoted to listing
  names of those who returned. They were great
  records for the time, but I dont find too much
  instructional or inspirational material in the
  chapter, so we will leave the chapter with the
  notes from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, and
  what comments I have added.

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The list of names continues

• (Neh 121-4 NKJV) Now these are the priests and
  the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son
  of Shealtiel, and Jeshua Seraiah, Jeremiah,
  Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3
  Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi,
  Abijah,

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Why the List of Names?

• Why this register should be here inserted by
  Nehemiah does not appear, perhaps to keep in
  remembrance those good men, that posterity might
  know to whom they were beholden, under God, for
  the happy revival and re-establishment of their
  religion among them. Thus must we contribute
  towards the performance of that promise

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Why the List of Names?

• Psa_1126, The righteous shall be in everlasting
  remembrance. Let the memory of the just be
  blessed, be perpetuated. It is a debt we still
  owe to faithful ministers to remember our guides,
  who have spoken to us the word of God,

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Why the List of Names?

• Heb_137. Perhaps it is intended to stir up their
  posterity, who succeeded them in the priest's
  office and inherited their dignities and
  preferments, to imitate their courage and
  fidelity. It is good to know what our godly
  ancestors and predecessors were, that we may
  learn thereby what we should be.
• --Matthew Henry