The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah — Section 113

them in co.se of o.tto.ck, o. forge popule.tion determine between candidates for an office. wo.s necesso.ry, From o. comparison of the One in ten. Ewald supposes that this was numbers given in this chapter (vers. 6-19) to be the proportion between the popula- tion of Jerusalem and the whole population with those of 1 Chron. ix. 9-22, it may of the country, and ascribes the fixing of be go.thered tho.t the result of Nehemiah's the yroportion to Zerubbabel (' History of o.rrangements wo.s to give J eruso.lem e. popu- Isro.e ,' vol. v. p. 159). But there is no lation of e.bout 20,000 souls. statement to this effect in either Ezra or N ehemio.h, and the brief narrative of this Ho.ving been led, in speaking of this verse seems to imply the addition of a. tenth me.tter, to give a sort of catalogue of the po.rt of the country population to the pre- chief dwellers at Jeruse.lem (vers. 4-19), and vious population of Jerusalem, rather than e.nothcr of the country towns and villages the establishment of any definite proportion occupied at this time by those Israelites who between the two. Nine pe.rts. Literally, "nine hands," as in Gen. :xliii. 34 ; xlviL had returned from the captivity (vers. 25- 24. 36), Nehemiah is induced to insert, at this Ver. 2.-The men that willingly offered point, certain other lists or catalogues which themselves. Besides those on whom the lot he regards e.s worthy of being put on record. fell, o. certain nnmber volunteered to change These lists are four in number, and occupy their residence and to transfer themselves and families from their country homes to eh. xii. as far as ver. 26. They comprise- Jerusalem. The people called down bless- 1. A list of the priestly and Levitico.l houses ings upon them for their patriotism. which returned with Zerubbo.bel (vers.1-9); Ver. 3.-Theee are the chief of the pro- 2. A list of the high priests from J eshue. to vince. A comparison is in the writer's mind Jaddua; 3. A list of the heads of the between the Jews of Palestine and those of priestly courses in the time of the high the great Persian capitals, Babylon and Susa, to which, as a Persian official, he himself priest J oiakim ; and, 4. A list of the chief properly belongs. Compare eh. i. 3 and Levitical houses at the same period and Ezra ii. 1. That dwelt in Jerusalem. J. e. afterwards. Such lists possess at the present "that were entered in Nehemiah's census day but o. very slight and secondary interest. among the inhabitants of Jerusalem after Their formation, however, and safe preserv- the transfer of population had been made." The names which follow appear in most ation were, at the time, essential for the cases to be personal, but o. certain number continuity of the nation's history, and the of them are no.mes of families. In the cities maintenance of the priestly order in purity, of J'udo.h dwelt every one in hia possession. and without admixture of lo.ic elements. It follows that those who removed from On the genealogy of the high priests more the country districts to J eruso.lem quitted their "possessions," often, it may be, ex- will be so.id in the special comment on the changing riches for poverty, o. comfortable passage. house for one half in ruins (eh. vii 4), and the life of a small landed proprietor for that Ver. 1.-The rulers of the people dwelt of an artisan or hired labourer. Hence the at J'erusalem. Jerusalem was the residence "blessings" co.lled down by the people on of all the nobles from the first (see eh. ii. those who volunteered (ver. 2). Israel 16) ; no increase could be made in this Compo.re 1 Chron. ix. 3, where we find that element-of the population. Nehemiah had among those who had returned were mem- to look lower, and to obtain his new settlers bers of the two great Israelitish tribes, from the ranks of the "people." The people Manasseh and Ephraim. On the Nethillims, . . . . cast lots. No doubt under direction. and the children of Solomon's servllllts, see The Jews had frequent recourse to the lot the comment on Ezra ii. 43, 65. for the determining of doubtful matters, be- Ver. 4.-At Jerusalem dwelt carte.in of lieving, e.s they did, that " the whole dis- the children of J'udah, and of the children posing thereof we.s of the Lord" (Prov. xvi. of Benjamin. It is not meant that all the 33). Divine sanction he.d been given, in dwellers in J eruso.lem were of these two tribes, the course of the Jewish history, to the use since amon<> them were certainly Levites of the lot for the selection of persons (Josh. (vers. 10 -=-19), Ephro.imites, and Manas, vii. 16-18 ; 1 Sam. x. 19-21), for the dis- sites (1 Chron. 1. s. c.), together with Ne- tribution of le.nds (Num. xxvi. 25, 26), and thinims (ver. 21) who were of no tribe, anu for the determination of the order in which probably some representatives of all or most different bodies should execute e.n office of the other tribes (see the comment on Ezr" (1 Chron. xxiv. 5 ; xxv. 8). In the demo- ii. 70). But the present purpose of N ehe- cratic states of Greece it WIIS used widely to miah is to mention especially the Jewish 118 TlIE BOOK OF NE1-rnMIA1I. Loa. XI. 1-30