Synopsis of the Chapter
Jerusalem now being surrounded by walls, a tenth part of the common people is selected by lot to inhabit and build it: the rest are sent to cultivate the other cities and towns of Judea: hence soon the inhabitants of both Jerusalem and of the other cities are named and numbered.
Verse 1: The Princes Dwelt in Jerusalem ¶
1. AND THE PRINCES OF THE PEOPLE DWELT IN JERUSALEM — as in the capital, and in the holy city, chosen by God for the temple as well as for the kingdom, or government. AND THE REST OF THE PEOPLE CAST LOTS TO SELECT ONE PART OUT OF TEN TO DWELL IN JERUSALEM, THE HOLY CITY, AND NINE PARTS IN THE OTHER CITIES — of Judea. For Jerusalem was lacking both in inhabitants and in houses; therefore a tenth part of the people was selected by lot to inhabit it and to build houses, markets, and streets in it, which the inhabitants selected by lot completed in two years, according to Bede and Josephus (Antiquities XI, chapter V). To those selected by lot were added those who voluntarily offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem, as is said in verse 2.
Verse 3: The Sons of Solomon's Servants ¶
3. And the sons of Solomon's servants. — Who these were, I explained at I Ezra II, 43, and in the book of Paralipomenon IX, 2.
Verse 9: Judah Second Over the City ¶
9. AND JUDAH THE SON OF HASSENUAH WAS SECOND OVER THE CITY — that is, the first prefect or overseer of the city of Jerusalem was Joel, who was mentioned before: while the second was Judah.
Verse 11: Ruler of the House of God ¶
11. SERAIAH, etc., RULER OF THE HOUSE OF GOD. — Ruler, that is, administrator: for that he was not the High Priest is clear from the following chapter, verse 10, where he is not named among the High Priests.
Verse 14: Son of the Mighty ¶
14. SON OF THE MIGHTY — that is, of one of the mighty men and chief men.
Verse 15: Shemaiah the Son of Hasshub ¶
15. Shemaiah the son of Hasshub (who was Hasshub), the son of Azrikam (who was Azrikam), the son of Hashabiah (who was Hashabiah), the son of Bunni. — Hence Vatablus and others translate: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, of the sons of Azrikam, of the sons of Hashabiah, of the sons of Bunni. In a similar way the word "son" should be understood in verses 7, 9, 10, and all following, by supplying "who was." Hence more clearly everywhere in place of "son" you may translate with Pagninus and Vatablus "of the sons of."
Verse 16: Jozabad Over the External Works ¶
16. JOZABAD OVER ALL THE WORKS THAT WERE EXTERNAL IN THE HOUSE OF GOD, FROM AMONG THE CHIEFS OF THE LEVITES — that is to say: Jozabad was in charge of the cultivation of the fields, and also of the care of the vessels belonging to the temple; whose arrangement was to be made by the chiefs of the Levites.
Verse 17: Mattaniah, Chief for the Praise ¶
17. MATTANIAH, etc., CHIEF FOR THE PRAISE — that is, he was in charge of the singers and musical instruments.
Verse 22: The Overseer of the Levites ¶
22. And the overseer of the Levites — that is, the prefect of the Levites: for "episcopus" in Greek means the same as "superintendent." Hence Cicero, in Book VII of the Letters to Atticus, calls the Prefect of Campania an "episcopus."
Verse 23: The King's Command ¶
23. FOR THE KING'S COMMAND WAS UPON THEM, AND THERE WAS AN ORDER FOR THE SINGERS DAY BY DAY — as if to say: Artaxerxes commanded that the Levites should daily, in turns according to the order established by David and Solomon, sing psalms and hymns to God in the temple.
Verse 24: Pethahiah at the King's Hand ¶
24. AND PETHAHIAH, etc., WAS AT THE KING'S HAND IN ALL MATTERS CONCERNING THE PEOPLE. — The Hebrew says: Pethahiah was at the king's hand for every affair of the people; that is, Pethahiah, a legal expert, was appointed by Artaxerxes to decide all the causes and lawsuits of the people on his behalf together with Nehemiah the governor; so even now an assessor expert in law is usually attached to Praetors and Judges.
Verse 25: The Settlements Throughout Their Regions ¶
25. AND IN THE SETTLEMENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR REGIONS. — The Hebrew says: and in the villages, namely outside Jerusalem; as if to say: Hitherto I have enumerated the inhabitants of Jerusalem; now I will enumerate the inhabitants of the villages and cities situated outside Jerusalem, throughout all the regions of Judea and the Jews.
Verse 35: Ono, the Valley of Craftsmen ¶
35. And Ono, the valley of craftsmen — what this place was I explained at chapter VI, verse 2.
Verse 36: Divisions in Judah and Benjamin ¶
36. AND OF THE LEVITES, THERE WERE DIVISIONS IN JUDAH AND BENJAMIN — that is, the Levites did not all dwell together in Jerusalem, but were scattered throughout all the cities: therefore their portions were distributed throughout all the regions of Judah and Benjamin, so that each of these would have its own number who would teach the inhabitants the things pertaining to the law and worship of God. For God had ordained this through Moses. Hence Vatablus clearly translates: The Levites had possessions in both Judah and Benjamin. Others: On the border of Judah and Benjamin. In Hebrew it reads: From the Levites, divisions or portions were in Judah and Benjamin; that is, the Levites were divided throughout Judah and Benjamin. The Septuagint: from the Levites, portions in Judah and Benjamin.