Who will Live where Nehemiah 11

Nehemiah 11:1 "And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities v2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem."

The thousands of people, the children of Israel, are back in Judah and the wall is built. Now, they decide who will live where and make arrangements that Jerusalem be occupied. The rulers stay in Jerusalem which would make it the capitol.

I'm sure most of the people were ready to claim their possessions and get to work on the fields and vineyards but as verse 2 says some stayed in Jerusalem.

v3 "Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah dwelt everyone in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants. See I Chronicles 9:1-3.

Nethinim: a class of persons who were employed as servants to the Levites in their ministrations in the tabernacle and in the Temple. See I Chronicles 9:2

The Zechariah in verse 4 is not the author of the Bible book by that name. His father is different. The same with Joel in v8. I expect the names are passed down and around. They are good names, I don't blame the parents for using them.

We are given the numbers of those staying in Jerusalem and what their jobs were. In verse 22-23 we find the descendants of Asaph, the singer and song writer's descendants in the number and still singing.

v23 "For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day." This I believe, if I remember correctly, was David's orders that the singers do this.

v20 "And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance."

Here we can see the importance of the scribes who kept records of the genealogy. When the remnant came back, they all knew exactly where their home was and who owned what. In many cases these were the children of those taken away into captivity, so the records were of utmost importance.

Joel 3:20-21 "But Judah shall dwell forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion."

The people are in their possessions except those designated to live in Jerusalem.

Down by the River Ezra 8

Ezra 8:15 "And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people and the priests and found there none of the sons of Levi."

Ezra is setting off on his journey with Artaxerxes', the king, approval. He is gathering those he will take with him and found that there were no Levi's among them. They needed the Levi's to offer sacrifices and do service in the house of the LORD as prescribed by Moses.

v17 "And I sent the with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia and I told them what they should say unto Iddo and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God."

I am not sure who Iddo was but he had a lot of pull in the neighborhood. So did Ezra.

v18 "And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding..."

Also, a number of other people to minister, as Ezra requested. Once Ezra had the right people to go up to Jerusalem with him, he made the effort to prepare them and to seek the LORD. He declared a fast.

v21 "Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance."

The situation is this, they were traveling with their family and with the treasures for the house of the LORD. There were reasons for highway robbers to be interested in attacking them. Ezra separated men to take the treasure and to guard it safely to Jerusalem. Ezra did not want to ask for the kings help because he had already told the king that God would care for them.

v23 "So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us."

v31 "Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way."

We are seeing names we remember from previous studies i.e. Eleazar, Phinehas.

Included in this chapter is the genealogy of those who went up to Jerusalem and the amount of the sacrifices made: i.e. 96 rams, 77 lambs, etc. It was a big event.

Zechariah 4:6 "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."

Ezra gathers his company to go to Jerusalem.