Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. XI.

Vers. 1. ANd the rulers of tbe people dwelt at Jerusalem, the rest of the people also cast lots, &c.] Because there were not found enough in Jerusalem for the inhabiting and defence of the city; and people were loth to dwell there, be∣cause the neighbours round about did exceedingly envie the glory of this city, and were continually plotting some mischief against it, to the great perill of the inha∣bitants: and secondly, because withall as there was more safety, so also there was more profit in dwelling elsewhere, therefore one chief businesse that Nehemiah had to do at this assembly of the people was, after he had numbred them, to chuse out a sufficient number of the people to dwell there, see chap. 7.3, 4, 5. which to avoid all exception was done by lot. The chief rulers of the people of their own accord settled themselves to dwell (as reason indeed required) in this chief city of the king∣dome;

but for the people, the tenth part of them were chosen by lot, onely there were some that did voluntarily offer themselves to dwell there, vers. 2. and this taking of one in ten to dwell in Jerusalem, some Expositours look upon also as a shadow of the paucity of those that shall be received to dwell in the heavenly Jeru∣salem, to wit, that scarce one in ten even of those that professe themselves Gods people, shall dwell there; according to that Isaiah 6.13. But yet in it shall be a tenth, &c. and Jerem. 3.14. I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

Vers. 2. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.] That is, they commended them for it, and desired the Lord to blesse and prosper them.

Vers. 3. Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem.] To wit, that were chosen now by lot to dwell there. In 1. Chron. 9. there is another catalogue of them, wherein more are mentioned then are mentioned here. But it seems in that both those that were chosen by lot, and those that voluntarily of∣fered themselves to dwell there, are set down; here onely those that were chosen by lot.

Vers. 4. And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin.] Because Jerusalem stood partly in Judah and partly in Benjamin, therefore those that were chosen by lot to dwell there, were of those two tribes: yet there were some also of Ephraim and Manasseh that dwelt there, 1. Chron. 9.3. which were doubtlesse of those that voluntarily profered themselves.

Vers. 5. And Maaseiah the sonne of Baruch, &c.] Concerning this catalogue of those that dwelt at Jerusalem, see 1. Chron. 9.5, 6.

Vers. 9. Second over the city.] That is, next in place and government after Joel afore-mentioned.

Vers. 16. And Shabbethai, and Jozabad of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward businesse of the house of God.] That is, such businesses as appertained to the Temple, but were to be done abroad not in the Temple, as the providing of those things as were to be bought with the money that was collected, &c. see 1. Chron. 26.29.

Vers. 17. The sonne of Asaph, was the principall to begin the thanksgiving in prayer.] That is, the principall of the singers, that used to begin the Psalmes when they sung and praised God.

Vers. 19. Akkub, Talmon and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hun∣dred seventy two.] See 1. Chron. 9.17 22.

Vers. 23. For it was the kings commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, &c.] That is, the king of Persia had commanded, that a certain allowance should every day be given them out of the kings treasure: this may have reference to the decree of Darius, Ezra 6.9, 10. or that of Artaxerxes, Ezra 7.23, 24. or happely to some new directions given by him to Nehemiah at his coming to Jerusalem. Some reade these words thus, that it was the kings command∣ment concerning them, that a sure ordinance should be for the singers, and so they understand it, either of David that he had established it as a sure ordinance that the singers should praise the Lord in the Temple every day; or else of Artaxerxes, that

he had ordained that according to the ancient custome, the singers should every day perform this service.

Vers. 24. And Pethahiah the sonne of Meshezabel, &c. was at the kings hand in all matters concerning the people.] That is, the king of Persia made use of him in all things he gave in charge concerning the people, as happely to gather the kings allowance for the Temple, to receive the peoples petitions, and it may be to assist the governour in matter of judgement.

Vers. 36. And of the Levites, were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.] That is, besides the Levites that dwelt at Jerusalem, there were some of them also allow∣ed to dwell in severall towns and cities of Judah, that they might teach the people the law of God in their severall divisions.