Commentaria in II Esdrae (Nehemiam)
Chapter 11. Synopsis of the Chapter
Jerusalem now being girt with walls, a tenth part of the common people is chosen by lot to inhabit it and build it up; the rest are sent to till the other cities and villages of Juda: hence the inhabitants of Jerusalem and of the other cities are named and numbered.
1. And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem: and the rest of the people cast lots, that they might take one part of ten, to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the cities. 2. And the people blessed all the men that had willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem. 3. These are the chiefs of the province, that dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda. And every one dwelt in his possession, in their cities, Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon. 4. And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Juda, and of the children of Benjamin: of the children of Juda, Athaias the son of Aziam, the son of Zacharias, the son of Amarias, the son of Saphatias, the son of Malaleel: of the children of Phares, 5. Maasia the son of Baruch, the son of Cholhoza, the son of Hazia, the son of Adaia, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zacharias, the son of Silonites: 6. all these the sons of Phares, who dwelt in Jerusalem, four hundred sixty-eight valiant men. 7. And these are the children of Benjamin: Sellum the son of Mosollam, the son of Joed, the son of Phadaia, the son of Colaia, the son of Masia, the son of Etheel, the son of Isaias, 8. and after him Gebbai, Sellai, nine hundred twenty-eight, 9. and Joel the son of Zechri was their overseer, and Judas the son of Senua was second over the city. 10. And of the priests, Idaia the son of Joarib, Jachin. 11. Saraia the son of Helcias, the son of Mosollam, the son of Sadoc, the son of Meraioth, the son of Achitob, the ruler of the house of God, 12. and their brethren that did the works of the temple: eight hundred twenty-two. And Adaia the son of Jeroham, the son of Phelelias, the son of Amsi, the son of Zacharias, the son of Pheshur, the son of Melchias. 13. And his brethren, the chiefs of the fathers, two hundred forty-two. And Amassai the son of Azreel, the son of Ahazi, the son of Mosollamoth, the son of Emmer, 14. and their brethren, exceeding mighty men: a hundred twenty-eight, and their overseer Zabdiel the son of the mighty. 15. And of the Levites, Semeia the son of Hasub, the son of Azaricam, the son of Hasabias, the son of Boni, 16. and Sabbathai, and Josabed, over all the works that were without in the house of God, of the chiefs of the Levites. 17. And Mathania the son of Micha, the son of Zebedei, the son of Asaph, the chief to praise and to give thanks in prayer, and Bechecia the second of his brethren, and Abda the son of Samua, the son of Galal, the son of Idithun: 18. All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four. 19. And the porters, Accub, Telmon, and their brethren who kept the doors: a hundred seventy-two. 20. And the rest of Israel, priests and Levites, were in all the cities of Juda, every one in his possession. 21. And the Nathinites who dwelt [in Ophel]… the son of Bani, the son of Hasabias, the son of Mathanias, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, singers in the ministry of the house of God. 23. For the king’s commandment was concerning them, and an order among the singers for every day. 24. And Phathahia the son of Mesezebel, of the sons of Zara, the son of Juda, was at the king’s hand, according to every word of the people, 25. and in the houses throughout all their countries. Of the children of Juda dwelt Remmon, and in Saraa, and in Jerimuth, 30. Zanoe, Odollam, and in their villages, Lachis, and its countries, and Azeca, and its daughters. And they dwelt in Bersabee as far as the valley of Ennom. 31. And the children of Benjamin from Geba, Mechmas, and Hai, and Bethel, and its daughters: 32. Anathoth, Nob, Ananias, 33. Asor, Rama, Gethaim, 34. Hadid, Seboim, and Neballat, Lod, 35. and Ono, the valley of craftsmen: 36. and of the Levites, portions in Juda and Benjamin.
1. And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem—as in the metropolis and 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, that they might take one part of ten, to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the cities—of the rest of Juda. For Jerusalem was destitute of inhabitants as well as of houses; wherefore a tenth part of the people was chosen by lot to inhabit it, and to build in it houses, markets and streets, which the inhabitants chosen by lot completed in two years, as Bede and Josephus, Antiquities book 11, chapter 5, testify. To those chosen by lot were added those who offered themselves willingly to dwell in Jerusalem, as is said in verse 2.
3. And the children of the servants of Solomon.—Who were
9. And Judas the son of Senua was second over the city—as if to say: The first prefect or overseer of the city of Jerusalem was Joel, who has gone before; but second
11. Saraias, etc., ruler of the house of God.—“Ruler,” that is, steward: 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.
14. The son of the mighty—that is, of one of the mighty and chief men.
15. Semeia the son of Hasub (who was Hasub) the son of Azaricam (who was Azaricam) the son of Hasabias (who was Hasabias) the son of Boni.—Hence Vatablus and others render: Semeia, son of Hasub, son of Azaricam, son of Hasabias, son of Boni. In like manner “son” is to be explained in verses 7, 9, 10 and all that follow, understanding “who was.” Hence more clearly everywhere, with Pagninus and Vatablus, read “sons” for “son.”
16. Josabed over all the works that were without in the house of God, of the chiefs of the Levites—as if to say: Josabed presided over the cultivation of the fields, and likewise over the care of the vessels belonging to the temple; the preparing of which was to be done by the chiefs of the Levites.
17. Mathania, etc., the chief to praise—that is, he presided over the singers and the musical instruments.
22. And the overseer of the Levites—that is, the prefect of the Levites: for “episcopus” in Greek is the same as superintendent. Hence Cicero, in the Letters to Atticus, book 7, calls the prefect of Campania an episcopus.
23. For the king’s commandment was concerning them, and an order among the singers for every day—as if you should say: Artaxerxes commanded that the Levites should daily in turn, according to the order instituted by David and Solomon, sing psalms and hymns to God in the temple.
24. And Phathahia, etc., was at the king’s hand, according to every word of the people.—The Hebrew: Phathahia was at the king’s hand for every affair of the people; as if to say: Phathahias was appointed by Artaxerxes as a jurist, to decide in his name, with Nehemias the governor, all the causes and suits of the people; so even now an assessor learned in law and the laws is usually joined to Praetors and Judges.
25. And in the houses throughout all their countries.—The Hebrew: and in the villages, namely outside Jerusalem; as if you should say: Thus far I have reviewed the inhabitants of Jerusalem, now I shall review the inhabitants of the villages and cities situated outside Jerusalem, throughout all the regions of Juda and the Jews.
35. And Ono, the valley of craftsmen—what place this was I said at chapter 6, verse 2.
36. And of the Levites, portions in Juda and Benjamin—as if to say: The Levites did not all dwell together in Jerusalem, but were scattered through all the cities; wherefore their portions were distributed through all the regions of Juda and Benjamin, so that each of them had its own number to teach the inhabitants what pertained to the law and worship of God. For God had ordained this through Moses. Hence Vatablus clearly renders: The Levites had possessions both in Juda and in Benjamin. Others: On the border of Juda and Benjamin. In Hebrew it is: Of the Levites there were divisions, or partitions, of Juda and Benjamin; as if to say: The Levites were divided through Juda and Benjamin. The Septuagint: of the Levites, parts in Juda and Benjamin.