Nehemiah 11 – Chosen to live in Jerusalem

Interesting to reflect upon this today as Isreal has established it’s capital in Jerusalem, the city is amazing in it’s first sight as you drive up the hills and into the city. We learned that all buildings are required to have white limestone exteriors, which make the amazing visual effect as you view the building spreading over the hills.

Neh 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.

Neh 11:2  And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to 

the rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city; so called, because of the temple and the worship of God in it; and so it is called by Julian the emperor (g); and some (h) have thought that the Cadytis of Herodotus (i) is the same with Jerusalem, which had its name from קדשה, “holy”, and is now called by the Turks “cuds”, that is, “holy” (k): now, though it was the chief city, and the place of public worship, yet the people were not forward of settling in it, partly because of the rage of the enemy, which this city was the butt of, and partly because it was more to their worldly advantage to dwell in the country, and where they could have better supplies; they consulted their own ease, safety, and profit; wherefore this method was taken to oblige some to dwell in it, by taking one out of ten by lot, that there might be a sufficient number to rebuild the houses of it, repopulate and defend it:

and nine parts to dwell in other cities; to which they belonged, or where they pleased, any where in the land of Israel.