Nehemiah 11:1

Dwelt at Jerusalem. This narrative continues the story of ch. 7:4, and gives an account of measures taken to carry out Nehemiah’s resolution to repopulate Jerusalem. Jerusalem was already the residence of the nobles or tribal heads (see chs. 2:16; 5:17), and no increase could be expected in this direction. Nehemiah had therefore found it necessary to look to other classes of the population in order to obtain new settlers for the capital.

Cast lots. Anciently the Jews frequently used the lot to determine matters where human judgment seemed insufficient, in the belief that “the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord” (Prov. 16:33). Divine sanction had been given, in the course of the history of God’s people, to the use of the lot for the selection of persons (Joshua 7:16-18; 1 Sam. 10:19-21), for the distribution of lands (Num. 26:55, 56), and for determining the order in which different groups should execute their duties (1 Chron. 24:5; 25:8).

The holy city. This designation occurs in the prophecies of Isa. 48:2; 52:1; Dan. 9:24; Joel 3:17, but is used here for the first time in a historical narrative. From now on its use becomes more frequent (see Matt. 4:5; 27:53; Rev. 11:2; etc.), until it received the Arabic name el-Quds, “The Holy (place).” This it has retained as its official name until the present day.