Nehemiah 11:23

_FOR IT WAS THE KING'S COMMANDMENT CONCERNING THEM, THAT A CERTAIN PORTION SHOULD BE FOR THE SINGERS, DUE FOR EVERY DAY._ It was the king's commandment. It was the will of the Persian monarch in issuing his edict, that the temple service should be revived in all its religious fullness and solemnity; and as this special provision for the singers is said to have been by the king's commandment, the order was probably given at the request or sensation of Ezra or Nehemiah....

Verse 23. IT WAS _THE KING'S COMMANDMENT_] By the _king_ some understand _David_, and others _Artaxerxes_. It is most probable that it was the latter; who wished that a provision should be made for these, a part of whose office was to offer up _prayers_ also, as well as _praises_. For we know that _Darius_ made an ample provision for the priests, _that they might offer sacrifices of sweet savour_ _unto the God of heaven; and pray for the life of the king and of_ _his sons_, Ezra 6:10. Some have thought that they had been Jewish singers employed in the service of the Persian king, to whom he had given a salary, and to whom he wished still to continue the same....

The goodwill of Artaxerxes toward the ministers employed in the temple service, had been previously shown by his exempting them from taxation of every kind Ezra 7:24. Now, it would seem, he had gone further and assigned to the singers an allowance from the royal revenue....

PART III. ENLARGEMENT OF THE POPULATION OF JERUSALEM, WITH THE NUMBER OF THE ADULT MALES, AND THE NAMES OF THE CHIEFS. VARIOUS LISTS OF PRIESTS AND LEVITES AT DIFFERENT PERIODS (Nehemiah 11:1; Nehemiah 12:1). EXPOSITION THE _nexus_ of...

III. THE PEOPLE ESTABLISHED, THE DEDICATION OF THE WALL, AND NEHEMIAH'S FINAL ACTS CHAPTER 11 _ 1. The willing offerers (Nehemiah 11:1)_ 2. The heads of the residents of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:3) 3. The inhabitants outside of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:25) Nehemiah 11:1. A splendid example of self-sacrifice is given in these two verses. Certain men willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem, and the people blest them for the willing sacrifice. It must be explained that Jerusalem was not then a very desirable place for residence. The enemies of the city seeking to destroy the fortif

PART V (Nehemiah 11-13). THE POPULATION OF JERUSALEM AND JUDAH. THE DEDICATION OF THE WALLS INTERNAL ORGANISATION. Nehemiah 11:1. The Population of Jerusalem and Judah. This section consists of lists of the dwellers in Jerusalem and in the provincial towns of Judah. Nehemiah 11:1 f. The need of increasing the population of Jerusalem was obvious from what is said in Nehemiah 7:4, for the bulk of the people lived in the provincial towns and in the country villages (cf. Nehemiah 7:73). Nehemiah 11:3. The lists

THE KING'S: i.e. Darius Hystaspis. Compare Ezra 7:24. See App-57 and App-58....

Nehemiah 11:1 TO NEHEMIAH 12:26. Extracts from Registers and Public Lists 1, 2. Measures taken to increase the number of dwellers in Jerusalem. This passage seems to take up the thread which had been dropped at Nehemiah 7:4. Nehemiah had been rendered anxious by the fewness of the inhabitants in proportion to the size of the area of the city. The census which he undertook reminded him of the old register which had come to his notice (Nehemiah 7:6-73); the memoirs of Nehemiah were then interrupted by a description of the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Solemn Covenant (8 10). The Compiler retu

IT WAS THE KING'S COMMANDMENT, &C.— 1:e. As it is generally thought, the commandment of the king of Persia, who, out of his great munificence, gave it for their better support; it being common in all countries to have a particular regard for those who sung hymns in praise of their gods. Houbigant renders the words, _was at the king's hand,_ in the next verse, _was the king's minister._ REFLECTIONS.—1st, Jerusalem, the holy city, though now walled, and the temple service carried on, was but thinly inhabited. _Note;_ (1.) The fear of man deters many from dwelling in the holy city. (2.) Selfish ends and private advantages are generally more powerful inducements than God's glory, and the interests of his church and people. To remedy this evil, we have the steps taken to replenish it with inhabitants. 1. The rulers of the people, with their families and attendants, fixed there, as the duty o...

5. Other groups. TEXT, NEHEMIAH 11:20-24 20 And the rest of Israel, of the priests, and of the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each on his own inheritance. 21 But the temple servants were living in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants. 22 Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of God. 23 For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the song leaders day by day. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king's representative in all matters concerning the people. COMMENT...