seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Nehemiah 11:1 Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. 2 The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
3 These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on their own property in the various towns, 4 while other people from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem):
From the descendants of Judah:
Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Kol-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah. 6 The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of standing.
7 From the descendants of Benjamin:
Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah, 8 and his followers, Gabbai and Sallai—928 men. 9 Joel son of Zikri was their chief officer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the New Quarter of the city.
10 From the priests:
Jedaiah; the son of Joiarib; Jakin; 11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God, 12 and their associates, who carried on work for the temple—822 men; Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah, 13 and his associates, who were heads of families—242 men; Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and his[a] associates, who were men of standing—128. Their chief officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.
15 From the Levites:
Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, two of the heads of the Levites, who had charge of the outside work of the house of God; 17 Mattaniah son of Mika, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 The Levites in the holy city totaled 284.
19 The gatekeepers:
Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.
20 The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, each on their ancestral property.
21 The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them.
22 The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mika. Uzzi was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the musicians responsible for the service of the house of God. 23 The musicians were under the king’s orders, which regulated their daily activity.
24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, one of the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent in all affairs relating to the people.
25 As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its surrounding settlements, in Dibon and its settlements, in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 in Jeshua, in Moladah, in Beth Pelet, 27 in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its settlements, 28 in Ziklag, in Mekonah and its settlements, 29 in En Rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam and their villages, in Lachishand its fields, and in Azekah and its settlements. So they were living all the way from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
31 The descendants of the Benjamites from Geba lived in Mikmash, Aija, Betheland its settlements, 32 in Anathoth, Nob and Ananiah, 33 in Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim, 34 in Hadid, Zeboim and Neballat, 35 in Lod and Ono, and in Ge Harashim.
36 Some of the divisions of the Levites of Judah settled in Benjamin.
a. Nehemiah 11:14 Most Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew their
Ever wonder how the first people got to Southern Maryland? My ancestors were among the Irish who came over with Dent, indentured. The Atheys left Ireland because of religious persecution [figures right?] and famine.... we apparently like potatoes enough to move. The descendants of Jacob [the one God renamed Israel].... had a big city.... surrounded by four miles of wall.... a wall God helped them rebuild from rubble. The big city was in ruins.... and on top of that.... the descendants of Jacob who lived there..... agreed not to marry a pagan. These humans who agreed to live in the Jerusalem.... had a nice new Temple.... it wasn't a big or opulent as the one Solomon built.... but it was ready and working to keep everyone relatively forgiven.
Leaders were expected to live in the city. No lottery for them... just a moving caravan.... that was settled but now they had to choose the others.....
One way to fill the city.... lottery.... one in every ten would be chosen to start a new life in the old city. Winning a Pioneer label only required "doing the right thing" and getting involved in this lottery they had going. There was a 9 in 10 chance these humans wouldn't have to uproot their lives and move..... but they still show up as a brave human in front of their friends.
Then there were the true pioneers.... they volunteered to uproot their lives and move them to the city. The commentaries call these the real pioneers.
Some would say.... what's the big deal? Well enduringword.com goes on to explain.
To dwell at Jerusalem: If such a blessing is reserved for those who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem, there was something special about the challenge of living in Jerusalem.
To live in Jerusalem, you had to re-order your view of material things. You had to give up land in your previous region and take up some kind of new business in Jerusalem.
To live in Jerusalem, you had to re-arrange your social priorities, certainly leaving some friends and family behind in your old village.
To live in Jerusalem, you had to have a mind to endure the problems in the city. It had been a ghost town for 70 years, and was now basically a slightly rebuilt, somewhat repopulated ghost town. The city didn’t look all that glorious and it needed work.
To live in Jerusalem, you had to live knowing you were a target for the enemy. There were strong walls to protect you, but since Jerusalem was now a notable city with rebuilt walls, the fear was more from whole armies than bands of robbers. The old village was nice, but not in much danger from great armies.
The easy English site.... reminds us that the great great great whatever relative of Jesus "Perez" was one of the Pioneers.Some of them were descendants of Judah. Judah’s sons were Perez and Shelah. Perez was born after Judah sinned with Tamar. Tamar was the widow of Judah’s other son called Er (Genesis 38:11-30). Jesus was also one of the descendants of Perez. Judah’s wrong action could not prevent God’s good plan.
See.... Tamar was a widow.... Judah's only son was too young to give her a child.... and back then a woman wasn't pulling her weight unless her husband gave her a son.... Tamar's husband was dead.... so she wanted Judah [her father-in-law] to step up.... when he wouldn't .... she pretended to be a hooker.... and that's how she got to be in the line..... Jesus has a little trickery in His DNA. His family were pioneers too!