Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 2 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Verſe 1. And the Rulers of the people dwelt at Jeruſalem.
THis City, being before repaired, beginneth now to be repeopled. See chap. 7.4. The Rulers there took up their ſeat, (as was fit, and as in all chief Cities is uſuall) ſo that thither the Tribes went up, the Tribes of the Lord, &c. And there were ſet the Thrones of Judgment, Pſal. 122.5.
The reſt of the people alſo caſt lots] The diſpoſe whereof is wholly of the Lord: and therefore none could reaſonably repine.
To bring one of ten] This ſhadowed out the paucity of thoſe that ſhall inhabit the heavenly Jeruſalem; according to Iſai. 6.13. Jer. 3.14. Chriſt at laſt day will do as Joſhua did (ſaith a Divine) to finde out who had ſtollen the Babyloniſh garment: there were many brought together, and all to find out one, Joſh. 7. So all ſhall then appeare: out of them a finall number ſeducted, that have heard of Chriſt: out of them thoſe that have profeſſed him: and out of them, thoſe that have profeſſed in ſincerity: and theſe.
— Numero vix ſunt totidem, quot
Thebarum portae, vel divitis oſtia Nili.J…venal. Sat. 13
How many, think you,Hom. 4. ad pop. Antioch, ſhall be ſaved in this City, (ſaid Chryſoſtome to the people of Antioch, where he had long preached, and was much admired,) It will be a hard ſpeech to you, but I will ſpeak it; though there be ſo many thouſands of you, yet there cannot be found an hundred, that ſhall be ſaved: and I doubt of them too; for what villany is there in youth? What ſloth, in old age? and ſo he goes on.
The holy City] Jeruſalem is ſo called, becauſe God had choſen it to ſet his name there. The Heathen God-haters had alwayes an edge againſt it, and this made people ſo unwilling to inhabit it. Our Edward the Firſt had too high a conceit of it, when he charged his Son upon his death-bed to carry his heart thither, and left 32000. pounds for that purpoſe.
Verſe 2. And the people bleſſed all the men that willingly offered themſelves] All the Voluntiers, thoſe Liberi & libentes, that moved with a zeal of God, and his ſervice, ſeated themſelves at Jeruſalem; though it were little for their ſafety or profit. Sincerity is an enemy to Siniſterity; it ſtreines out ſelfe-reſpects, and procures a man great reſpect in the hearts of good people, who are ready to commend them and pray for them, as here.
Verſe 3. Now theſe are the chief of the province] So Judea is called, becauſe now ſubject and tributary to the King of Babylon; as afterwards it was to the Romans (and is therefore called a province, Act. 25.1.) and is now to the Turk. How then could thoſe Jewes in the Goſpel ſay,John 8.33. We are Abrahams ſeed, and were never in bondage to any man, but that they cared not what they ſaid in abravado? Spaniards are ſaid to be impudent braggers: and extreamly proud in the loweſt ebbe of fortune. Theſe Jews were ſo certainly; and ſo they continue.
Ver. 4. Certaine of the children of Judah, &c.] Yea and of the children of Ephraim, and Manaſſeth too, 1 Chron. 9.3. Where the ſame is ſet downe as here, but the number is greater. And why? here only thoſe are reckoned who inhabited Jeruſalem by lot: but there, the Voluntiers alſo. See verſe 2.
Verſe 5. And Maaſeiah the Sonne of Baruch] See the Note on Ezra 2.3.
Ver. 6. Valiant men] Heb. Men of ability and activity. It comprehendeth all the four Cardinall vertues.
Verſ. 7.8.] Little Benjamin, the ſmalleſt of the Tribes of Iſrael, 1 Sam. 9.23. yields more by halfe, then Judah. Jeruſalem ſtood in both theſe Tribes.
Verſ. 9. Their overſeer] Or Commiſſary.
Verſ. 11. Ruler of the houſe of God] One of the High-Prieſts great Deputies, See Num. 3.32. 1 Chron. 9.11. 2 Chron. 19.11.
Verſ. 12, 13, 14.] In all 1192. The totall of Prieſts and Levites 1476. and of Judah and Benjamin 1396. So that there were more Prieſts and Levites then of the Lay-people; which argues their zeal to be greateſt. There were alſo 172. Porters, who were all Levites.
Verſ. 17. To begin the thanksgiving in prayer] To ſet tunes to Pſalmes of praiſe, and to begin thoſe tunes as Precentor chief-chaunter.
Verſ. 18.19.] See verſ. 12.13.
Verſ. 20. Were in all the Cities] Diſperſed abroad to inſtruct the people, and to be as the ſalt of the Earth, to keep it from putrifying.
Verſ. 21. Dwelt in Ophel] See chap. 3.26. Some will have it to be not a Tower, but a Village, near to Jeruſalem.
Verſ. 22. The Over-ſeer] The Vulgar hath it, the Biſhop.
Verſ. 23. The Kings] Viz. of Perſia. Ezra 6.8, 9. and 7.2, 24.
Verſ. 24. At the Kings hand] Was his Plenipotentiary.
Verſ. 25. In the villages thereof] Heb. In the daughters; for villages ſeem to be ſo to the greater Cities.