Bible Strands
Nehemiah 11:1
Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative addresses the post-exilic community returning to Judah, recording the administrative order to repopulate Jerusalem after the wall's completion.
The words — The text highlights וַ/יֵּשְׁב֥וּ (va/i.ye.she.Vu), meaning they dwelt, and הִפִּ֨ילוּ (hi.Pi.lu), meaning they cast, to document the leaders' settlement and the people's selection method.
The thread — This repopulation action connects to Isaiah 48:2 and Isaiah 52:1, which designate Jerusalem the holy city, and parallels Nehemiah 10:34, where casting lots allocates wood among priests, Levites, and people.
Why it lands — The verse requires a deliberate, community-wide commitment to inhabit the designated center, mandating acceptance of a lot-determined distribution of residents over individual choice.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 48:2 who indeed call yourselves after the holy city and lean on the God of Israel; the LORD of Hosts is His name.
- Isaiah 52:1 Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.
- Nehemiah 10:34 We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.
- Nehemiah 11:18 The Levites in the holy city totaled 284.
- Matthew 4:5 Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple.
- Deuteronomy 17:8 If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose.
- Joshua 18:10 And Joshua cast lots for them in the presence of the LORD at Shiloh, where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions.
- Judges 20:9 Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will go against it as the lot dictates.
- 1 Chronicles 26:13 They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
- Nehemiah 7:4 Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.