1 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Ierusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of tenne, to dwell in Ierusalem, the holy citie, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.
2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselues, to dwell at Ierusalem.
3 ¶ Now these are the chiefe of the prouince that dwelt in Ierusalem: but in the cities of Iudah dwelt euerie one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Leuites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomons seruants.
4 And at Ierusalem dwelt certaine of the children of Iudah, and of the children of Beniamin. Of the children of Iudah: Athaiah the sonne of Uzziah, the sonne of Zechariah, the sonne of Amariah, the sonne of Shephatiah, the sonne of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez.
5 And Maaseiah the sonne of Baruch the sonne of Col-Hozeh, the sonne of Hazaiah the sonne of Adaiah, the sonne of Ioiarib, the sonne of Zechariah, the sonne of Shiloni.
6 All the sonnes of Perez that dwelt at Ierusalem, were foure hundred threescore and eight valiant men.
7 And these are the sonnes of Beniamin: Sallu the sonne of Meshullam, the sonne of Ioed, the sonne of Pedaiah, the sonne of Kolaiah, the sonne of Maaseiah, the sonne of Ithiel, the sonne of Iesaiah.
8 And after him Gabai, Sallai, nine hundred twentie and eight.
9 And Ioel the sonne of Zichri was their ouerseer: and Iudah the sonne of Senuah, was second ouer the city.
10 Of the Priests: Iedaiah the sonne of Ioiarib, Iachin;
11 Seraiah the sonne of Hilkiah, the sonne of Meshullam, the sonne of Zadok, the sonne of Meraioth, the sonne of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.
12 And their brethren that did the worke of the house, were eight hundred twentie and two: and Adaiah the sonne of Ieroham, the sonne of Pelaliah, the sonne of Amzi, the sonne of Zechariah, the sonne of Pashur, the sonne of Malchiah,
13 And his brethren, chiefe of the fathers, two hundred fourty and two: and Amashai the sonne of Azareel, the sonne of Ahasai, the sonne of Meshilemoth, the sonne of Immer.
14 And their brethren mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight; and their ouerseer was Zaddiel, the sonne of one of the great men.
15 Also of the Leuites: Shemaiah the sonne of Hashub, the sonne of Azrikam, the sonne of Hashabiah, the sonne of Bunni.
16 And Shabbethai, and Iozabad, of the chiefe of the Leuits, had the ouersight of the outward businesse of the house of God.
17 And Mattaniah the sonne of Micha, the sonne of Zabdi, the sonne of Asaph, was the principall to beginne the thankesgiuing in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the sonne of Shammua, the sonne of Galal, the sonne of Ieduthun.
18 All the Leuites in the holy City, were two hundred, fourescore and foure.
19 Moreouer, the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seuenty and two.
20 ¶ And the residue of Israel, of the Priests and the Leuites, were in all the cities of Iudah, euery one in his inheritance.
21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha, and Gispa were ouer the Nethinims.
22 The ouerseer also of the Leuites at Ierusalem, was Uzzi the sonne of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the sonne of Mattaniah, the sonne of Micha: Of the sonnes of Asaph, the singers were ouer the businesse of the house of God.
23 For it was the kings commandement concerning them, that a certaine portion should be for the singers, due for euery day.
24 And Pethahiah the sonne of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the sonne of Iudah, was at the kings hand in all matters concerning the people.
25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Iudah dwelt at Kiriath-arba, and in the villages thereof; and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Iekabzeel, and in the villages thereof:
26 And at Ieshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet,
27 And at Hazer-Shual, and at Beer-sheba and in the villages thereof:
28 And at Ziglag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof:
29 And at En-Rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Iarmuth,
30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fieldes thereof: at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba, vnto the valley of Hinnom.
31 The children also of Beniamin, from Geba, dwelt at Michmash, and Aiia, and Beth-el, and in their villages:
32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftes-men.
36 And of the Leuites, were diuisions in Iudah, and in Beniamin.
The distribution of the people.
- In all ages, men have preferred their own ease and advantage to the public good. Even the professors of religion too commonly seek their own, and not the things of Christ. Few have had such attachment to holy things and holy places, as to renounce pleasure for their sake. Yet surely, our souls should delight to dwell where holy persons and opportunities of spiritual improvement most abound. If we have not this love to the city of our God, and to every thing that assists our communion with the Saviour, how shall we be willing to depart hence; to be absent from the body, that we may be present with the Lord? To the carnal-minded, the perfect holiness of the New Jerusalem would be still harder to bear than the holiness of God's church on earth. Let us seek first the favour of God, and his glory; let us study to be patient, contented, and useful in our several stations, and wait, with cheerful hope, for admission into the holy city of God.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.