Nehemiah — Chapter 11

Habitaverunt autem principes populi

And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem. — The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem; the rest of the common people cast lots, that one part in ten should live in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.

Et filii servorum Salomonis

And the children of the servants of Solomon. — Who these were, I explained at 1 Esdras 2:43 and 1 Paralipomenon 9:2.

Et Judas filius Senua

And Judas the son of Senua was second over the city. — that is: Joel, who preceded him, was the first prefect or superintendent of the city of Jerusalem; Judas was second.

Saraia etc. princeps domus

Saraia... prince of the house of God. — \"Prince,\" that is, procurator; for that he was not the Pontiff is clear from the following chapter, verse 10, where he is not named among the Pontiffs.

Filius potentium praepositusque

Son of the mighty men. — that is, one of the powerful and foremost.

Semeia filius Hasub filius

Semeia son of Hasub, son of Azaricam, son of Hasabia, son of Boni. — Hence Vatablus and others translate: \"Semeia, son of Hasub, [son] of Azaricam, son of Hasabia, son of Boni.\" In the same way \"son\" is to be expounded in verses 7, 9, 10, and all following, understanding \"who was.\" Hence for clarity, throughout translate \"son\" with Pagninus and Vatablus as \"he of\" (fili).

Josabed super omnia opera

And Josabed over all the works that were without the house of God, from the heads of the Levites. — As if to say: Josabed presided over the cultivation of the fields and the care of the vessels pertaining to the temple; whose fitting-out was to be done by the heads of the Levites.

Mathania princeps ad laudandum

And Mathania... the leader at the beginning of praise. — that is, he presided over the cantors and musical instruments.

Et episcopus Levitarum praefectus

And the bishop of the Levites in Jerusalem. — that is, the prefect of the Levites; for \"bishop\" in Greek means the same as \"superintendent.\" Hence Cicero (Letters to Atticus VII) calls the Prefect of Campania \"episcopus.\"

Praeceptum quippe regis super

For the king's commandment was concerning them, and an order among the singers every day. — As if to say: Artaxerxes commanded that the Levites daily in turns, according to the order established by David and Solomon, should sing psalms and hymns to God in the temple.

Et Phathahia filius Mesezebel

And Phathahia the son of Mesezebel, of the sons of Zara the son of Juda, was at the king's hand in all matters relating to the people. — Hebrew: Phathahia was at the king's hand for all business of the people; that is: Phathahia, a jurist, was appointed by Artaxerxes, together with governor Nehemias, to decide all the people's causes and disputes in the king's name; just as even now a learned assessor in law and statute is regularly attached to Praetors and Judges.

Et in domibus per

And in the houses through all their regions. — Hebrew: \"and in the villages,\" that is, outside Jerusalem. As if to say: Up to here I have reviewed the inhabitants of Jerusalem; now I will review the inhabitants of the villages and cities outside Jerusalem, throughout all the regions of Judah and the Jews.

Et Ono valle artificum

And Ono, the valley of craftsmen. — What this place was I stated in chapter 6, verse 2.

Et de Levitis portiones

And of the Levites, parts in Judah and Benjamin. — that is: The Levites did not all dwell together in Jerusalem, but were dispersed throughout all cities; hence their portions were distributed throughout all the regions of Judah and Benjamin, so that each might have its own number to teach the inhabitants what pertains to God's law and worship. For this God had established through Moses. Hence Vatablus clearly translates: \"But the Levites had a possession both in Judah and in Benjamin.\"