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.
Parallel translations
- WEB The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the other cities.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities.
- NASB Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities.
- NLT The leaders of the people were living in Jerusalem, the holy city. A tenth of the people from the other towns of Judah and Benjamin were chosen by sacred lots to live there, too, while the rest stayed where they were.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Leaders settled in Jerusalem, and lots were cast so that one in ten of the rest would move into the holy city. This repopulated the vulnerable, sacred capital.
Overview
Though the walls were rebuilt, Jerusalem was thinly populated and exposed. By casting lots, the people trusted God to choose who would relocate, sharing the burden fairly. Living in 'the holy city' meant added risk and inconvenience, making this a costly act of devotion to God's chosen dwelling place — an early picture of the heavenly Jerusalem God is building (Hebrews 12:22).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Isa 48:2who indeed call yourselves after the holy city and lean on the God of Israel; the LORD of Hosts is His name.
- Isa 52:1Awake, 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.
- Neh 10:34We 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.
- Neh 11:18The Levites in the holy city totaled 284.
- Matt 4:5Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple.
- Ps 122:5For there the thrones of judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David.
- Deut 17:8–9If 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.
- Prov 16:33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
- 1 Chr 26:13They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
- Josh 18:10And 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.
- Acts 1:24And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen
- Matt 27:53After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.
- Judg 20:9–10Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will go against it as the lot dictates.
- Neh 7:4–5Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.
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Christ at the center
The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'
How Nehemiah 11:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.