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1 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.

2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

3 Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.

4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;

5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.

6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.

7 And these are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah.

8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.

9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.

11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.

12 And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah.

13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

14 And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.

15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.

17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

18 All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.

19 Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.

20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.

21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.

22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.

23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.

24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.

25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,

26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,

27 And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,

28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,

29 And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,

30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.

31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, 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 craftsmen.

36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.

<html><b>one of ten</b> of Israel, so that they should dwell in Jerusalem to guard the city. <b>and nine parts</b> nine parts of Israel.</html>

<html><b>who volunteered</b> whose spirit inspired them to volunteer to dwell in Jerusalem to guard the city from enemies.</html>

<html><b>And these are the heads of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem</b> these are the ones regarding whom it is stated below: “And in Jerusalem there dwelt of the children of Judah, etc.”</html>

<html><b>of the children of Judah: Athaiah, etc.</b> He returns to explain who those ‘of the children of Judah’ were, and the entire chapter enumerates only the great and esteemed ones among them.</html>

<html><b>the official</b> the one appointed. <b>the second in command</b> after [the official].</html>

<html><b>the official</b> [as translated,] the official. <b>the official over the Temple of God</b> appointed over the Temple of God.</html>

<html><b>And their brethren who performed the work of the Temple</b> and their colleagues, who were performing the service of the Temple and its sacrifices.</html>

<html><b>rulers over the fathers’ houses</b> the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priestly families.</html>

<html><b>and the official over them</b> the one appointed over them.</html>

<html><b>over the outside work</b> of the Temple, such as the buildings of the repair of the Temple (sic) and the wood of the arrangement, which they would bring from outside.</html>

<html><b>the head to begin the thanksgiving in prayer</b> He was the head and the appointed official, and the greatest one who was first to start and to thank in prayer and in singing the songs of the Levites. יְהוֹדֶה is like יוֹדֶה, and the “hey” enters the word unnecessarily, like יוֹסֵף and יְהוֹסֵף.</html>

<html><b>And the gatekeepers</b> those appointed over the gates of the Temple.</html>

<html><b>each one in his inheritance</b> They were dwelling each one in his inheritance.</html>

<html><b>in the Ophel</b> a place that was in Jerusalem. <b>over the Nethinites</b> appointed over the Nethinites.</html>

<html><b>And the official over the Levites</b> appointed over the Levites in Jerusalem. <b>over the work of the Temple of God</b> He was appointed over the work of the Temple, such as the buildings of the repair of the Temple and the rest of the matters for which money is spent for the work of the Temple, like the matter that is stated above (verse 16): “…and Shabbethai and Jazabad over the outside work, etc.”</html>

<html><b>For the command of the king was upon them and [his] trust</b> The king trusted them. <b>upon the singers</b> to spend money from King Darius’s treasury. <b>for the daily requirements</b> in order to perform the requirements of the Temple.</html>

<html><b>at the king’s hand</b> He was privy to King Darius’s counsel. <b>for every matter</b> for every matter that concerned the people, to speak to the king on their behalf.</html>

<html><b>there were divisions to Judah and to Benjamin</b> They were divided into their divisions here and there in the land of Judah and Benjamin.</html>