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Nehemiah 11 · a question people ask

Were those who offered themselves among those chosen by lot?

In the text

The chapter doesn't say. 11:1 says the rest of the people "cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem" (11:1). 11:2 says "The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem" (11:2). It doesn't say whether these men were some of the one in ten, or came as well as them, and it doesn't say how many they were. What it does say is that the people blessed them.

The verses

“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.”
Nehemiah 11:1 · World English Bible
“The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 11:2 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Nehemiah 11

Nehemiah 11: One of ten, and the willing

Nehemiah 11 answers 7:4's large city with few people: the princes lived in Jerusalem, the rest cast lots for one of ten, and "The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem" (11:2), with the same word as the volunteers in Deborah and Barak's song (Judges 5:9).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions