Matthew Henry on Nehemiah 11:1-19
Jerusalem is called here the holy city (Neh 11:1), because there the temple was, and that was the place God had chosen to put his name there; upon this account, one would think, the holy seed should all have chosen to dwell there and have striven for a habitation there; but, on the contrary, it seems they declined dwelling there, 1. Because a greater strictness of conversation was expected from the inhabitants of Jerusalem than from others, which they were not willing to come up to. Those who care not for being holy themselves are shy of dwelling in a holy city; they would not dwell in the New Jerusalem itself for that reason, but would wish to have a continuing city here upon earth. Or, 2.…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Nehemiah 11:16
the oversight of the outward business of the house of God--that is, those things which were done outside, or in the country, such as the collecting of the provisions (Ch1 26:29).
Adam Clarke on Nehemiah 11:16
And Shabbethai - This verse, with Neh 11:20, Neh 11:21, Neh 11:28, Neh 11:29, Neh 11:32, Neh 11:33, Neh 11:34, and Neh 11:35, are all wanting in the Septuagint and the whole chapter is wanting in the Arabic, the translator not being concerned in Jewish genealogies.
The outward business - Calmet supposes that he provided the victuals for the priests, victims for the sacrifices, the sacerdotal vestments, the sacred vessels, and other necessaries for the service of the temple.
John Gill on Nehemiah 11:16
And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites,.... Along with Shemaiah; these had
the oversight of the outward business of the house of God: who had the care of the repairs of the temple, and of getting in the wood for the altar, as Jarchi, and collecting the third part of the shekel, to purchase things with for the use of the temple.
Keil & Delitzsch on Nehemiah 11:15-19
