Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem; now the city is ready to be repopulated.
We read earlier in Nehemiah: "The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few and no houses had been built" (7:4). Knowing that the ongoing strength and success of the restored nation would depend upon a revitalized Jerusalem, the people make intentional plans to bring new settlers into the city.
The decision is made to fill the city by casting lots. "Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem; and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city Jerusalem, while nine-tenths remained in the other towns. And the people blessed all those who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem" (vs. 1 and 2). The rest of the chapter lists those who took up residence inside the walls, identified as they were of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. Occupations included warriors and gatekeepers, priests and Levites, temple servants and singers.
Increasingly, the nation of Judah is coming back from the dead!
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