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.
The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people drew lots to choose one out of every ten people to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine would live in the surrounding towns.
The writer is describing how they populated Jerusalem by having leaders live there and randomly selecting one in ten of the remaining people to move there too.
📚 Historical Context
This took place after the Jewish people returned from exile in Babylon and rebuilt Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah's leadership. The city had been largely destroyed and depopulated, so they needed to strategically repopulate it to ensure its security and religious significance. Living in Jerusalem meant sacrificing the comfort and economic opportunities available in other towns.
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