The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem: Jerusalem was the administrative capital of the province of Judah; therefore, the leaders lived there. See Neh 9.32 where Revised Standard Version renders the Hebrew word for leaders as “princes.” Good News Translation interprets and makes it explicit that “The leaders settled in Jerusalem” (also Bible en français courant, New International Version, Nouvelle version Segond révisée). It is probable that they already lived there before the other people were chosen to move there. This would not have included all leaders such as family heads and rulers of the provincial districts, but those related to the central government of the province.

The rest of the people cast lots …: The rest of the people included all categories of people: laity, priests, Levites, and Temple workers. According to the Hebrew text, they cast lots to determine who would move to live in Jerusalem. This is similar to the way in which they determined the order of people who should supply firewood for the Temple (see Neh 10.34). It is not indicated how the casting of lots was done. The procedure was probably carried out by the priests, and the results were accepted as indicating the will of God.

One out of ten of the people are to live in Jerusalem. This is equivalent to a tithe of the people (see Neh 10.37). Nine tenths remained in the other towns refers to the people who were to remain outside Jerusalem in the other cities and towns. Good News Translation makes explicit what is implied in the text, that is, that it was not individual people who would move to Jerusalem but families.

Jerusalem is here called the holy city for the first time in Ezra and Nehemiah (also in verse 18 below). Elsewhere in the Old Testament this description of Jerusalem occurs only in Isa 48.2; 52.1 and Dan 9.24. It is probably called holy because it was a special city dedicated to God for the location of the Temple and for the most holy place located inside the Temple. BNT describes it as “the consecrated city.” This could also be an allusion to Isa 52.1, where it is said that “the uncircumcised and the unclean” will no longer enter Jerusalem. These were categories of people who could not enter the Temple. Revised English Bible begins the two words with capital letters, “the Holy City,” treating them as a title for Jerusalem. Translators should consider these words as a description of Jerusalem rather than as a title.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .