Nehemiah 11:9

And Joel, &c. There is nothing in the 1 Chron. list corresponding with this verse.

overseer Apparently the members of the same tribe or house formed a distinct organization within the city walls, and were under a responsible head or -overseer," -pâqid." LXX. ἐπίσκοπος. Vulg. -praepositus."

Judah the son of Senuah(R.V. Hassenuah)] In 1 Chronicles 9:7, Sallu is spoken of as a descendant of -Hodaviah the son of Hassenuah." Remembering the confusion between -Judah" and -Hodaviah" in Ezra 2:40; Ezra 3:9, it is possible that we have here another trace of textual corruption. -Elah … the son of Michri" is also confused with -Joel the son of Zichri," 1 Chronicles 9:8.

second over the city From the context it is evident that the expression refers only to the overseership over the Benjamites, or, at the most, the men of Judah and Benjamin in the city. He was -deputy overseer," or second in command to Joel. Cf. -brethren of the second degree" 1 Chronicles 15:18, -second to him" 1 Chronicles 16:5. It is not, however, quite certain that the traditional translation adopted in the English version is correct. In the opinion of some scholars the word rendered -second" qualifies -the city," which in the Hebrew it immediately follows. It will not then denote the rank of Judah the son of Hassenuah, but the quarter of the capital over which he was overseer. Cf. 2 Kings 22:14, -She (Huldah) dwelt in Jerusalem, in the second quarter." 2 Chronicles 34:22; Zephaniah 1:10. On the division of Jerusalem into two districts, for purposes of administration, see Nehemiah 3:9; Nehemiah 3:12. We know from Nehemiah 7:2 that Nehemiah had constituted Hanani and Hananiah -overseers" over Jerusalem. Perhaps Joel and Judah presided over a special community in each district.