Nehemiah 11:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem— Observing that the number of the inhabitants of Jerusalem was too few, Nehemiah had ordered that the principal men of the nation should, by way of example, fix their habitations there; causing at the same time the rest to cast lots, whereby a tenth part of the whole people of Judah and Benjamin became obliged to dwell at Jerusalem, though those who came voluntarily were better received. One reason why the bulk of the Jews, who were generally shepherds, and lovers of agriculture, might rather choose to live in the country than at Jerusalem, was, because it was more suited to their genius and manner of life; but at this time their enemies were so enraged to see the walls built again, and so restless in their designs to keep the city from rising to its former splendor, that it terrified many from coming to dwell there, thinking themselves more safe in the country, where their enemies had no pretence to disturb them. Though the casting of lots is certainly forbidden where the thing is done out of a spirit of superstition, or with a design to tempt God; yet on some occasions it is enjoined by God himself; and the most holy persons both in the Old and New Testament have practised it in particular cases. The wise man acknowledges the usefulness of this custom when he tells us, that the lot causeth contention to cease, and parteth between the mighty, Proverbs 18:18.; and therefore it was no bad policy, as things now stood, to take this method of division; since the lot, which all allowed was under the divine direction, falling upon such a person rather than another, would be a great mean, no doubt, of making him remove more contentedly into the city. See Le Clerc and Calmet.