In Nehemiah 11, the temple has been rebuilt, the wall restored, and the covenant community reconstituted, but the city remains perilously empty. To fix that problem, a portion - one in ten - are tithed to the task of repopulating the city of Jerusalem. This story reminds us that often God's work calls out a smaller group to fulfill a task on behalf of the larger whole. But it also shows how important it is for the remaining nine to "bless the willing", supporting those tithed through prayer, material support, encouragement, and through the faithful care for the sending community.