Nehemiah 12

Nehemiah 12 recounts the dedication of the rebuilt wall of Jerusalem, a significant moment of worship and celebration. The chapter opens by listing the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel, followed by a description of the dedication ceremony itself, with processions, songs, and sacrifices. This chapter emphasizes the unity of the people in their worship of God and their thanksgiving for the completion of the wall.

Nehemiah 12:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,
5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

These verses list the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel from Babylon to help restore Jerusalem and its temple. Each name represents a family line, showing the continuation of the priestly and Levitical duties in worship. This continuity was important as it reflected God’s faithfulness to maintain a remnant of His people.

Nehemiah 12:6-9 (NKJV)
6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
8 Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who led the thanksgiving psalms, he and his brethren.
9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, stood across from them in their duties.

The text continues to name additional priests and Levites, with emphasis on the Levites who led worship through thanksgiving psalms. This points to the importance of organized worship, which included music and praise to God. The specific roles of these individuals ensured that worship was carried out in an orderly and reverent manner.

Nehemiah 12:10-11 (NKJV)
10 Jeshua begot Joiakim, Joiakim begot Eliashib, Eliashib begot Joiada,
11 Joiada begot Jonathan, and Jonathan begot Jaddua.

These verses trace the lineage of high priests, emphasizing the generational leadership in the temple. This shows a stable line of spiritual leadership through the priesthood, connecting the time of Jeshua (the first high priest after the return) to the later period when the temple and city were restored.

Nehemiah 12:12-21 (NKJV)
12 Now in the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of the fathers’ houses were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
14 of Melichu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
17 of Abijah, Zichri; the son of Minjamin; of Moadiah, Piltai;
18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

These verses continue to name the priests during Joiakim’s time, listing the heads of their respective families. This list is important in preserving the family lines and ensuring that the priests responsible for various duties in the temple are remembered. The structured way in which the priestly duties were passed down demonstrates the importance of proper spiritual leadership.

Nehemiah 12:22-24 (NKJV)
22 During the reign of Darius the Persian, a record was also kept of the Levites and priests who had been heads of their fathers’ houses in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua.
23 The sons of Levi, the heads of the fathers’ houses until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib, were written in the book of the chronicles.
24 And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers across from them, to praise and give thanks, group alternating with group, according to the command of David the man of God.

During the reign of Darius, records were kept of the priests and Levites, reflecting the attention to detail and order in temple service. The Levites played an important role, particularly in praising God and offering thanksgiving, with groups alternating in their duties, following the precedent set by King David. This shows the reverence and structure in maintaining worship practices.

Nehemiah 12:25-26 (NKJV)
25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storerooms of the gates.
26 These lived in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.

These verses list the gatekeepers who were responsible for guarding the gates and storerooms of the temple. The role of gatekeepers was crucial in maintaining order and protecting the temple from unauthorized access. This period was under the leadership of Joiakim, Nehemiah, and Ezra, demonstrating a strong spiritual and civil collaboration.

Nehemiah 12:27-30 (NKJV)
27 Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps.
28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,
29 from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem.
30 Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

At the dedication of the wall, Levites from all over the region were gathered to lead in a joyful celebration. Music played a central role, with instruments such as cymbals, harps, and stringed instruments accompanying the singing. The priests and Levites purified themselves and the people, symbolizing the sanctity of the occasion and the importance of spiritual preparation before such a significant event.

Nehemiah 12:31-37 (NKJV)
31 So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate.
32 After them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah,
33 and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,
34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah,
35 and some of the priests’ sons with trumpets—Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,
36 and his brethren, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. Ezra the scribe went before them.
37 By the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went up the stairs of the City of David, on the stairway of the wall, beyond the house of David, as far as the Water Gate eastward.

The dedication ceremony involved two large thanksgiving choirs, symbolizing the collective joy and gratitude of the people. One group went to the right of the wall, with key leaders and musicians joining them. Ezra the scribe led the group as they moved toward the Water Gate, highlighting the organized and joyous procession during the dedication of the wall.

Nehemiah 12:38-43 (NKJV)
38 The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad Wall,
39 and above the Gate of Ephraim, above the Old Gate, above the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate; and they stopped by the Gate of the Prison.
40 So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, likewise I and the half of the rulers with me;
41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Minjamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
42 also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loudly with Jezrahiah the director.
43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

The second thanksgiving choir proceeded in the opposite direction, and Nehemiah accompanied this group. Both choirs converged at the temple, where the people, led by their leaders and priests, offered sacrifices and praised God. The celebration was marked by immense joy, and even the women and children participated, with their rejoicing heard far beyond the city walls. This scene underscores the collective unity and deep sense of gratitude to God for His blessings.

Nehemiah 12:44-47 (NKJV)
44 And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered.
45 Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, according to the command of David and Solomon his son.
46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated holy things for the Levites, and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron.

The chapter concludes with the organization of the temple’s storehouses for offerings and tithes, ensuring that the priests and Levites received their due portions as commanded in the Law. The singers and gatekeepers faithfully fulfilled their roles, following the ancient traditions set by David and Solomon. The people of Judah celebrated their spiritual leaders, and all Israel contributed to the support of the temple workers, emphasizing the collective responsibility in maintaining the worship of God.