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Nehemiah Chapter Twelve

 

Nehemiah 12 Outlines

The Priests and Levites (1~26)

Nehemiah Dedicates the Wall (27~43)

Temple Responsibilities (44~47)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

Nehemiah 12:1. Now these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua: Seraiah Jeremiah Ezra

   YLT 1And these [are] the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua; Seraiah Jeremiah Ezra

Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua ....

Who went up from the captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem with them; the one was the prince the other the high priest the same with Joshua the high priest Zechariah 3:1 the names of the priests are given in this and the six following verses:

Seraiah Jeremiah Ezra;

not Jeremiah the prophet who cannot be thought to live so long as through the captivity; but Ezra may be Ezra the priest and scribe who might come up with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem and return to Babylon again and from thence come again as he did in the seventh year of Artaxerxes Ezra 7:1 though this by someF13Vid. Rainold de Lib. Apocryph. praelect. 153. p. 402 &c. is not thought very probable.

 

Nehemiah 12:2.  Amariah Malluch Hattush

   YLT 2Amariah Malluch Hattush

Amariah Malluch Hattush ....

Whose names are among the sealers of the covenant Nehemiah 10:3. Malluch is afterwards called Melicu Nehemiah 12:14

 

Nehemiah 12:3.  Shechaniah Rehum Meremoth

   YLT 3Shechaniah Rehum Meremoth

Shechaniah

called Shebaniah Nehemiah 12:14 and so in Nehemiah 10:4

Rehum

who by transposition of letters is Harim Nehemiah 12:15 and so in Nehemiah 10:5.

Meremoth

called Meraioth Nehemiah 12:15

 

Nehemiah 12:4.  Iddo Ginnethoi [a] Abijah

   YLT 4Iddo Ginnethoi Abijah

Iddo Ginnetho

read Ginnethon Nehemiah 12:16 so in Nehemiah 10:6.

Abijah;

there was a course of a priest of this name of which Zechariah the father of John the Baptist was Luke 1:5.

 

Nehemiah 12:5.  Mijamin Maadiah Bilgah

   YLT 5Miamin Maadiah Bilgah

Miamin Maadiah Bilgah;

the first two are called Miniamin and Moadiah Nehemiah 12:17.

 

Nehemiah 12:6.  Shemaiah Joiarib Jedaiah

   YLT 6Shemaiah and Joiarib Jedaiah

Shemaiah Joiarib Jedaiah Sallu;

called Sallai Nehemiah 12:20.

 

Nehemiah 12:7.  Sallu Amok Hilkiah and Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

   YLT 7Sallu Amok Hilkiah Jedaiah; these [are] heads of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

Amok Hilkiah Jedaiah these were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua;

heads of courses; or however priests of the greatest note in the times of Jeshua the high priest.

 

Nehemiah 12:8.  Moreover the Levites were Jeshua Binnui Kadmiel Sherebiah Judah and Mattaniah who led the thanksgiving psalms he and his brethren.

   YLT 8And the Levites [are] Jeshua Binnui Kadmiel Sherebiah Judah Mattaniah he [is] over the thanksgiving and his brethren

Moreover the Levites ....

Who lived in the same times: were

Jeshua Binnui Kadmiel Sherebiah Judah and Mattaniah;

most of these are made mention of in Nehemiah 8:7 the last of them is said to be

over the thanksgiving he and his brethren;

he was the precentor or had the directing and conducting of the songs of the temple particularly the thanksgiving song at the daily sacrifices; Jarchi takes the word here used to be the name of a musical instrument.

 

Nehemiah 12:9.  Also Bakbukiah and Unni their brethren stood across from them in their duties.

   YLT 9and Bakbukiah and Unni their brethren [are] over-against them in charges.

Also Bakbukiah and Unni ....

Two other Levites; the first is mentioned in Nehemiah 11:17

their brethren were over against them in the watches;

the Levites were divided into twenty four wards and these were placed one against another 1 Chronicles 23:6.

 

Nehemiah 12:10.  Jeshua begot Joiakim Joiakim begot Eliashib Eliashib begot Joiada

   YLT 10And Jeshua hath begotten Joiakim and Joiakim hath begotten Eliashib and Eliashib hath begotten Joiada

Verse 10-11

And Jeshua begat Joiakim Joiakim also begat Eliashib and Eliashib begot Joiada and Joiada begat Jonathan and Jonathan begot Jaddua.

This is an account of the high priests in succession in the second temple the first six of them; and if Jaddua the last mentioned is the same with Jaddus as JosephusF14Antiqu. l. 11. c. 8. sect. 5. supposes who went forth in his pontifical robes to meet Alexander the great returning from his conquests of Tyre and Gaza from whom he obtained many favours and whom he had into the temple and showed him the prophecy of Daniel concerning himself; this paragraph must be written by another hand and not Nehemiah since it can hardly be thought he should live so long; and as to his times this account of him or the history of his own times seems not to have gone through the priesthood of Eliashib the third of those high priests see Nehemiah 13:28 and to reach no further than to the thirty second of Darius Hystaspis Nehemiah 13:6 this fragment therefore might be inserted by some godly man under a divine direction in later times as we have several insertions in the books of Moses and Joshua of the like kind; and particularly in 1 Chronicles 3:19 where the genealogy of Zerubbabel is carried down beyond the times of the Maccabees and so could not be placed there by Ezra.

 

Nehemiah 12:11.  Joiada begot Jonathan and Jonathan begot Jaddua.

   YLT 11and Joiada hath begotten Jonathan and Jonathan hath begotten Jaddua.

 

Nehemiah 12:12.  Now in the days of Joiakim the priests the heads of the fathers’ houses were: of Seraiah Meraiah; of Jeremiah Hananiah;

   YLT 12And in the days of Joiakim have been priests heads of the fathers; of Seraiah Meraiah; of Jeremiah Hananiah;

Verses 12-21

And in the days of Joiakim were priests the chief of the fathers ....

This was the son and successor of Jeshua or Joshua the first high priest of the second temple; the principal men of the priesthood in his time were as follow and who were the sons or however the descendants of the priests in the time of his father before mentioned: these were Meraiah Hananiah Meshullam Jehohanan Jonathan Joseph Adna Helkai Zechariah (the prophet of that name ) Meshullam Zichri Piltai Shammua Jehonathan Mattenai Uzzi Kallai Eber Hashabiah Nethaneel; in all twenty whereas there are twenty two named as in his father's days there being no sons or descendants from two of them namely Hattush and Miamin.

 

Nehemiah 12:13.  of Ezra Meshullam; of Amariah Jehohanan;

   YLT 13of Ezra Meshullam; of Amariah Jehohanan;

 

Nehemiah 12:14.  of Melichu [b] Jonathan; of Shebaniah [c] Joseph;

   YLT 14of Melicu Jonathan; of Shebaniah Joseph;

 

Nehemiah 12:15.  of Harim [d] Adna; of Meraioth [e] Helkai;

   YLT 15of Harim Adna; of Meraioth Helkai;

 

Nehemiah 12:16.  of Iddo Zechariah; of Ginnethon Meshullam;

   YLT 16of Iddo Zechariah; of Ginnethon Meshullam;

 

Nehemiah 12:17.  of Abijah Zichri; the son of Minjamin;[f] of Moadiah [g] Piltai;

   YLT 17of Abijah Zichri; of Miniamin; of Moadiah Piltai;

 

Nehemiah 12:18.  of Bilgah Shammua; of Shemaiah Jehonathan;

   YLT 18of Bilgah Shammua; of Shemaiah Jehonathan;

 

Nehemiah 12:19.  of Joiarib Mattenai; of Jedaiah Uzzi;

   YLT 19and of Joiarib Mattenai; of Jedaiah Uzzi;

 

Nehemiah 12:20.  of Sallai [h] Kallai; of Amok Eber;

   YLT 20of Sallai Kallai; of Amok Eber;

 

Nehemiah 12:21.  of Hilkiah Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah Nethanel.

   YLT 21of Hilkiah Hashabiah; of Jedaiah Nethaneel.

 

Nehemiah 12:22.  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.

   YLT 22The Levites in the days of Eliashib Joiada and Johanan and Jaddua are written heads of fathers and of the priests in the kingdom of Darius the Persian.

The Levites in the days of Eliashib .... The third priest of the second temple:

Joiada;

he was the son of Eliashib and the fourth high priest:

and Johanan;

the same with Jonathan Nehemiah 12:11 and whom JosephusF15Antiqu. l. 11. c. 7. sect. 1. also calls Joannes:

and Jaddua;

the same as in Nehemiah 12:10 in the days of each of these were

recorded chief of the fathers;

the principal men among the Levites:

also the priests to the reign of Darius the Persian;

thought to be Darius Codomannus the last king of the Persian monarchy whom Alexander conquered; and if so this verse must be inserted after the death of Nehemiah and as the next verse also seems to be; for these two verses interrupt the natural order of the relation: an account is given of the priests in the times of Joiakim Nehemiah 12:12 these verses being inserted the account goes on Nehemiah 12:24 &c. of the chief of the Levites in the times of Joiakim only.

 

Nehemiah 12:23.  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.

   YLT 23Sons of Levi heads of the fathers are written on the book of the Chronicles even till the days of Johanan son of Eliashib;

The sons of Levi the chief of the fathers were written in the book of the chronicles ....

Some think this refers to 1 Chronicles 9:14 &c.

until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib;

from whence Dr. LightfootF16Works vol. 1. p. 146. concludes that the Chronicles were written by Ezra in the times of this Johanan.

 

Nehemiah 12:24.  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.

   YLT 24and heads of the Levites: Hashabiah Sherebiah and Jeshua son of Kadmiel and their brethren [are] over-against them to give praise to give thanks by command of David the man of God charge over-against charge.

And the chief of the Levites ....

Here the thread of the history of Nehemiah interrupted by the insertion of the two preceding verses is carried from the priests to the Levites in the times of the third high priest:

Hashabiah Sherebiah and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel;

these were singers since it follows:

with their brethren over against them to praise and to give thanks according to the commandment of David the man of God ward over against ward;

which office of theirs they performed by turns in courses as David under a divine direction ordered see 1 Chronicles 23:5.

 

Nehemiah 12:25.  Mattaniah Bakbukiah Obadiah Meshullam Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storerooms of the gates.

   YLT 25Mattaniah and Bakbukiah Obadiah Meshullam Talmon Akkub [are] gatekeepers keeping charge in the gatherings of the gates.

Mattaniah and Bakbukiah Obadiah Meshullam Talmon Akkub were porters ....

At the gates of the temple see 1 Chronicles 9:15

keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates;

of the temple where they stood and watched; or "at the collection of the gates" meaning either where the people were gathered together or where money gathered was laid up; and so some render it "the treasuries of the gates": unless a place called Asuppim should be meant 1 Chronicles 26:15.

 

Nehemiah 12:26.  These lived in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua the son of Jozadak [i] and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest the scribe.

   YLT 26These [are] in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua son of Jozadak and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest the scribe.

These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua the son of Jozadak ....

Who was high priest in Babylon and whose grandson was now high priest in the time referred to:

and in the days of Nehemiah the governor;

the writer of this book:

and of Ezra the priest the scribe;

who was contemporary with him.

 

Nehemiah 12:27.  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.

   YLT 27And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places to bring them in to Jerusalem to make the dedication even with gladness and with thanksgivings and with singing [with] cymbals psalteries and with harps;

And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem ....

In which many priests and Levites assisted and seems to be the reason of the above account of them; the dedication of the wall takes in the whole city gates and houses Nehemiah 12:30 and if a new house was to be dedicated much more a new city and especially the holy city in which stood the temple of the Lord see Deuteronomy 20:5 this dedication was made by prayer and songs of praise as follow and no doubt by sacrifices and was kept as a festival; and indeed according to the Jewish writersF17Megillath Thainith c. 3. apud Selden. de Synedr. l. 3. c. 13. sect. 12. it was annually observed on the seventh of Elul or August; it was on the twenty fifth of that month that the wall was finished Nehemiah 6:15 but the gates were not set up and all things for the dedication were not ready till Elul or August following; and then all being finished they made and served the seventh of that month as a festival:

they sought the Levites out of all their places to bring them to Jerusalem to keep the dedication with gladness;

to assist in the solemnity of the day both with vocal and instrumental music as follows:

both with thanksgiving and with singing;

with songs of praise and thankfulness vocally that they had been able notwithstanding all the malice of their enemies to build the wall in so short a time; or with a song perhaps the thirtieth psalm was sung on this occasion:

with cymbals psalteries and with harps;

some playing on one and some on another which were the three principal instruments of music used by them see 1 Chronicles 15:16.

 

Nehemiah 12:28.  And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem from the villages of the Netophathites

   YLT 28and sons of the singers are gathered together even from the circuit round about Jerusalem and from the villages of Netophathi

And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together ....

Such of the Levites that were singers and their sons that were trained up as such:

both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem

the plain of Jordan by Jericho and the plain of Saron and Lydda:

and from the villages of Netophathi:

see 1 Chronicles 9:16 here they dwelt when not in their courses to minister in the temple; but on this public occasion were summoned together.

 

Nehemiah 12:29.  from the house of Gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem.

   YLT 29and from the house of Gilgal and from fields of Geba and Azmaveth for villages have the singers built for themselves round about Jerusalem;

Also from the house of Gilgal ....

Which likewise was in a champaign country in the plains of Jericho Deuteronomy 11:30

and out of the fields of Geba;

which was a Levitical city in the tribe of Benjamin Joshua 21:17

and Azmaveth;

the same with Bethazmaveth Nehemiah 7:28 where it follows Anathoth and Netophah as it does in Ezra 2:24 and was very probably in the tribe of Benjamin:

for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem;

that they might be near it to do their duty when required; by which it appears that the said places were near Jerusalem.

 

Nehemiah 12:30.  Then the priests and Levites purified themselves and purified the people the gates and the wall.

   YLT 30and the priests and the Levites are cleansed and they cleanse the people and the gates and the wall.

And the priests and the Levites purified themselves ....

By washing their bodies and their clothes perhaps by sprinkling the water of purification on them see Numbers 8:6.

 

Nehemiah 12:31.  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.

   YLT 31And I bring up the heads of Judah upon the wall and appoint two great thanksgiving companies and processions. At the right on the wall to the dung-gate;

Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall ....

Which was so broad as to walk upon it and there was a procession of the princes on it at its dedication and here is described the manner of it; the princes of Benjamin must be included here:

and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks;

he divided the people who were met together to praise God on this occasion into two companies: whereof

one went on the right hand upon the wall;

that is on the southern part of it:

towards the dung gate;

of which see Nehemiah 2:13 some Jewish writers as Jarchi and Ben Melech give a different sense of שתי תודות which we render "two companies" and take them to be two eucharistical loaves of leavened bread with which a rite or ceremony was performed at the enlargement of a court or city; at the utmost boundary of which those were carried and one was eaten and the other burntF18Miss. Shebuot c. 2. sect. 2. & Maimon & Bartenora in ib. ; which rite is thus described by MaimonidesF19Hilchot Beth-habechirah c. 6. sect. 12. Vid. Selden. de Synedr. l. 3. c. 13. sect. 6. "how do they add to a city? the sanhedrim make two eucharistical sacrifices and they take the leavened bread in them and the sanhedrim go after the two eucharistical sacrifices which follow one another and they stand with harps and psalteries and cymbals at every corner and at every stone in Jerusalem and say I will extol thee for thou hast lifted up &c. (#Ps 30:1) until they come to the end of the place they consecrate there they stand and eat the thanksgiving loaf one of the two and the other is burnt.'

 

Nehemiah 12:32.  After them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah

   YLT 32and after them goeth Hoshaiah and half of the heads of Judah

And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the princes of Judah.

The other half of them with Hoshaiah at the head of them.

 

Nehemiah 12:33.  and Azariah Ezra Meshullam

   YLT 33and Azariah Ezra and Meshullam

And Azariah Ezra and Meshullam.

Not Ezra the priest and the scribe for he has another place assigned him in this procession Nehemiah 12:36 but this seems to be one of the princes.

 

Nehemiah 12:34.  Judah Benjamin Shemaiah Jeremiah

   YLT 34Judah and Benjamin and Shemaiah and Jeremiah;

Judah and Benjamin ....

Not the tribes but the names of the two princes as Jarchi:

and Shemaiah and Jeremiah;

who were two others.

 

Nehemiah 12:35.  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

   YLT 35and of the sons of the priests with trumpets Zechariah son of Jonathan son of Shemaiah son of Mattaniah son of Michaiah son of Zaccur son of Asaph

And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets ....

To blow with on this occasion; for these the priests sounded: namely:

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;

not the Levite but a priest of this name.

 

Nehemiah 12:36.  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.

   YLT 36and his brethren Shemaiah and Azarael Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethaneel and Judah Hanani with instruments of song of David the man of God and Ezra the scribe [is] before them;

And his brethren ....

The brethren of Zechariah the priest's son and such are those that follow:

Shemaiah and Azarael Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethaneel and Judah Hanani with the musical instruments of David the man of God;

which were invented by him and ordered by him to be used in religious service under the divine direction:

and Ezra the scribe before them;

for he being a priest also and a man of great eminence was placed at the head of them in this procession.

 

Nehemiah 12:37.  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.

   YLT 37and by the gate of the fountain and over-against them they have gone up by the steps of the city of David at the going up of the wall beyond the house of David and unto the water-gate eastward.

And at the fountain gate which was over against them ....

Of which see Nehemiah 2:14 and which was to the south of the dung gate:

they went up;

that is one of the two companies that which took to the right on the wall Nehemiah 12:31 with which these words are to be connected:

by the stairs of the city of David;

which went up to the city of Zion built on an eminence:

at the going up of the wall above the house of David;

where the wall was higher and there was an ascent to it:

even unto the water gate eastward;

of which see Nehemiah 3:26 turning from the south to the east and so drew nigh the temple.

 

Nehemiah 12:38.  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

   YLT 38And the second thanksgiving company that is going over-against and I after it and half of the people on the wall from beyond the tower of the furnaces and unto the broad wall

And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them ....

On the left hand on the northern part of the wall:

and I after them;

Nehemiah he brought up the rear of his company as Ezra led the van of his:

and the half of the people upon the wall;

the chief of them for all could not walk upon it:

from beyond the tower of the furnaces;

where they baked their bread or their bricks see Nehemiah 3:11

even unto the broad wall;

where the wall was broader than common for some reason or another see Nehemiah 3:8.

 

Nehemiah 12:39.  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.

   YLT 39and from beyond the gate of Ephraim and by the old-gate and by the fish-gate and the tower of Hananeel and the tower of Meah and unto the sheep-gate -- and they have stood at the prison-gate.

And from above the gate of Ephraim ....

The gate which led to the tribe of Ephraim where that tribe formerly dwelt see Nehemiah 8:16

and above the old gate;

of which mention is made Nehemiah 3:6

and above the fish gate and the tower of Hananeel and the tower of Meah even unto the sheep gate;

of all which see Nehemiah 3:1 and they stood still in the prison gate; which was not a gate of the city but of the court of the prison Nehemiah 3:25 which was near both the king's palace and the temple see Jeremiah 20:1.

 

Nehemiah 12:40.  So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God likewise I and the half of the rulers with me;

   YLT 40And the two thanksgiving companies stand in the house of God and I and half of the prefects with me

So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God ....

Having made their procession on the wall in different ways they met in the temple that is in the great court of it for no other would hold them:

and I and the half of the rulers with me;

Nehemiah and the other half with Hoshaiah Nehemiah 12:32.

 

Nehemiah 12:41.  and the priests Eliakim Maaseiah Minjamin [j] Michaiah Elioenai Zechariah and Hananiah with trumpets;

   YLT 41and the priests Eliakim Maaseiah Miniamin Michaiah Elioenai Zechariah Hananiah with trumpets

And the priests ....

They stood there also whose names follow:

Eliakim Maaseiah Miniamin Michaiah Elioenai Zechariah and Hananiah with trumpets;

to sound on this occasion.

 

Nehemiah 12:42.  also Maaseiah Shemaiah Eleazar Uzzi Jehohanan Malchijah Elam and Ezer. The singers sang loudly with Jezrahiah the director.

   YLT 42and Masseiah and Shemaiah and Eleazar and Uzzi and Jehohanan and Malchijah and Elam and Ezer and the singers sound and Jezrahiah the inspector;

And Maaseiah and Shemaiah and Eleazar and Uzzi and Jehohanan and Malchijah and Elam and Ezer ....

These seem to be all priests that blew the trumpets:

and the singers sang loud with Jezrahiah their overseer;

these were the Levites that sung the songs of praise vocally and raised their voices very high Jezrahiah being precentor who led the tune as well as played on instruments.

 

Nehemiah 12:43.  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.

   YLT 43and they sacrifice on that day great sacrifices and rejoice for God hath made them rejoice [with] great joy and also the women and the children have rejoiced and the joy of Jerusalem is heard -- unto a distance.

Also that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced ....

Or many sacrifices as Ben Melech interprets it; and these perhaps of the larger sort of cattle oxen; and which at least many of them being peace offerings the people feasted on them so that it was a festival day:

for God had made them rejoice with great joy;

on account of the wall being set up all around and so were in greater safety from their enemies:

the wives also and the children rejoiced;

while the priests blew the trumpets and the singers sung and played on their instruments the women and children gave loud shouts for joy:

so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off;

as at the laying of the foundation of the temple Ezra 3:13.

 

Nehemiah 12:44.  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.

   YLT 44And certain are appointed on that day over the chambers for treasures for heave-offerings for first-fruits and for tithes to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for priests and for Levites for the joy of Judah [is] over the priests and over the Levites who are standing up.

And at that time were some appointed over the chamber for the treasuries ....

On the selfsame day the dedication was; while the people were in a good disposition and a suitable frame for such service certain persons from among the priests were appointed to be overseers of the chambers fixed upon for treasuries to lay up safe in them the following things and take care of them that they were put to the use for which they were designed:

for the offerings for the first fruits and for the tithes to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites;

what by the law of God were assigned them for their maintenance and which the people had lately bound themselves to bring in Nehemiah 10:35

for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited;

at the temple and performed their services there; they were so pleased with their ministrations that day that they were determined to take care of them and provide well for them and that nothing should be wanting to them enjoined by the law of God and that they might not be obliged to dwell in fields and villages for the sake of their living Nehemiah 12:28.

 

Nehemiah 12:45.  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.

   YLT 45And the singers and the gatekeepers keep the charge of their God even the charge of the cleansing -- according to the command of David [and] Solomon his son

And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God and the ward of their purification ....

The singers kept their turns in course in the temple and were not wanting to officiate on all occasions besides morning and evening services; and the porters they diligently kept the gates of the temple that no impure person or thing in a ceremonial sense entered:

according to the commandment of David and Solomon his son;

who made very good rules and orders relative to the better and more regular performance of service by them; see 1 Chronicles 25:1.

 

Nehemiah 12:46.  For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

   YLT 46for in the days of David and Asaph of old [were] heads of the singers and a song of praise and thanksgiving to God.

For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers ....

Persons appointed over the rest to instruct them and see that they did their work aright as besides Asaph Haman and Jeduthun and their sons 1 Chronicles 25:2

and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God;

such were made by them some under divine inspiration which bear the names of David and Asaph as may be observed in the book of Psalms.

 

Nehemiah 12:47.  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.

   YLT 47And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah are giving the portions of the singers and of the gatekeepers the matter of a day in its day and are sanctifying to the Levites and the Levites are sanctifying to the sons of Aaron.

And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the portions of the singers and the porters every day his portion ....

While these two men governed they did their duty and punctually paid the Levites their dues at the proper season:

and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites;

set them apart for their use and brought them to them their offerings firstfruits and tithes: and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron; the Levites set apart the tenth part of the tithes and delivered them to the priests and so each had what belonged to them.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

a.    Nehemiah 12:4 Or Ginnethon (compare verse 16)

b.    Nehemiah 12:14 Or Malluch (compare verse 2)

c.Nehemiah 12:14 Or Shechaniah (compare verse 3)

d.    Nehemiah 12:15 Or Rehum (compare verse 3)

e.    Nehemiah 12:15 Or Meremoth (compare verse 3)

f. Nehemiah 12:17 Or Mijamin (compare verse 5)

g.    Nehemiah 12:17 Or Maadiah (compare verse 5)

h.    Nehemiah 12:20 Or Sallu (compare verse 7)

i.  Nehemiah 12:26 Spelled Jehozadak in 1 Chronicles 6:14

j.  Nehemiah 12:41 Or Mijamin (compare verse 5)