Nehemiah 12

A Register of the Priests and Levites that were come out of the captivity with Zerubbabel, verse 1, etc. The succession of the high Priests from Jesua unto Jaddua, 10. A Register of the chief Priests that succeeded in the room of those before mentioned, 12. A description of the chief of the Levites, 22. A relation of the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem, 27. The appointing of Treasurers over the goods or estates of Priests and Levites, 44.

1. Now these are the Priests and the Levites, [Meaning the chief and the rulers of the Priests and Levites, as may be gathered from verse 7.2,23,24.] that went up with Zerubbabel [See Ezra 2.on verse 2.] the son of Seathiel, and Jesua; [Who was the high Priests] Seraja, Jeremia, Ezra.

2. Amarja, Maluch, [This man, and some others are named otherways, below from verse 14.to 21. After the manner of the Hebrews] Hattus,

3. Sechanja, Rehun, Merimoth,

4. Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abja,

5. Mijamim, Maadja, Bilga,

6. Semaja, Amok, Hilkja, Jedaja; those were the heads of the Priests, and their brethren in the days of Jesua.

7. Sallu, Amok, Hilkja, JEDAJA; those were the heads of the Priests, and their brethren in thedays of Jesua.

8. And the Levites were; Jesua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Serebja, Juda, Matthanja; he [Namely Matthanja. See above chap.11.17.] and his brethren were over the thanksgivings. [That is, they were the chief singing-masters in the singing of Psalms of praise and thanksgiving; as ab.chap.11.17.]

9. And Bakbukja, and Unni, their brethren were over against them in the watches. [That is, were present with or about the singers, to wait upon their office or ministry. See ab.chap.11.on verse 22. And concerning the courses of the singers, see the ordinance of David, 1 Chron.25 9,&c. But at this time they were fewer in number. See Ezra 2.verse.39.]

10. Now Jesua begat Jojakim, and Jojakim begat Eljasib, and Elijasib begat Jojada.

11. And Jojada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua, [This Jadua is conceived to have been the high Priest Jaddus of whom Josephus writteth, that Alexander the Great coming in an hostile manner against Jerusalem, he in his high Priests attire went out of the city to meet him, and appeased him. Whence some conjecture, that Nehemia lived to the end of the Persian Empire, and in that regard was able to write this Register of the succession of high Priests till that time, there being as yet not full threescore years expired, from the time of Artaxerxes Mnemon (whose servant some hold Nehemia to have been) unto the end of the Persian, and the beginning of the Grecian Monarchy. Others conceive that Nehemia (who, according to their opinion, dead, this Register was here inserted by another man of God by inspiration of the holy Ghost to preserve the sucession of high Priests in the Church of God.]

12. And in the days of Jojakim, [Who was high Priest after his father Jesua, verse 10.] were Priests the heads of the fathers; [That is, the chiefst among the Priests, as was shewed on verse 1.] of Seraja, was Meraja; [That was, of Seraja was born or descended Meraja succeeding in his room, therefore others render this thus, for Seraja, that is in his stead or room, and so in the sequel] of Jeremja, Hananja;

13. Of Ezra, Mesullam, of Amarja, Johanan,

14. Of Melichu, Jonathan; of Sebanja Joseph:

15. Of Hurim, Adna; of Merajoth, Helki:

16. Of Iddo, Zacharia: Of Ginnethon, Mesullam:

17. Of Abja, Zichri: of Minjamin, and Moadja, Piltai:

18. Of Bilga, Sammua; of Semaja, Jonathan:

19. And of Jorib, Matthenai; of Jedaja, Uzzi:

20. Of Sullai, Kallai; Of Amok, Hobe:

21. Of Hilkia, Hasubja; of Jedaja, Nethaneel:

22. Of the Levites in the days of Eljasib, Jojada, and Johanan, and Jaddua the heads of the fathers were recorded: together with the Priests until the reign of Darius the Persian. [To wit, the last king of Persia called Codamanus, whom Alexander the great conquered: with whom the Persian Monarchy ended, about the year of the creation of the world 36 42. Before Christs incarnation, 3 29. According to the computation of some Chronologies.]

23. The children of Levi, the heads of the fathers, were recorded in the book of the Chronicles [See 1 Chron.9.10, &c.] until the days of Johanan [above vers.13.called Jonathan, the father of Jaddua] the son [That is, is, Grand-son, or Grand-child, the sons son] of Eljasib.

24. The heads then of the Levites were Hasabja, Serebja, and Jesua the son of Kadmiel, and their brethren over against them, to praise (and) to give thanks according to the commandment of David the man of God, [See Judg.13.on verse 6.] ward against ward. [That is, they executed their office or ministry by turns, or courses one for another, according to the ordinance of David. See 1 Chron.25.so ab.verse 8.]

25. Matthanja, and Bakbukja, Obabja, Mesullam, Talmon, (and) Akub were Porters, keeping the watch, by the Treasuries [See below verse 43. And chap.13.5. item 1 Chron.26.on verse 17. Hebr. Asuppim] of the gates.

26. These were in the days of Jojakim the son of Jesua the son of Jozadak; and in the days of Nehemia the governor, and of Ezra the Priest the Scribe.

27. Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem [Which was performed with prayers, thanksgivings, offering, and outward tokens of spiritual Joy before the Lord, as followeth. Compare Exod.40. Numb.7. Deut. 20. On verse 5. And 1 Kings 8 63. Ezra 6 17 &c. Job.10 22.] they sought the Levites out of all their places, [whither they with others were returned to the great congregation, whereof ab.chap.9. and 10.] to bring them to Jerusalem: to perform the dedication with joy, and with thanksgivings, and with singing, cymbals, Lutes, and with harps.

28. So the children of the Singers were gathered together, both out of the plain field round about Jerusalem, and from the villages [Or farms, so verse 29.] of Netophau; [Or of the Netophathites.]

29. And from the house of Gilgal, [Or place of Gilgal, Hebr. Beth-Gilgal, see Deut.11.30. Jos.5.9.] and out of the fields of Gebas, [See Jos.21.17.] and Azmaveth; [ab. Chap.7.28. is mentioned Beth-Azmaveth] for the Singers had built them villages round about Jerusalem, [because all was exceedingly wasted and destroyed by the Babylonian wars, and because they may be near hand for to exercise their function and the worship of God. See ab.chap.11.on v.20. and 30.]

30. And the Priests and the Levites purified themselves: [Compare Gen.35.on verse 2. Exod.19.10,15. Numb.19. 2 Chron.29 5,15.16, etc. And Ezra 6:20,21.] after that they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

31. Then I caused the Princes of Juda to go up upon the wall: and I appointed two great thanksgiving-quires and circuits, (the one) on the right hand upon the wall, [Of the other company of those that gave thanks, see v.38.] toward the dung-gate. [Compare this description of the wall, with ab.chap.2.13,14.15. and chap.3. and see the annotate. There.]

32. And after them went Hosaja, and half of the Princes of Juda.

33. And Azarja, Ezra, and Mesullam,

34. Juda, and Benjamin, and Semaja, and Jeremja,

35. And (certain) of the Priests children with trumpets: Zacharja the son Jonathan, the son of Semaja, the son of Matthanja, the son of Michaja, the son of Zacchur, the son of Asaph:

36. And his brethren, Semaja, and Azareel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Juda, Hanani, with musical Instruments of David, [That is, which were invented, or ordained and delivered by David] the man of God: [That is, the Prophet, as above verse 24.] and Ezra the Scribe (went) before their face.

37. Moreover toward the Fountain-gate, and over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, unto the water-gate, eastward.

38. Now the second thanksgiving-quire they went over against (them) [To wit, on the otherside of the city, that both companies might meet one another at last and go together to the Temple. See verse 40.] and after them, with the half of the people upon the all, from above the tower of the Baking-ovens, unto the broad wall.

39. And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above, [Oth. toward; and so in the sequel] the Old-gate, and above the Fish-gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Mea unto the Sheeps-gate. And they stood still in the Prison-gate. [Hebr. stood in, or by the gate of Custody; that is, the Prison, as Jer.32.2.]

40. Then stood both the thanksgiving quires in the house of God; and I, and the half of the Rulers with me.

41. And the Priests, Eljakim, Maaseja, Minjamin,Michaja, Elioenai, Zacharja, Hananja, with trumpets.

42. Moreover, Maaseja, and Semaja, and Eliazar, and Uzzi, and Johanan, and Malchia, and Elam, and Ezer, also the Singers caused themselves to be heard, with Jzrahia the overseer.

43. And they offered the same day great slay-offerings, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy, the wives also and the children rejoice: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

44. Also the same day were men appointed over the chambers, for the treasures, [Compare below cha.13.5,12,13. And ab.ch.10.37.38.] for the heave-offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, out of the fields of the cities, [That is, which lay round about the cities] the portions of the Law, for the Priests and for the Leviets; [That is, which were ordained in the law, for the Priests, &c. To the bringing up of which portions they had bound themselves anew, ab.c.10.35, &c.] for Juda rejoiced for the Priests, and for the Levites, [Hebr. (there was) joy, or gladness of Juda; or the joy of Juda (was) for the etc.] that stood there, [that is, that waited diligently and faithfully on their ministry, and therein intended to proceed, whereas they were formerly scattered up and down the country for want of maintenance, which now was willingly brought in with joy and rejoicing. Compare below ch.13.10.]

45. And also the singers and the porters kept the watch of their God, [Taking care that the worship of God might be well performed in all its circumstances thereto belonging. See Lev.18.on ver.35.] and the watch of the purification: [as above vers.30.] according to the commandment of David, (and) of Salomon his son. [See 1 Chron.25. Meaning that they kept their courses diligently. Oth. and the Singers and the Porters watched, &c.]

46. For in the days of David and Asaph, [Under whom are also Heman and Jeduthun comprehended, 1 Chron.2.5.1, etc.] there were heads of the Singers, and of the song of praise, and of thanksgivings unto God. [That is, chief singers, and tuners of Psalms and songs, and overseers of the chiefest, who took care that the ministry and all the courses of the Singers were rightly observed, etc. See above vers.42. and chap.11.17. and 1 Chron.25.2,3,6.]

47. Therefore all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the Singers, and of the porters, [as above vers.44.] every days (portion) on its day: [Hebr. the word, or, the thing of a day on its day] And they [to wit, the people, or all Israel] hallowed for the Levites, [that is, they set apart, and gave the tithes unto the Levites, etc. Which were consecrated for that purpose, and whereby all the rest that they kept, was hallowed for their own particular use. See Num.18.21,26.] and the Levites hallowed for the children of Aaron. [that is, they set apart, and gave tithes of the tithes, which they had received, unto the high Priests, according to the law of God, Numb.18.26, etc. See also there v.8.]