Nehemiah 12 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Bible Comments
  • Nehemiah 12:1 open_in_new

    XII.

    (1-9) The priests and Levites of the First Return.
    (1) Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra. — The first is the family name, represented by Jeshua. Of the two others we know nothing more than this record gives.

  • Nehemiah 12:7 open_in_new

    These were the chief. — Genealogically, but not according to the courses, which are in none of the lists complete.

  • Nehemiah 12:10,11 open_in_new

    Pedigree of certain high priests, with supplement from a later hand. The six generations stretch over 200 years — from B.C. 536 to B.C. 332.

  • Nehemiah 12:22,23 open_in_new

    The Levites. — Here is an evident interpolation. The writer says that the records of the heads of courses was continued down to Jaddua and Darius Codomannus.

  • Nehemiah 12:24 open_in_new

    And the chief. — The account resumes with the Levites, and gives a list of the extant officers of the Temple, many names being the same as in earlier times.

  • Nehemiah 12:27 open_in_new

    They sought the Levites. — The dedication was to be processional and musical, as well as sacrificial: after the pattern of Solomon’s dedication of the Temple.

  • Nehemiah 12:29 open_in_new

    The singers. — As the Nethinim were settled in Ophel, so the class of Levitical singers were chiefly to be found in villages to the north of the city.

  • Nehemiah 12:30 open_in_new

    Purified themselves. — Before consecration to God there must be purification from defilement. It is made emphatic that both priests and Levites purified themselves, that is, by offerings and ablutions (comp. 2 Chronicles 29:15; Ezra 6:20): the gates and the wall by being sprinkled.

  • Nehemiah 12:31 open_in_new

    The princes. — The chiefs were assembled somewhere on the south-west wall, and then divided into two companies.

  • Nehemiah 12:34 open_in_new

    Judah and Benjamin. — A singular collocation: the laity of Judah and Benjamin, with priests before and after.

  • Nehemiah 12:36 open_in_new

    With the musical instruments of David the man of God. — No part of the service deviated from sacred precedents (comp. Nehemiah 12:27).

    Ezra the scribe before them. — Between the singers and the princes came he who was the greatest in dignity, though the second in office.

  • Nehemiah 12:38 open_in_new

    The other company. — Comparing the order with Nehemiah 3, the reader will have a clear view of the second company. They had the longer route, proceed. ing to the left, rounding the north “broad wall,” passing the sheep-gate, and so meeting the priestly company near the prison-gate. The space where they met had the Temple straight in front, the prison-gate on the right, and the water-gate on the left.

  • Nehemiah 12:39 open_in_new

    The gate of Ephraim. — Not mentioned in the process of repairing, as having remained comparatively intact with part of the “broad wall.”

  • Nehemiah 12:40 open_in_new

    In the house of God. — They stood first outside, but afterwards entered to present their offerings. But the main interest of the day was the professional worship under the open heavens.

  • Nehemiah 12:44 open_in_new

    For Judah rejoiced. — Not only was the Temple service restored to something like the completeness of the Davidical period, the people also everywhere took pleasure in the ministrations of the Temple, and provided amply for them. Hence the need of men to take charge of the treasuries of the firstfruits and tithes.

  • Nehemiah 12:45 open_in_new

    Kept the ward. — This should be read differently. The priests and Levites kept the ward of their God, and the ward of purification, and the singers and porters, &c. To “keep the ward” is to observe the regular times and seasons of sacrifice and thanksgiving.