Nehemiah 12 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Priests and Levites who Returned with Jeshua and Zerubbabel, and Extracts from other Lists. The details here given were, in all probability, taken largely from the Temple archives.

Nehemiah 12:1-9. Cf. Ezra 2:36-40; Nehemiah 7:39-43.

Nehemiah 12:10 f. A fragment from a genealogical list.

Nehemiah 12:12-16. Further lists of priests and Levites.

Dedication of the Walls of Jerusalem. We should naturally expect this section to come after Nehemiah 6:15, where the completion of the walls is recorded; like so many others, this section has become misplaced from its original position. It is, in the main, taken from the memoirs of Nehemiah (see Nehemiah 12:31; Nehemiah 12:38; Nehemiah 12:40), though probably the compiler has left his marks upon it.

Nehemiah 12:27. they sought the Levites. : the Levites at this time were not living in Jerusalem, but in the country villages round (see Nem 12:28f.).

Nehemiah 12:28. the villages of the Netophathites: cf. 1 Chronicles 9:16; Ezra 2:22; Nehemiah 7:26.

Nehemiah 12:30. purified themselves: viz. by means of sacrifices and sprinkling with the blood of the sacrifices.

Nehemiah 12:33-36. This list contains some strange names not found elsewhere; in the main it is a list of Levites.

Nehemiah 12:40. The two processions, having made the circuit of the walls, took up their positions in the open space to the east of the Temple.

Provision for the Priests and Levites. Probably an insertion by the Chronicler.

Nehemiah 12:44. on that day: better, with AV, at that time, which is, in accordance with the Heb., more indefinite (cf. Nehemiah 13:1). the chambers for the treasures: cf. Nehemiah 13:13; provisions would be less ambiguous than treasures. the Levites that waited: better that served, i.e. the Temple.

Nehemiah 12:45. kept the ward: i.e. performed the service. and so did: i.e. according to what their special duties were. according. son: this was in accordance with the Chronicler's ideas, so also Nem 12:46.

Nehemiah 12:47. This insertion shows that Zerubbabel and Nehemiah were the two outstanding personalities during the period so far as the civil government was concerned. and they sanctified...: this is difficult to understand, but see Nehemiah 10:38 f.