1 Now these are the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 that went up H5927 with Zerubbabel H2216 the son H1121 of Shealtiel, H7597 and Jeshua: H3442 Seraiah, H8304 Jeremiah, H3414 Ezra, H5830
Seraiah, H8304 Azariah, H5838 Jeremiah, H3414 Pashur, H6583 Amariah, H568 Malchijah, H4441 Hattush, H2407 Shebaniah, H7645 Malluch, H4409 Harim, H2766 Meremoth, H4822 Obadiah, H5662 Daniel, H1840 Ginnethon, H1599 Baruch, H1263 Meshullam, H4918 Abijah, H29 Mijamin, H4326 Maaziah, H4590 Bilgai, H1084 Shemaiah: H8098 these were the priests. H3548
Now these are the children H1121 of the province H4082 that went up H5927 out of the captivity, H7628 of those which had been carried away, H1473 whom Nebuchadnezzar H5019 the king H4428 of Babylon H894 had carried away H1540 unto Babylon, H894 and came again H7725 unto Jerusalem H3389 and Judah, H3063 every one H376 unto his city; H5892 Which came H935 with Zerubbabel: H2216 Jeshua, H3442 Nehemiah, H5166 Seraiah, H8304 Reelaiah, H7480 Mordecai, H4782 Bilshan, H1114 Mispar, H4558 Bigvai, H902 Rehum, H7348 Baanah. H1196 The number H4557 of the men H582 of the people H5971 of Israel: H3478
And in the days H3117 of Joiakim H3113 were priests, H3548 the chief H7218 of the fathers: H1 of Seraiah, H8304 Meraiah; H4811 of Jeremiah, H3414 Hananiah; H2608 Of Ezra, H5830 Meshullam; H4918 of Amariah, H568 Jehohanan; H3076 Of Melicu, H4409 Jonathan; H3129 of Shebaniah, H7645 Joseph; H3130 Of Harim, H2766 Adna; H5733 of Meraioth, H4812 Helkai; H2517 Of Iddo, H5714 Zechariah; H2148 of Ginnethon, H1599 Meshullam; H4918 Of Abijah, H29 Zichri; H2147 of Miniamin, H4509 of Moadiah, H4153 Piltai; H6408 Of Bilgah, H1083 Shammua; H8051 of Shemaiah, H8098 Jehonathan; H3083 And of Joiarib, H3114 Mattenai; H4982 of Jedaiah, H3048 Uzzi; H5813 Of Sallai, H5543 Kallai; H7040 of Amok, H5987 Eber; H5677 Of Hilkiah, H2518 Hashabiah; H2811 of Jedaiah, H3048 Nethaneel. H5417
And G1161 after G3326 they were brought G3350 to Babylon, G897 Jechonias G2423 begat G1080 Salathiel; G4528 and G1161 Salathiel G4528 begat G1080 Zorobabel; G2216 And G1161 Zorobabel G2216 begat G1080 Abiud; G10 and G1161 Abiud G10 begat G1080 Eliakim; G1662 and G1161 Eliakim G1662 begat G1080 Azor; G107
Then he answered H6030 and spake H559 unto me, saying, H559 This is the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto Zerubbabel, H2216 saying, H559 Not by might, H2428 nor by power, H3581 but by my spirit, H7307 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635 Who art thou, O great H1419 mountain? H2022 before H6440 Zerubbabel H2216 thou shalt become a plain: H4334 and he shall bring forth H3318 the headstone H68 H7222 thereof with shoutings, H8663 crying, Grace, H2580 grace H2580 unto it. Moreover the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559 The hands H3027 of Zerubbabel H2216 have laid the foundation H3245 of this house; H1004 his hands H3027 shall also finish H1214 it; and thou shalt know H3045 that the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 hath sent H7971 me unto you. For who hath despised H936 the day H3117 of small things? H6996 for they shall rejoice, H8055 and shall see H7200 the plummet H68 H913 in the hand H3027 of Zerubbabel H2216 with those seven; H7651 they are the eyes H5869 of the LORD, H3068 which run to and fro H7751 through the whole earth. H776
And he shewed H7200 me Joshua H3091 the high H1419 priest H3548 standing H5975 before H6440 the angel H4397 of the LORD, H3068 and Satan H7854 standing H5975 at his right hand H3225 to resist H7853 him. And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Satan, H7854 The LORD H3068 rebuke H1605 thee, O Satan; H7854 even the LORD H3068 that hath chosen H977 Jerusalem H3389 rebuke H1605 thee: is not this a brand H181 plucked H5337 out of the fire? H784 Now Joshua H3091 was clothed H3847 with filthy H6674 garments, H899 and stood H5975 before H6440 the angel. H4397 And he answered H6030 and spake H559 unto those that stood H5975 before H6440 him, saying, H559 Take away H5493 the filthy H6674 garments H899 from him. And unto him he said, H559 Behold, H7200 I have caused thine iniquity H5771 to pass H5674 from thee, and I will clothe H3847 thee with change of raiment. H4254 And I said, H559 Let them set H7760 a fair H2889 mitre H6797 upon his head. H7218 So they set H7760 a fair H2889 mitre H6797 upon his head, H7218 and clothed H3847 him with garments. H899 And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 stood by. H5975 And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 protested H5749 unto Joshua, H3091 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 If thou wilt walk H3212 in my ways, H1870 and if thou wilt keep H8104 my charge, H4931 then thou shalt also judge H1777 my house, H1004 and shalt also keep H8104 my courts, H2691 and I will give H5414 thee places to walk H4108 among these that stand by. H5975 Hear H8085 now, O Joshua H3091 the high H1419 priest, H3548 thou, and thy fellows H7453 that sit H3427 before H6440 thee: for they are men H582 wondered at: H4159 for, behold, I will bring forth H935 my servant H5650 the BRANCH. H6780 For behold the stone H68 that I have laid H5414 before H6440 Joshua; H3091 upon one H259 stone H68 shall be seven H7651 eyes: H5869 behold, I will engrave H6605 the graving H6603 thereof, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 and I will remove H4185 the iniquity H5771 of that land H776 in one H259 day. H3117
Speak H559 to Zerubbabel, H2216 governor H6346 of Judah, H3063 saying, H559 I will shake H7493 the heavens H8064 and the earth; H776 And I will overthrow H2015 the throne H3678 of kingdoms, H4467 and I will destroy H8045 the strength H2392 of the kingdoms H4467 of the heathen; H1471 and I will overthrow H2015 the chariots, H4818 and those that ride H7392 in them; and the horses H5483 and their riders H7392 shall come down, H3381 every one H376 by the sword H2719 of his brother. H251 In that day, H3117 saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 will I take H3947 thee, O Zerubbabel, H2216 my servant, H5650 the son H1121 of Shealtiel, H7597 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and will make H7760 thee as a signet: H2368 for I have chosen H977 thee, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
And the sons H1121 of Jeconiah; H3204 Assir, H617 Salathiel H7597 his son, H1121 Malchiram H4443 also, and Pedaiah, H6305 and Shenazar, H8137 Jecamiah, H3359 Hoshama, H1953 and Nedabiah. H5072 And the sons H1121 of Pedaiah H6305 were, Zerubbabel, H2216 and Shimei: H8096 and the sons H1121 of Zerubbabel; H2216 Meshullam, H4918 and Hananiah, H2608 and Shelomith H8019 their sister: H269
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Nehemiah 12
Commentary on Nehemiah 12 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 12
Ne 12:1-9. Priests and Levites Who Came Up with Zerubbabel.
1. these are the priests—according to Ne 12:7, "the chief of the priests," the heads of the twenty-four courses into which the priesthood was divided (1Ch 24:1-20). Only four of the courses returned from the captivity (Ne 7:39-42; Ezr 2:36-39). But these were divided by Zerubbabel, or Jeshua, into the original number of twenty-four. Twenty-two only are enumerated here, and no more than twenty in Ne 12:12-21. The discrepancy is due to the extremely probable circumstance that two of the twenty-four courses had become extinct in Babylon; for none belonging to them are reported as having returned (Ne 12:2-5). Hattush and Maadiah may be omitted in the account of those persons' families (Ne 12:12), for these had no sons.
Shealtiel—or Salathiel.
Ezra—This was most likely a different person from the pious and patriotic leader. If he were the same person, he would now have reached a very patriarchal age—and this longevity would doubtless be due to his eminent piety and temperance, which are greatly conducive to the prolongation of life, but, above all, to the special blessing of God, who had preserved and strengthened him for the accomplishment of the important work he was called upon to undertake in that critical period of the Church's history.
4. Abijah—one of the ancestors of John the Baptist (Lu 1:5).
9. their brethren, were over against them in the watches—that is, according to some, their stations—the places where they stood when officiating—"ward over against ward" (Ne 12:24); or, according to others, in alternate watches, in course of rotation.
Ne 12:10-47. Succession of the High Priests.
10. Jeshua begat Joiakim, &c.—This enumeration was of great importance, not only as establishing their individual purity of descent, but because the chronology of the Jews was henceforth to be reckoned, not as formerly by the reigns of their kings, but by the successions of their high priests.
11. Jaddua—It is an opinion entertained by many commentators that this person was the high priest whose dignified appearance, solemn manner, and splendid costume overawed and interested so strongly the proud mind of Alexander the Great; and if he were not this person (as some object that this Jaddua was not in office till a considerable period after the death of Nehemiah), it might probably be his father, called by the same name.
12. in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers—As there had been priests in the days of Jeshua, so in the time of Joiakim, the son and successor of Jeshua, the sons of those persons filled the priestly office in the place of their fathers, some of whom were still alive, though many were dead.
23. The sons of Levi … were written in the book of the chronicles—that is, the public registers in which the genealogies were kept with great regularity and exactness.
27-43. at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem—This ceremony of consecrating the wall and gates of the city was an act of piety on the part of Nehemiah, not merely to thank God in a general way for having been enabled to bring the building to a happy completion, but especially because that city was the place which He had chosen. It also contained the temple which was hallowed by the manifestation of His presence, and anew set apart to His service. It was on these accounts that Jerusalem was called "the holy city," and by this public and solemn act of religious observance, after a long period of neglect and desecration, it was, as it were, restored to its rightful proprietor. The dedication consisted in a solemn ceremonial, in which the leading authorities, accompanied by the Levitical singers, summoned from all parts of the country, and by a vast concourse of people, marched in imposing procession round the city walls, and, pausing at intervals to engage in united praises, prayer, and sacrifices, supplicated the continued presence, favor, and blessing on "the holy city." "The assembly convened near Jaffa Gate, where the procession commences. Then (Ne 12:31) I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall (near the Valley Gate), and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall towards the dung gate (through Bethzo). And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah. And (Ne 12:37) at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they (descending by the Tower of Siloam on the interior, and then reascending) went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward (by the staircase of the rampart, having descended to dedicate the fountain structures). And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them (both parties having started from the junction of the first and second walls), and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall (beyond the corner gate). And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate (and the gate of Benjamin), and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate; and they stood still in the prison gate (or high gate, at the east end of the bridge). So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and half of the rulers with me (having thus performed the circuit of the investing walls), and arrived in the courts of the temple" [Barclay, City of the Great King].
43. the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off—The events of the day, viewed in connection with the now repaired and beautified state of the city, raised the popular feeling to the highest pitch of enthusiasm, and the fame of their rejoicings was spread far and near.
44. portions of the law—that is, "prescribed by the law."
for Judah rejoiced for the priests and … Levites that waited—The cause of this general satisfaction was either the full restoration of the temple service and the reorganized provision for the permanent support of the ministry, or it was the pious character and eminent gifts of the guardians of religion.
45. the singers and the porters kept … the ward of the purification—that is, took care that no unclean person was allowed to enter within the precincts of the sacred building. This was the official duty of the porters (2Ch 23:19), with whom, owing to the pressure of circumstances, it was deemed expedient that the singers should be associated as assistants.
47. all Israel … sanctified holy things unto the Levites,—&c. The people, selecting the tithes and first-fruits, devoted them to the use of the Levites, to whom they belonged by appointment of the law. The Levites acted in the same way with the tithes due from them to the priests. Thus all classes of the people displayed a conscientious fidelity in paying the dues to the temple and the servants of God who were appointed to minister in it.