Nehemiah 12

King James Version

Full text for Nehemiah Chapter 12

1¶ Now these [are] the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

2Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,

3Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

4Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,

5Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

6Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,

7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These [were] the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

8Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, [and] Mattaniah, [which was] over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.

9Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, [were] over against them in the watches.

10And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,

11And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.

12And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

13Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;

14Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;

15Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;

16Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;

17Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;

18Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;

19And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;

20Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;

21Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.

22The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, [were] recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian.

23The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, [were] written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.

24And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, 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.

25Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, [were] porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.

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

27¶ And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, [with] cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

28And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;

29Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.

30And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

31Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great [companies of them that gave] thanks, [whereof one] went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:

32And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,

33And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,

34Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,

35And [certain] of the priests' sons with trumpets; [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:

36And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.

37And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they 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.

38And the other [company of them that gave] thanks went over against [them], 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;

39And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, 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.

40So stood the two [companies of them that gave] thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:

41And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, [and] Hananiah, with trumpets;

42And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah [their] overseer.

43Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

44¶ And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, 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: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

45And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, [and] of Solomon his son.

46For in the days of David and Asaph of old [there were] chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.

47And 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: and they sanctified [holy things] unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified [them] unto the children of Aaron.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Nehemiah 12 begins by listing the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua, detailing their lineages and roles in temple service. It then describes the elaborate dedication ceremony of Jerusalem's rebuilt wall, involving two large companies of thanksgiving, musical instruments, and great sacrifices. The chapter concludes by outlining the appointment of officials to manage temple provisions and the consistent support provided to the priests, Levites, singers, and porters, ensuring the proper functioning of the house of God.

Medium Summary

Nehemiah 12 opens with an extensive enumeration of the priestly and Levitical families who returned from Babylonian captivity with Zerubbabel and Jeshua, tracing their lineage and identifying their chief representatives through several generations, including the high priestly line. It records the specific duties of Levites, such as those responsible for thanksgiving and temple watches, and notes the meticulous record-keeping of these lineages up to the Persian period. The chapter then transitions to the joyous dedication of the newly rebuilt wall of Jerusalem, a grand event orchestrated by Nehemiah. Two large companies of thanksgiving, comprising princes, priests with trumpets, Levites, and singers, marched along the wall in opposite directions, culminating in a gathering at the House of God. This ceremony was marked by purification rites, abundant sacrifices, and widespread rejoicing among all the people, signifying God's blessing. Finally, the chapter details the establishment of systems for managing temple treasures and tithes, ensuring the financial support for the priests and Levites who served, highlighting the continuity of the divinely ordained temple service from the days of David and Solomon.

Long Summary

Nehemiah 12 commences with a detailed register of the priests and Levites who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel and Jeshua following the Babylonian exile, providing a historical account of the foundational leadership. It meticulously lists the chief priests and Levites of that initial return, followed by a genealogical record of the high priestly succession from Jeshua to Jaddua. The chapter further enumerates the chief priests in the subsequent generation, during the days of Joiakim, and specifies the roles of various Levites, including those designated for thanksgiving and maintaining watches within the temple service. These comprehensive records underscore the importance of lineage and continuity in the sacred offices, with specific mention of their documentation up to the reign of Darius the Persian. The narrative then shifts to the highly anticipated dedication of the rebuilt wall of Jerusalem, a pivotal moment for the restored community. Nehemiah meticulously organized this event, first gathering Levites and singers from surrounding areas to participate with gladness, thanksgiving, and musical instruments. Prior to the ceremony, the priests and Levites purified themselves, the people, the gates, and the wall, signifying ritual readiness. Nehemiah then divided the princes of Judah into two great companies of thanksgiving, leading them to march along the wall in opposite directions. One company, including Ezra, proceeded towards the Dung Gate, while the other, with Nehemiah, went towards the Sheep Gate, both converging at the House of God. The procession featured priests with trumpets and singers, whose loud voices, accompanied by cymbals, psalteries, and harps, filled the air. On that day, great sacrifices were offered, and the entire populace, including women and children, rejoiced with such immense joy that it was heard from afar, a testament to God's favor. The chapter concludes by describing the administrative arrangements for the temple, including the appointment of officials over chambers for treasures, offerings, firstfruits, and tithes. These provisions ensured the sustenance of the priests and Levites, reflecting Judah's joy in supporting those who ministered. The singers and porters faithfully maintained their assigned duties, upholding the commandments established by King David and his son Solomon, thus ensuring the perpetual and orderly service of the House of God.

Core Concepts

  • Priestly and Levitical LineagesThe chapter meticulously records the names of priests and Levites who returned from exile and their successors, emphasizing the continuity and importance of their hereditary roles in temple service.
  • Temple Service OrganizationDetails are provided regarding the specific duties of Levites, such as leading thanksgiving, maintaining watches, and serving as porters, illustrating the structured nature of worship and temple administration.
  • Dedication of the WallThe central event is the joyous and elaborate ceremony for the dedication of Jerusalem's rebuilt wall, involving a grand procession, musical praise, and communal celebration.
  • Ritual PurificationBefore the dedication, priests, Levites, the people, and even the wall and gates underwent purification, highlighting the emphasis on ceremonial cleanness for sacred events.
  • Communal RejoicingThe dedication culminated in widespread and exuberant joy among all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, expressed through sacrifices, singing, and loud celebrations, signifying God's blessing and the community's gratitude.
  • Support for Temple MinistryThe chapter describes the establishment of systems for collecting tithes and offerings to provide for the financial needs of the priests, Levites, singers, and porters, ensuring their sustained ability to perform their duties.
  • Continuity of Davidic OrdinancesThe organization of singers and porters, and the general structure of temple service, are explicitly stated to follow the commandments established by King David and Solomon, underscoring adherence to ancient, divinely inspired practices.