LIST OF THE LEADING PRIESTS AND LEVITES WHO WENT UP WITH ZERUBBABEL FROM EXILE (NEHEMIAH 12:1). The list is divided into two parts, the names of chiefs of the priests, and the names of the (leading) Levites. These were the priests and Levites whose genealogies had been demonstrated (Nehemiah 7:64;... [ Continue Reading ]
DETAILS CONCERNING THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES WHO RETURNED WITH ZERUBBABEL, AND THOSE WHO SUBSEQUENTLY DEVELOPED (NEHEMIAH 12:1). The importance of the genuinely appointed Priests and Levites to the new Israel and to the new Jerusalem as the holy city is now emphasised by providing details concerning... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GENEALOGY OF JESHUA THE HIGH PRIEST WHO WENT UP WITH ZERUBBABEL (NEHEMIAH 12:10). Central to the success of the new Israel, and the establishment of the holy city as holy, was the succession of High Priests. Jeshua (Joshua), along with large numbers of priests, had already been able to demonstra... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LEVITES WHO WERE HEADS OF FATHERS' HOUSES IN THE DAYS OF JOIAKIM THE SON OF JESHUA AND OF NEHEMIAH THE GOVERNOR AND OF EZRA THE PRIEST (NEHEMIAH 12:22). It is now pointed out by the writer that the information concerning the chiefs of the Levites in the time of Joiakim, necessary to complete th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LEVITES ARE SOUGHT OUT TO PLAY THEIR PART IN THE CELEBRATIONS (NEHEMIAH 12:27). The emphasis at the commencement of the passage on the calling together of all the Levites from all around Judah brings out that the celebratory nature of the events is being emphasised. The prime emphasis is to be... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PURIFYING OF THE HOLY CITY (NEHEMIAH 12:27 TO NEHEMIAH 13:31). The prophecies concerning Jerusalem as ‘the holy city' had in mind the coming eschatalogical age, and its consequent purification (Isaiah 52:1; Daniel 9:24), and there can be little doubt, in view of the hopes expressed in the prophe... [ Continue Reading ]
PURIFICATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS AT THE DEDICATION OF THE WALL (NEHEMIAH 12:27). Having established the newly walled Jerusalem as ‘the holy city' (Nehemiah 11:1), properly inhabited by a people who were fully faithful to YHWH (chapter 11), and having demonstrated the proper succession of a genuine pri... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PREPARATORY PURIFYING OF ALL INVOLVED (NEHEMIAH 12:30). The presence of the priests is assumed. For unlike the Levites, who were dependent on the then non-existent tithes (Nehemiah 13:10), the priests would have been continually provided for from their appointed share in the offerings and sacri... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMPOSITION OF THE FIRST COMPANY WHO WENT TOWARDS THE DUNG GATE, THE FOUNTAIN GATE AND THE STAIRS OF DAVID (NEHEMIAH 12:31). It is almost certain that the processions commenced from the Valley Gate, through which Nehemiah had previously gone to examine the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:13). Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
THOSE TAKING PART IN THE CEREMONY ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO GREAT COMPANIES WHO PROCEED TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE WALL, ONE COMPANY GOING ONE WAY AND THE OTHER COMPANY THE OTHER (NEHEMIAH 12:31). Nehemiah now divided the representatives of Judah (i.e. the new Israel) into two great companies who together wo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TWO COMPANIES MEET AND GREAT SACRIFICES ARE OFFERED (NEHEMIAH 12:38). The other procession was led by ‘those who gave thanks' (the singers and musicians) followed by Nehemiah himself, leading the other half of the aristocrats, seven named leading priests and nine named leading Levites, exactly... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MAKE-UP OF THE SECOND COMPANY (NEHEMIAH 12:40 B). Not yet having given the details of the make-up of the second company the writer now fills us in on the details. As well as the choir that led the way (‘those who gave thanks'), the second company in procession was made up of : · Nehemiah. · H... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CULMINATION OF THE CELEBRATIONS WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE TEMPLE (NEHEMIAH 12:43). The processions on or about the wall having been completed the people gathered in the Temple area and offered large numbers of sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. These would then, of course, have been partaken... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN APPOINTED OVER THE STORAGE CHAMBERS IN THE TEMPLE AND ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR THE GATHERING OF THE OFFERINGS AND TITHES FOR THE SUSTENANCE OF THE GOD-ORDAINED PRIESTS AND LEVITES (NEHEMIAH 12:44). In recognition of the new status of Jerusalem, and as a continuation of their expressions of than... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TEMPLE TREASURY, AND THE CHAMBERS TO CONTAIN THE HEAVE-OFFERINGS, FIRSTFRUITS AND TITHES THAT WERE OFFERED TO YHWH, THEIR RESTORATION, AND THE EXCLUSION OF ALL WHO RELIGIOUSLY DEFILED JERUSALEM (NEHEMIAH 12:44 TO NEHEMIAH 13:14). Equally of importance with the celebrations o... [ Continue Reading ]