Nehemiah 12:45

_AND 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._ The singers and the porters kept ... the ward of the purification - i:e., 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 (2 Chronicles 23:19), with whom, owing to the pressure of circumstances, it was deemed expedient that the singers should be associated as assistants....

44-47 When the solemnities of a thanksgiving day leave such impressions on ministers and people, that both are more careful and cheerful in doing their duty, they are indeed acceptable to the Lord, and turn to good account. And whatever we do, must be purified by the blood of sprinkling, and by the grace of the Holy Spirit, or it cannot be acceptable to God....

THE WARD OF THE PURIFICATION - The observances with respect to purification. Compare 1 Chronicles 23:28....

PART IV. DEDICATION OF THE WALL OF JERUSALEM UNDER NEHEMIAH AND EZRA, WITH NEHEMIAH'S ARRANGEMENT OF THE TEMPLE OFFICERS, AND HIS EFFORTS FOR THE REFORM OF RELIGION (Nehemiah 12:27-16, AND Nehemiah 13:1.). EXPOSITION DEDICATION OF THE WALL

CHAPTER 12 _ 1. Priests and Levites at the time of the return under Zerubbabel and Joshua (Nehemiah 12:1)_ 2. The descendants of Joshua, the high priest (Nehemiah 12:10) 3. The heads of the priestly houses in the time of Joiakim (Nehemiah 12:12) 4. Heads of Levitical houses (Nehemiah 12:22) 5. The dedication of the walls (Nehemiah 12:27) 6. Provisions for the priests and Levites, and other temple officials ...

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 wit

WARD. charge. GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim._ App-4....

_And both the singers and the porters kept_ R.V. AND THEY KEPT … AND SO DID THE SINGERS AND THE PORTERS. The verse, according to the rendering of the R.V. states first that the priests and Levites performed the due ceremonial obligations, and then that the same strict conformity to rule was practised by the singers and porters. The verb -kept" has to be supplied in the second clause. This is preferable to the suggestion that the second clause is one of a different character, = -and the singers and the porters were at their post according to the commandment of David" &c. The ground for this alternative rendering is the supposition that the singers and porters would not be subject to the same laws of purification. _kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification_ The word rendered -ward" means here -that which has to be observed," -a charge," in the same sense in which it occ...

7. Concern is expressed over the support of the Levites. TEXT, NEHEMIAH 12:44-47 44 On that day men were also appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served. 45 For they performed the worship of their God and the service of purification, together with the singers and the gatekeepers in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon. 46 For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times, there were leaders of the singers, songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God. 47 And so all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day

THE DEDICATION OF THE WALL OF JERUSALEM 1. The priests] The names in Nehemiah 12:1 likewise appear with some variations in Nehemiah 10:3 see also Ezra 2:36....