Nehemiah 12:47

_AND 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._ All Israel ... sanctified holy things unto the Levites ... The people, selecting the tithes and first-fruits, devoted them to the use of the Levites, to whom their 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....

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....

Verse Nehemiah 12:47. _ALL ISRAEL - GAVE THE PORTIONS OF THE SINGERS_] The _singers_ and the _porters_ were supported by the _people at large_; and each of these had their portions served out to them _daily_. _AND THEY SANCTIFIED - UNTO THE LEVITES_] The things which were provided for _sacred uses_ were delivered by the _people_ to the _Levites_, and the Levites presented them to the _priests_. _THE CHILDREN OF AARON._] This may refer principally to the _tithes_ which the people brought to the _Levites_; the _tithe_ or _tenth_ of which the Levites gave to the priests. The presenting these _tithes_ is termed _sanctifying_ them; that is, _dedicating_ them to those sacred or ecclesiastical uses for which they were designed: this is a very general mea

The intention is to compare the religious activity and strictness of Nehemiah’s time with that which had prevailed under Zerubbabel, as described by Ezra Ezra 6:16, Ezra 6:22. It is implied that the intermediate period had been a time of laxity. THEY SANCTIFIED HOLY THINGS ... - i. e, “the people paid their tithes regularly to the Levites, and the Levites paid the tithe of the tithes to the priests.”...

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

ALL ISRAEL. Used of Judah, Benjamin, and those who returned with them. See note on 1 Kings 12:17. CHILDREN. sons....

_in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah_ The mention of Nehemiah in the 3rd person along with Zerubbabel is an almost convincing proof that the sentence was not from the hand of Nehemiah; but that it was written (probably by the Chronicler) at a considerable interval of time since Nehemiah's death. The two men are here mentioned as the two heroes of their generation, under whom Israel was loyal to their Temple. _gave … sanctified_ The participles in the Heb. show the continuous habit. _every day his portion_ R.V. AS EVERY DAY REQUIRED. In Nehemiah 11:23, we are told a daily provision for the singers was one of the commands of the Persian king: but there was also doubtless a regular daily payment on their behalf made by the people. _sanctified_holy things _unto the Levites_ R.V. SANCTIFIED FOR THE LEVITES. -They sanctified,

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