Nehemiah 12:27-43
King James Version (KJV)
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.
28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;
29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.
30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
31 Then 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:
32 And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
35 And 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:
36 And 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.
37 And 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.
38 And 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;
39 And 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.
40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
43 Also 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.
By Sam E. Stone
The first part of the book of Nehemiah describes the rebuilding of the walls and gates of Jerusalem. This was completed. Today’s text tells about the dedication ceremony of the rebuilt walls that followed. Chapter 12 lists the priests and Levites who had returned to their homeland and now will participate in this joyful occasion. Likely both the Levites and the priests who lived outside Jerusalem were assigned a normal rotation of duties in the temple. On this special occasion, however, additional arrangements were made.
Dedication Participation
Nehemiah 12:31-38
Nehemiah writes again in the first person here as he explains what took place. The starting point for the two groups is not named, but many Bible scholars think that it was likely the Valley Gate. It faced west and overlooked the Central Valley next to the City of David (the oldest section of Jerusalem).
The “main attraction” of the day was the walking along the walls. The leaders and musicians were divided into two groups to give thanks—one going with Ezra, the other with Nehemiah. The participants started in opposite directions around the circuit of the wall (12:31-42). The wall was wide enough for people to walk on it easily. (It was at least nine feet in width, according to one archaeologist.)
Keith Schoville calls the processions “a celebration of the completed work and as such a stimulus to thanksgiving and a means of commitment, dedication, of the whole to God. The chanting of such psalms as 48 (especially vv. 13-14) and 147 would have provided an appropriate accompaniment.”
Many of the distinguished group of priests and Levites who led in this service are named in the text. These worship leaders were accompanied by Ezra, who led one procession, and by Nehemiah, who accompanied the other group walking at the rear. (“I followed them on top of the wall.”)
The writer lists the various musical instruments used in this time of praise and celebration as well. The priests specifically are named as those who blew the trumpets (note also Ezra 3:10). These trumpets are not shofars (ram’s horns) but metal instruments (see Numbers 10:8; 31:6; 1 Chronicles 15:24; 16:6.) The expression musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God may include other instruments in addition to those listed above (Nehemiah 12:27). Some that might have been included are the flute (see 1 Kings 1:40; Isaiah 30:29) and timbrel or tambourine (see Psalm 81:2; 149:3; 150:4).
Dedication Praise
Nehemiah 12:43
The dedication service included great sacrifices as well. While special sacrifices were not required at such a ceremony, they were nonetheless generously given. Such generosity is normal for God’s people! The apostle Paul commended the Macedonian Christians for their generous giving, even when they were actually quite poor (2 Corinthians 8). The apostle explained that “they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will” (v. 5, NIV 1984). The people of Israel did the same.
Ezra had led them in a time of repentance and rededication. Nehemiah had led them in restoring the temple and the Jerusalem wall. Their generosity confirmed their dedication. As at the earlier celebration (Ezra 3:13; 6:16), the songs and shouts of joyous praise were loud. The rejoicing of the thankful crowd could be heard far away
28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;
29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.
30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
31 Then 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:
32 And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
35 And 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:
36 And 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.
37 And 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.
38 And 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;
39 And 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.
40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
43 Also 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.
By Sam E. Stone
The first part of the book of Nehemiah describes the rebuilding of the walls and gates of Jerusalem. This was completed. Today’s text tells about the dedication ceremony of the rebuilt walls that followed. Chapter 12 lists the priests and Levites who had returned to their homeland and now will participate in this joyful occasion. Likely both the Levites and the priests who lived outside Jerusalem were assigned a normal rotation of duties in the temple. On this special occasion, however, additional arrangements were made.
Dedication Participation
Nehemiah 12:31-38
Nehemiah writes again in the first person here as he explains what took place. The starting point for the two groups is not named, but many Bible scholars think that it was likely the Valley Gate. It faced west and overlooked the Central Valley next to the City of David (the oldest section of Jerusalem).
The “main attraction” of the day was the walking along the walls. The leaders and musicians were divided into two groups to give thanks—one going with Ezra, the other with Nehemiah. The participants started in opposite directions around the circuit of the wall (12:31-42). The wall was wide enough for people to walk on it easily. (It was at least nine feet in width, according to one archaeologist.)
Keith Schoville calls the processions “a celebration of the completed work and as such a stimulus to thanksgiving and a means of commitment, dedication, of the whole to God. The chanting of such psalms as 48 (especially vv. 13-14) and 147 would have provided an appropriate accompaniment.”
Many of the distinguished group of priests and Levites who led in this service are named in the text. These worship leaders were accompanied by Ezra, who led one procession, and by Nehemiah, who accompanied the other group walking at the rear. (“I followed them on top of the wall.”)
The writer lists the various musical instruments used in this time of praise and celebration as well. The priests specifically are named as those who blew the trumpets (note also Ezra 3:10). These trumpets are not shofars (ram’s horns) but metal instruments (see Numbers 10:8; 31:6; 1 Chronicles 15:24; 16:6.) The expression musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God may include other instruments in addition to those listed above (Nehemiah 12:27). Some that might have been included are the flute (see 1 Kings 1:40; Isaiah 30:29) and timbrel or tambourine (see Psalm 81:2; 149:3; 150:4).
Dedication Praise
Nehemiah 12:43
The dedication service included great sacrifices as well. While special sacrifices were not required at such a ceremony, they were nonetheless generously given. Such generosity is normal for God’s people! The apostle Paul commended the Macedonian Christians for their generous giving, even when they were actually quite poor (2 Corinthians 8). The apostle explained that “they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will” (v. 5, NIV 1984). The people of Israel did the same.
Ezra had led them in a time of repentance and rededication. Nehemiah had led them in restoring the temple and the Jerusalem wall. Their generosity confirmed their dedication. As at the earlier celebration (Ezra 3:13; 6:16), the songs and shouts of joyous praise were loud. The rejoicing of the thankful crowd could be heard far away
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