Nehemiahchapter 12
47 verses · BSBNehemiah book hub →
Speaks with:Nehemiah 12×11Nehemiah 3×51 Chronicles 9×4Nehemiah 8×4Nehemiah 11×3Nehemiah 13×3
Summary
Chapter summary
First the rosters: the priests and Levites who came up with Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and the generations after them; then the dedication of the wall. Levites are sought out of all their places to keep it with gladness, thanksgivings, singing, cymbals, psalteries, and harps. Two great companies of them that gave thanks go in procession upon the wall itself in opposite directions, Ezra before the one and Nehemiah after the other, until they meet in the house of God. 'They offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy… so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.'
Context
History · Nehemiah — Nehemiah overview
- A. 1–26 Priests and Levites from Zerubbabel's day down to Nehemiah's
- B. 27–30 Cymbals, psalteries, and harps sought out for the dedication
- C. 31–43 Two great companies on the wall, and joy heard far away
- D. 44–47 Portions appointed, for Judah rejoiced in the priests who served
The outline
A.Priests and Levites from Zerubbabel's day down to Nehemiah'svv. 1 to 26
Read vv. 1 to 26 →B.Cymbals, psalteries, and harps sought out for the dedicationvv. 27 to 30
Read vv. 27 to 30 →C.Two great companies on the wall, and joy heard far awayvv. 31 to 43
Read vv. 31 to 43 →D.Portions appointed, for Judah rejoiced in the priests who servedvv. 44 to 47
Read vv. 44 to 47 →
The world behind this chapter
Nehemiah 12The history
The chapter opens with lists of priests and Levites by generation, from the first return down to Nehemiah's own day — the institutional memory of the temple staff, including the ones who led the thanksgiving.
The dedication itself is one of the most cinematic scenes in the Old Testament. Levites are brought in from the surrounding villages with cymbals, psalteries and harps. The leaders are divided into two great companies that give thanks, and they go up on the wall and process in opposite directions — one right-hand toward the Dung Gate, one left toward the Water Gate — until they meet at the house of God.
The musical instruments are named as "the musical instruments of David the man of God," and Asaph's line is credited as the founders of the singers. This was a deliberate reconnection with the temple music of four hundred years earlier.
What it meant to them
Walking the wall was the proof. Every foot of stone under their feet had been rubble a year before, built by men who slept in their clothes with weapons beside them.
The verse that ends the scene says the joy was heard afar off — including, presumably, by the neighbours who had said a fox could knock it down. The chapter closes with the practical follow-through: men appointed over the storerooms for the offerings, so that the covenant of chapter 10 had somewhere to be delivered.
Sources cited
- Alfred Edersheim, The Temple: Its Ministry and Services (public domain)
- Alfred Edersheim, Bible History: Old Testament (public domain)
- K. A. Kitchen, On the Reliability of the Old Testament
The text of this chapter
This page carries no textual note on Nehemiah 12. Where this site has examined a place the manuscripts differ, the examination is in the manuscripts room. Every place this site examines →
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary.