Commentaryjournal NEHEMIAH 12
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2020 CommentaryJournal NEHEMIAH 12 .......................................................................................................................................................... 12:1–7 With the Judahite-Benjaminite settlement of their point of departure, one may well imagine Nehemiah Jerusalem.......................................................................................................................................................... and the region now documented, the account surveyingwithsomesatisfactiontheprogressthathadbeen offers a supplementary list of clerical personnel extending made since he passed through the very same gate to .......................................................................................................................................................... across multiple generations. The list is headed by those inspect the ruined walls in the dead of night on his arrival in ..........................................................................................................................................................associated with the high priesthood of Jeshua (12:1, 7) Jerusalem (Neh 2). […] during the first return under Darius I, sixteen of which (in 12:40–43 Proceeding on to the temple, the two companies ..........................................................................................................................................................varying forms) are found in the list of signatories to the take their places to give “thanks,” with the presence of the covenant in Neh 10. ..........................................................................................................................................................priests noted as well as the trumpets (12:41) and singers 12:8–26 […] Notes concerning the recording of the Levites (12:42). Here, as at the dedications of the temple (Ezra 6) ..........................................................................................................................................................and priests (Neh 12:22–23) offer a further hint of the and the altar (Ezra 3), mention is made of both joyful consuming interest (visible in these very lists) in celebration and the offering of sacrifices (Neh 12:43). […] documenting.......................................................................................................................................................... who did what in the days of the return, while The amplification of such joy is accomplished not only by 12:24 recollects those responsible not just for thanksgiving means of repetition within the verse but also by mentioning (cf........................................................................................................................................................... 11:17) but now also for “praise,”both of which are seen that the noise was so loud that it could be heard at a ..........................................................................................................................................................to have a Davidic connection (cf. Chronicles). The distance, inviting comparison with the similar sentiment in gatekeepers, familiar from 11:19, remind the reader of just Ezra 3:13. While there, in the early days of the restoration ..........................................................................................................................................................how treasured the newly rebuilt temple and its precincts we see both rejoicing and regret; here in Neh 12, at the were for the returnees, while the intention of the final verse dedicationofthewall,thesoundisnotamixtureoflaughter (12:26)maywellbetoindicatethattheserviceoftheLevites.......................................................................................................................................................... and tears, but rather one of pure, unadulterated praise. referred to in the previous verse was associated with the 12:44–47Whilethereaderhasalreadybeeninformedofthe days.......................................................................................................................................................... of Joiakim and those later days in which Ezra and people’s commitment to offer the first portions (10:35–37) Nehemiaharetobefoundtogether(whenEliashibwashigh ..........................................................................................................................................................and to bring them to the storerooms (10:38–39), the priest). oversight of these chambers and their contents is 12:27–30..........................................................................................................................................................Given the numbers of Levites already in the mentioned as being established “on that day”—that is, the capital (on the basis of the previous chapter), the day of the dedication (12:27–43). […] Having also already .......................................................................................................................................................... summoning to Jerusalem of those from towns outside detailed that the provisioning of the singers was royally ..........................................................................................................................................................(12:27; cf. 11:3, 20) hints at the scale of the celebrations to mandated (11:23), a further note here describes the means come. Their distinctive contribution “rejoicing, with of such provision (also for the gatekeepers), clarifying too thanksgivings.......................................................................................................................................................... and with singing”—anticipated already in the the process of supplying for the needs of the clerical classes foregoing lists (11:17; 12:24)—is elaborated upon here with in terms of “hallowing or setting apart.” the.......................................................................................................................................................... mention of musical instruments and indeed the recruiting of additional singers from the environs of the .......................................................................................................................................................... capital (12:28–29). That such preparations would include ..........................................................................................................................................................the purification of the Levites and the priests (12:30) is hardly unanticipated given the mention of this same practice.......................................................................................................................................................... in Ezra 6:20 at the dedication of the temple. […] ..........................................................................................................................................................12:31–39 […] To facilitate the giving of “thanks,”Nehemiah forms two great companies, the first of which, composed of ..........................................................................................................................................................leaders, priests, and musicians, is led by Ezra (12:36). Nehemiah by contrast (12:38) follows the other half of the people.......................................................................................................................................................... (also giving thanks), with the two parting company from their starting point, likely at the Valley Gate. If this was .................................................................................................................................................. -142- INTERHIGH DEVOTIONADEVOTIONS TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2020 BibleCommentary Text Nehemiah 12:1-47 (CSB) in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and in the 1 These are the priests and Levites who went up with days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe. Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: 27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sent for the Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Levites wherever they lived and brought them to Jerusalem to 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.28 The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem, from the 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 29 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, settlements of the Netophathites, from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for they had built settlements 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, for themselves around Jerusalem.30 After the priests and 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the These were the heads of the priests andtheir relatives in the city gates, and the wall. days of Jeshua. 31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall, 8 The Levites: and I appointed two large processions that gave thanks. One Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, went to the right on the wall, toward the Dung Gate.32 Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah— Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed,33 along with he and his relatives were in charge of the songs of praise. Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,34 Judah,