Nehemiah 12

This chapter stands near the end of the book of Nehemiah. The list of Jerusalem's residents in Nehemiah 11 is followed by a list of priests and Levites. The chapter then records the dedication of the wall that was completed in chapter 6.

Outline

• Verses 1–7 The twenty-two heads of priestly families who returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua
• Verses 8–9 The Levites who returned. Mattaniah was in charge of the thanksgiving.
• Verses 10–11 The genealogy of the high priests: Jeshua, Joiakim, Eliashib, Joiada, Jonathan, and Jaddua
• Verses 12–21 The heads of the priestly families in the days of Joiakim
• Verses 22–26 The record of the heads of the Levites and the divisions (rotations) of the singers and gatekeepers
• Verses 27–30 Levites and singers are gathered from the places where they lived, and the priests and Levites purify themselves, the people, the gates, and the wall.
• Verses 31–39 The thanksgiving choirs are divided into two companies that march on top of the wall in opposite directions. Ezra leads one company, and Nehemiah follows behind the other.
• Verses 40–43 The two companies take their stand in the house of God and offer great sacrifices amid trumpets and singing, and the sound of rejoicing is heard far away.
• Verses 44–47 Men are appointed over the storehouses to collect the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, and daily portions are given to the singers and gatekeepers.

Key Verses

• Nehemiah 12:27 "to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps" — This shows that the rebuilding of the wall concluded in worship and thanksgiving.
• Nehemiah 12:43 "so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off" — This sums up the joy of the dedication as belonging to the whole community.

People and Places

• Jeshua — The high priest at the time of the return from exile, the son of Jozadak. He is a different person from the Levite Jeshua mentioned in verses 8 and 24.
• David and Solomon — Mentioned as the kings who established the ordinances for praise and temple service.
• Asaph — The chief of the singers in David's day.
• Jerusalem — The names of its gates and towers, including the Dung Gate, the Fountain Gate, the Water Gate, the Gate of Ephraim, and the Sheep Gate, appear along the processional route.
• Levites, priests, and the descendants of Aaron — The ministers who received and distributed the tithes.

Points for Reflection

• Jeremiah and Ezra in verse 1 are names of priestly families. They are generally regarded as different individuals from the prophet Jeremiah and from Ezra the scribe in verse 26.
• The family names in verses 1–7 and 12–21 are spelled somewhat differently (Malluch and Melicu, Rehum and Harim, and others).
• Scholars disagree about which Persian king is meant by "Darius" in verse 22 and about when the genealogy extending to Jaddua was recorded.
• Verses 31 and 38 are narrated in the first person ("I"), so they are regarded as part of Nehemiah's memoir.
• The scene of offering thanksgiving and praise together with sacrifices is sometimes read alongside the New Testament's "sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15).