Bible Commentaries

Nehemiah 12:1-16. Priests and Levites who Returned with Jeshua and Zerubbabel, and Extracts from other Lists.—The details here given were, in all probability, taken largely from the Temple archives.

Nehemiah 12:1-9. Cf. Ezra 2:36-40; Nehemiah 7:39-43.

Nehemiah 12:10 f. A fragment from a genealogical list.

Nehemiah 12:12-16. Further lists of priests and Levites.

Nehemiah 12:27-43. Dedication of the Walls of Jerusalem.—We should naturally expect this section to come after Nehemiah 6:15, where the completion of the walls is recorded; like so many others, this section has become misplaced from its original position. It is, in the main, taken from the memoirs of Nehemiah (see Nehemiah 12:31; Nehemiah 12:38; Nehemiah 12:40), though probably the compiler has left his marks upon it.

Nehemiah 12:27. they sought the Levites . . .: the Levites at this time were not living in Jerusalem, but in the country villages round (see Nem 12:28f.).

Nehemiah 12:28. the villages of the Netophathites: cf. 1 Chronicles 9:16, Ezra 2:22, Nehemiah 7:26.

Nehemiah 12:30. purified themselves: viz. by means of sacrifices and sprinkling with the blood of the sacrifices.

Nehemiah 12:33-36. This list contains some strange names not found elsewhere; in the main it is a list of Levites.

Nehemiah 12:40. The two processions, having made the circuit of the walls, took up their positions in the open space to the east of the Temple.

Nehemiah 12:44-47. 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 with the Chronicler's ideas, so also Nem 12:46.

Nehemiah 12:47. This insertion shows that Zerubbabel and Nehemiah were the two outstanding personalities during the period so far as the civil government was concerned.—and they sanctified . . . : this is difficult to understand, but see Nehemiah 10:38 f.