Nehemiah 12

1 Now these [specific, chosen] are the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] and Levites [descendants of Levi, assistants to priests] who went up [ascended, returned] with Zerubbabel [leader of Judah, governor] son of Shealtiel [Israelite from Judah, father of Zerubbabel] and with Jeshua [high priest, spiritual leader]: Seraiah [whom Jehovah has appointed], Jeremiah [Jehovah is exalted], Ezra [help, assistance], word study 2 Amariah [a high priest’s son], Malluch [a priest who returned to Jerusalem], Hattush [a descendant of David], word study 3 Shecaniah [dweller with God, Sebenias], Rehum [compassion, Rheum], Meremoth [faithful], word study 4 Iddo [a common Israelite name], Ginnethon [a priest], Abijah [a name meaning my father is the Lord], word study 5 Mijamin [from the right hand, Miamin], Maadiah [adorne, beautiful], Bilgah [exalted, lifted up], word study 6 Shemaiah [heard by God], Joiarib [Jehovah contends], Jedaiah [known by Jehovah], word study 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah [chief priests, spiritual leaders]. These were the leaders [heads, chief rulers] of the priests [those who serve God, mediators] and their associates [brothers, fellow ministers] in the days [time, era] of Jeshua [Joshua, God is salvation]. word study 8 The Levites [descendants of Levi, one of Jacob’s 12 sons] were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob], and Mattaniah, who, with his associates [fellow Levites, brethren], led the songs [choirs, hymns] of thanksgiving [praise, acclaim] [in response to God’s goodness]. word study 9 Bakbukiah [a Levite leader] and Unni [a Levite minister], their associates [brethren, close relatives], stood across from them [before, in front of] in the services [charges, watches, acts of preservation]. word study 10 Jeshua [the high priest, a leader of Israel] was the father of Joiakim [Jehovah raises up], Joiakim was the father of Eliashib [God restores], Eliashib was the father of Joiada [Jehovah knows], word study 11 Joiada [the Lord knows, Jehoiada] was the father [to beget, gave birth to] of Jonathan [Jehovah has given], and Jonathan was the father [to beget, became the ancestor] of Jaddua [a chief of the people, a Levite]. word study 12 In the days [of a specific period, a particular time] of Joiakim [Jehovah raises up], these were the heads [chiefs, leaders] of the priestly [serving God, spiritual] families: of the family [house, lineage] of Seraiah [Jehovah is ruler], Meraiah; of Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed], Hananiah [God has favored]; word study 13 of Ezra [a priest and scribe], Meshullam; of Amariah [a head priest’s son], Jehohanan [Jehovah has graced]; word study 14 of Malluchi [Melicu, a priestly clan], Jonathan [Jehovah has given]; of Shebaniah [a Levite and priest, descended from Sebanya], Joseph [Jehovah has added, a name of blessing]; word study 15 of Harim [dedicated, a priestly family], Adna [rest, a plea]; of Meraioth [rebellious, a priestly clan], Helkai [a chief, a leader]; word study 16 of Iddo [a common name among Israelites], Zechariah [Jehovah remembers]; of Ginnethon [a priest who returned to Jerusalem], Meshullam [a name given to 17 different Israelites]; word study 17 of Abijah [a king of Judah, meaning my father is the Lord], Zichri [memorial of the Lord]; of Miniamin [from the right hand, a leader] and of Moadiah [appointed assembly], Piltai [my deliverances, a priest]; word study 18 of Bilgah [a priestly clan], Shammua [a Levite]; of Shemaiah [heard by God], Jonathan [Jehovah has given, Jehonathan]; word study 19 of Joiarib [Jehovah contends, a priestly clan], Mattenai [a priest’s name]; of Jedaiah [known by Jehovah, a ruler’s name], Uzzi [strong, a Levite’s name]; word study 20 of Sallai [a man of valor], Kallai [meaning swift]; of Amok [a priest who returned to Jerusalem], Eber [a great-grandson of Shem, beyond or on the other side]; word study 21 of Hilkiah [a high priest, leader of the Israelites], Hashabiah [Jehovah has considered]; and of Jedaiah [known by Jehovah], Nethanel [given by God, a gift from the Lord]. word study 22 In the days [of significant events, a period of time] of Eliashib [God restores], Joiada [Jehovah knows], Johanan [Jehovah has graced], and Jaddua [a Levite leader], during the reign [royal authority, kingdom] of Darius [a Persian king] the Persian [from the powerful empire of Persia], the heads [chiefs, leaders] of the families [father’s households, clans] of the Levites [descendants of Levi, a tribe of Israel] and priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] were recorded [written, enrolled, to write or inscribe]. word study 23 As for the descendants [sons, offspring] of Levi [a son of Jacob and Leah], the family heads [chief fathers, leaders] up to the days [period of time, era] of Johanan [Jehovah has graced] son of Eliashib [God restores] were recorded [written, inscribed] in the Book [scroll, written document] of the Chronicles [events, histories, things spoken]. word study 24 The leaders [chiefs, heads] of the Levites [descendants of Levi, a tribe of Israel] were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua [meaning God is salvation] son of Kadmiel [a Levite who helped rebuild the temple], along with their associates [brethren, fellow Levites], who stood across from them [before them, in front of them] to give praise [to celebrate, to shine] and thanksgiving [to give thanks, to cast praise] as one section [watch, group] alternated with the other [in turn, in response], as prescribed by David [the man of God, a king of Israel] the man of God [a person who serves and obeys God]. word study 25 Mattaniah [a gift of Jehovah], Bakbukiah, Obadiah [a servant of the Lord], Meshullam, Talmon [an oppressor], and Akkub were gatekeepers [porters, door-keepers] who guarded [keeping watch, to protect] the storerooms [store-houses, collections] at the gates [thresholds, entrances]. word study 26 They served in the days [period of time, era] of Joiakim [Jehovah raises up, a high priest] son of Jeshua [God is salvation, a leader], the son of Jozadak [Jehovah is righteous, a priest], and in the days [time, season] of Nehemiah [Jehovah comforts, a leader] the governor [ruler, leader] and Ezra [help, a priest] the priest [one who serves God, a spiritual leader] and scribe [one who records, a writer]. word study 27 At the dedication [consecration, initiation] of the wall [barrier, fortification] of Jerusalem [city of peace, capital of Palestine], the Levites [descendants of Levi, priestly tribe] were sought out [searched for, looked up] from all [every, entire] their homes [places, locations] and brought to Jerusalem [city of peace, holy city] to celebrate [observe, commemorate] the joyous [glad, joyful] dedication [initiation, consecration] with thanksgiving [praise, gratitude] and singing [music, song], accompanied by cymbals [double tinklers, metal plates], harps [lyres, stringed instruments], and lyres [harp-like instruments, musical strings]. word study 28 The singers [sons of the singing men, descendants of musicians] were also assembled [gathered together, summoned] from the region [plain country, surrounding area] around Jerusalem [the city of peace], from the villages [daughter-towns, small settlements] of the Netophathites [inhabitants of Netophah, a place of dropping or spring], word study 29 from Beth-gilgal [a region in Palestine], and from the fields [lands, areas] of Geba [a city in Benjamin] and Azmaveth [strong unto death], for [because, since] they had built [established, constructed] villages [small settlements, towns] for themselves [their own use] around [surrounding, encircling] Jerusalem [the city of peace]. word study 30 After the priests [spiritual leaders, ministers] and Levites [descendants of Levi, temple servants] had purified [cleansed, made holy] themselves, they purified [cleansed, consecrated] the people [nation, community], the gates [city entrances, doorways], and the wall [barrier, fortification]. word study 31 Then I brought the leaders [rulers, princes] of Judah up on the wall, and I appointed two [a pair, a duo] great thanksgiving [praise, worship] choirs. One was to proceed [march, walk in procession] along the top of the wall to the right [on the right hand], toward the Dung Gate [the refuse gate, the gate of trash]. word study 32 Hoshaiah [a leader of Judah, Jehovah’s salvation] and half [a division, a part of] the leaders [rulers, princes] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah] followed [walked after, went behind], word study 33 along with [a priest and scribe] Azariah [a leader in Israel], Ezra [a common Israelite name], Meshullam, word study 34 Judah [a tribe of Israel], Benjamin [son of the right hand], Shemaiah [heard by God], Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed], word study 35 and some of the priests [with sacred authority] with trumpets [used for signaling important events], and also Zechariah [Jehovah remembers, a prophet and priest] son of Jonathan [Jehovah has given], the son of Shemaiah [heard by God], the son of Mattaniah [gift of Jehovah], the son of Micaiah [who is like God], the son of Zaccur [mindful], the son of Asaph [gatherer, a Levite and father of Hezekiah’s secretary], word study 36 and his associates [brethren, fellow priests]—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—with the musical instruments [of song, for worship] prescribed by David [a king after God’s heart] the man of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]. Ezra [a recorder of God’s words] the scribe led the procession [marched in front of them, guided them]. word study 37 At the Fountain Gate [by the spring, near the water source] they climbed the steps [stairs, ascent] of the City [town, settlement] of David [the king] on the ascent [upward movement, going up] to the wall [barrier, protection] and passed above [over, upon] the house [dwelling place, palace] of David to the Water Gate [eastern entrance, gateway to refreshment] on the east [direction of sunrise, morning]. word study 38 The second [subsequent, following] thanksgiving [praise, worship] choir proceeded to the left [opposite side, in the opposite direction], and I [as a leader, personally] followed it with half [a portion, a division] the people [nation, community] along the top [above, upon] of the wall [barrier, fortification], past the Tower [elevated structure, watchtower] of the Ovens [furnaces, place of fire] to the Broad [wide, spacious] Wall [barrier, protection], word study 39 over the Gate [old gate, Jeshanah Gate] of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate [old gate, a town near Bethel], the Fish Gate [where fish were sold], the Tower of Hananel [God has favored], and the Tower of the Hundred [a specific tower on the north rampart], as far as [till, up to] the Sheep Gate [a gate for the flock]. And they stopped [stood still, came to a halt] at the Gate [door, entrance] of the Guard [guardhouse, prison, watchmen]. word study 40 The two [a pair, a dual group] thanksgiving [praise, worship] choirs then stood [in a strong sense, firmly] in the house [dwelling place, temple] of God [Elohim, the supreme Being], as did I [myself, personally], along with the half [a part, a division] of the officials [rulers, leaders] accompanying [with, together] me, word study 41 as well as the priests [with sacred duties, serving God] with their trumpets [wind instruments, signaling important events]—Eliakim [a king of Judah, son of Josiah], Maaseiah [work of Jehovah], Miniamin [a Levite in Hezekiah’s time], Micaiah [who is like God, a prophetic name], Elioenai [unto Jehovah are my eyes, a name of devotion], Zechariah [Jehovah remembers, a name of faith], and Hananiah [God has favored, a name of gratitude]— word study 42 and also Maaseiah [work of Jehovah], Shemaiah [heard by God], Eleazar [God has helped], Uzzi [strong], Jehohanan [Jehovah has graced], Malchijah [my king is Jehovah], Elam [eternal], and Ezer [help]. Then the choirs [singers, musicians] sang out [loud, with strong voices] under the direction [oversight, leadership] of Jezrahiah [God will shine]. word study 43 On that day [after their dedication, in a time of celebration] they offered great [numerous, abundant] sacrifices, rejoicing [with heartfelt joy, gladness] because God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] had given them great [abundant, overflowing] joy [happiness, delight]. The women [wives, females] and children [youth, young ones] also rejoiced [were glad, celebrated], so that the joy [happiness, rejoicing] of Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital] was heard [perceived, noticed] from afar [a distant place, far away]. word study 44 And on that same day [at the same time, simultaneously] men [individuals, leaders] were appointed [designated, chosen] over the rooms [chambers, storage areas] that housed [contained, stored] the supplies [provisions, resources], contributions [offerings, gifts], firstfruits [the initial harvest, the best part], and tithes [a tenth of the produce, a portion]. The portions [allocations, shares] specified [ordained, prescribed] by the Law [instruction, Torah] for the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] and Levites [assistants, servants] were gathered [collected, brought] into these storerooms [treasuries, repositories] from the fields [lands, countryside] of the villages [cities, towns], because Judah [the tribe, the people] rejoiced [was glad, delighted] over the priests [spiritual leaders, ministers] and Levites [assistants, servants] who were serving [ministering, attending]. word study 45 They performed the service [duty, worship] of their God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] and the service [charge, purification rites] of purification [cleansing, sanctification], along with the singers [music-makers, worship leaders] and gatekeepers [porters, doorkeepers], as David [the king] and his son Solomon [the wise king, successor of David] had prescribed [commanded, ordained]. word study 46 For long ago [in the past, from ancient times], in the days [periods of time, eras] of David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] and Asaph [a Levite, the father of Hezekiah’s secretary], there were directors [chiefs, leaders, heads] for the singers [musicians, those who sing] and for the songs [hymns, musical expressions] of praise [thanksgiving, worship] and thanksgiving [gratitude, acknowledgment, to give thanks] to God [Elohim, the supreme Creator, the one supreme God]. word study 47 So in the days [of restoration and return] of Zerubbabel [a leader of Judah] and Nehemiah [Jehovah’s comfort, a governor of Judah], all Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] contributed the daily portions [a regular, allotted share] for the singers [those who sang, led worship] and gatekeepers [porters, responsible for guarding the temple gates]. They also set aside daily portions [a regular, allotted share] for the Levites [descendants of Levi, one of Jacob’s sons], and the Levites set aside daily portions [a regular, allotted share] for the descendants [sons, heirs] of Aaron [the first high priest, brother of Moses]. word study