Nehemiah 12

Nehemiah 12:1

THe Priests] namely, their heads, v. 7 [with Zerubbabell] with those that came afterwards with Ezra, Ezr. 8. 2. 3. 18. 19.

Nehemiah 12:2

Mallch] these and some others are diversly named from ver. 14 to v. 2.

Nehemiah 12:4

Abijah] from whom Zacharias his family who was Iohn Baptist his father took its name, Luke 1:5.

Nehemiah 12:7

The chiefe] according to the number of which were made two and twenty courses or divisions of turnes to waite in, in imitation of the foure and twenty made by David, 1 Chronicles 24:7. [Ieshua] high Priest, Ezra 3:2. Haggai 1:1. Zach. 3. 1.

Nehemiah 12:8

His brethren] those which were of his fathers family.

Nehemiah 12:9

Were over against] the meaning seemes to be, that of these three heads of families of singers, there were three divisions made, and the lot was drawn amongst them, one being set over against the other, in the order of their functions.

Nehemiah 12:10

Ieshua] he was the high Priest.

Nehemiah 12:12

Ioiakim] he was the sonne of Ieshua: [of Seraiah] the Priests which are named in the beginning of the chapter, being dead, these succeeded them, as well in their office, as in the dividing of their turnes to waite. But true it is that whereas before there were foure and twenty; here there are but twenty: Some doe also hold that these were descended from the other by a direct line.

Nehemiah 12:21

Darius] surnamed Codomannus, last King of Persia, who was overcome byAlexander the great.

Nehemiah 12:24

Over against them] the number of Singers being encreased, Neh. 11. 22. and 12. 9. there was a division made of them equall with the other sacred offices, so that one order was alwayes answerable to the other, see 1 Chronicles 26:12.

Nehemiah 12:25

At the thresholds] or treasuries and store-houses, see upon 1 Chron. 26. 15. 17,

Nehemiah 12:27

The dedication] that is to say, the ceremonie of blessing, and calling upon the name of the Lord, and of desiring him to bee gracious to these new buildings; especially to the publike ones, see upon Deuteronomy 20:5. Psal. 30. 1.

Nehemiah 12:29

Had builded them] see the reason, Neb. 11. 22.

Nehemiah 12:30

Purified themselves] from all legall uncleannesse, making use therein of the water of separation, or purification, Numbers 19:9. but especially by devotions, repentance, and prayers, that it might please God to sanctifie that repaired city to his service and glory, and to guard and protect it as a pure and holy thing, being the residence of his presence, and the abode of his Church.

Nehemiah 12:31

Princes] with their companies divided into hundreds & into thousands: [upon the wall] which peradventure had long covered galleries upon it, now these two companies divided themselves at the gate of the valley, Nehemiah 2:13. the one going Southward on the right hand, and the other Northward on the left: [companies]namely, of Levites and holy Singers.

Nehemiah 12:32

After them] namely, after the Levites and the Singers: [Hoshaiah] who then peradventure was the chiefe Ruler of the Tribe of Iudah, and was over all the other inferiour ones, as Nehemiah 11:9. [halfe] for the other halfe followed that procession of Singers which went Northward, ver. 38.

Nehemiah 12:37

Even unto] having gone about just the one halfe of the city.

Nehemiah 12:39

And they] went about the other halfe of the City which was Northward, without going any further, and then went directly to the Temple.

Nehemiah 12:40

And halfe] that halfe with Nehemiah went, ver. 38. under which the other also, of ver. 32. must bee comprehended, one of the which, came to the Temple, by the way of the water gate, the other by the sheep gate and the prison gate.

Nehemiah 12:44

The chambers] see 1 Chronicles 26:20. [for the offerings] of that kinde as is set down Deuteronomy 1:1-46. 6. 11. [rejoyced] and being glad to see the sacred Ministers follow their vocations, and execute their charges, he was ready and willing to pay them that which he was appointed.

Nehemiah 12:47

They sanctified] that is to say, they gave them unto them as holy things, and likewise the Levites gave the Priests the Tithes of their Tithes, Numbers 18:26.