Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

12:1-26 These lists of priests and Levites include a list of those who originally returned from exile with Zerubabbel (12:1-9), a chronological list of high priests (12:10-11), and the priests and Levites who served at the time of Joiakim, the high priest at the time of Nehemiah and Ezra (12:12-26).

12:1-9 priests and Levites who returned with Zerubabbel . . . and Jeshua: See Ezra 1:1-5. Only those who could prove their priestly lineage could serve at the Temple, so it was important to maintain an accurate genealogical record of these families.

Verse 7

12:7 leaders of the priests: Cp. Ezra 2:36-39. • Jeshua was the high priest in Jerusalem when the people returned from captivity shortly after 538 BC (Ezra 2:2; 3:2, 8; 4:3). He was still serving in 520 BC when Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the people to finish building the Temple (Ezra 5:1; Hag 1:1; Zech 3:1).

Verse 8

12:8-9 Their associates . . . stood opposite: To provide antiphonal singing (12:24; Ezra 3:1-11).

Verse 10

12:10-11 Joiakim probably served in the early years of Ezra’s service. • Eliashib and Joiada served during Nehemiah’s time (3:1; 13:4, 28). • Johanan: An Aramaic papyrus document from a Jewish colony that settled in Elephantine, Egypt (about 410 BC) and Josephus (Antiquities 11.5.4, AD 93) both mention Johanan serving after Nehemiah’s time.

Verse 12

12:12-21 This list was probably compiled when Joiakim was high priest (12:12) to verify the legitimacy of the priests and Levites who were in office. Except for the omission of Hattush (see 12:2), this list contains the same names as 12:1-7.

Verse 27

12:27-43 The dedication of the new wall probably happened shortly after its completion (6:15-19). This account probably came from Nehemiah’s personal memoirs.

12:27-29 Since few Levites had returned to live in Jerusalem (see Ezra 2:40-42; 8:15-19), all those throughout the land were recruited to create two impressive choirs and orchestras. • Netophathites were from near Bethlehem (1 Chr 2:54). • Beth-gilgal was near Jericho. • Geba and Azmaveth were in the territory of Benjamin.

Verse 30

12:30 The dedication ceremony required that the priests and Levites be purified and ready to enter the Temple area (see Exod 19:10; Num 8:5-7).

Verse 31

12:31-37 This impressive march proceeded southward along the top of the wall to the Dung Gate at the southern end of the city (3:13-14). Then the procession continued north on the wall along the east side of the city, past the ruins of the house of David and up to the Water Gate (3:26; 8:1) near the Temple.

Verse 35

12:35 Long, slender, metal trumpets were played for festive, joyous occasions (1 Chr 13:8; 15:23; 16:6, 42; Ezra 3:10) by the descendants of Asaph.

Verse 38

12:38-39 The second choir . . . went northward, up the western wall past the Broad Wall (3:8), the Old City Gate (3:6), and the Fish Gate (3:3), then across the northern side of the wall until it came to the Sheep Gate (3:1) on the northeast corner of the Temple. • The Guard Gate might be the Inspection Gate (3:31).

Verse 43

12:43 This community celebration included everyone. God was the true source of their great joy because his power had enabled them to accomplish the huge task of rebuilding the walls. Psalm 147 might have been written for this occasion.

Verse 44

12:44-47 On that day, the day of the dedication of the wall (12:44; 13:1), men were appointed to take care of the tithes and gifts given for the physical needs of the priests and Levites. Their duties were to collect the gifts of the people for the priests and Levites (10:32-39; see also Exod 30:11-16; 38:25-26), to perform the service of their God (probably sacrifices; see Lev 1–5), and to oversee the service of purification of those people who were unclean. They also purified pans, knives, and clothing used in Temple worship as described in Lev 11–15 (see also 1 Chr 23:28).

Verse 46

12:46 David had given instructions for ordering the music at the Temple (1 Chr 23–26), and he had put Asaph, along with Heman and Jeduthun, in charge of the music (1 Chr 25:2-5).

Verse 47

12:47 From the time of the first returnees to Jerusalem in the days of Zerubbabel in 538 BC (Ezra 3:1) until the time of Nehemiah around 445 BC, Israelites brought food for those working at the Temple. Most of the Levites lived in cities around the country; they collected the tithe and brought a tenth of what they received to the Temple in Jerusalem to support its ministry (see Neh 10:38-39).