Nehemiah 12

Nehemiah 12:1

The wisdom - Which God hath put into thy heart, and which appears in the works of thy hand. All that professed the Jewish religion, were to be under the jurisdiction of these judges.

Nehemiah 12:2

Let judgment - What could David himself, as king, have done more, for the honour of God, and the furtherance of religion?

Nehemiah 12:3

Blessed, &c. - Ezra cannot proceed in his story, without inserting this thankful acknowledgment of God’s goodness to him and the people.

Nehemiah 12:4

As the hand, &c. - If God gives us his hand, we are bold and chearful: if he withdraws it, we are weak as water. Whatever service we are enabled to do for God and our generation, God must have all the glory of it.

Nehemiah 12:6

As the hand, &c. - If God gives us his hand, we are bold and chearful: if he withdraws it, we are weak as water. Whatever service we are enabled to do for God and our generation, God must have all the glory of it.

Nehemiah 12:7

As the hand, &c. - If God gives us his hand, we are bold and chearful: if he withdraws it, we are weak as water. Whatever service we are enabled to do for God and our generation, God must have all the glory of it.

Nehemiah 12:8

Males - Though the males only be expressed yet doubtless they carried the women along with them, as they did the little ones.

Nehemiah 12:18

Whose names are, &c. - It seems the rest came before; so that now all the sons of that family returned.

Nehemiah 12:20

Of Levi - None who were simple Levites, and not the priests. And therefore the Levites mentioned, chap.7:7, by anticipation were not yet come to him.

Nehemiah 12:23

By the good hand - If where ministers have been wanting, the vacancies are well supplied, let us ascribe it to the good hand of God, qualifying them for the service, inclining them to it, and opening a door for them.

Nehemiah 12:26

A fast - For public mercies. Publick prayers must be made, that all who are to share in the comfort, may share in the requests for it. Afflict ourselves - For our sins; and so be qualified for the pardon of them. When we are entering on any new condition of life, our care should be to bring into it none of the guilt of the sins of our former condition. When we are in any imminent danger, let us make our peace with God, and then nothing can hurt us. Right way - A safe and prosperous journey; such a way and course as might be best for us.

Nehemiah 12:28

Intreated - He gave us an assurance of his gracious answer to our request.

Nehemiah 12:40

Sin offering - For it is the atonement that secures every mercy to us, which will not be truly comfortable, unless iniquity be taken away, and our peace made with God. They offer twelve bullocks, twelve he - goats, and ninety six rams, (eight times twelve) signifying the union of the two kingdoms. They did not any longer go two tribes one way, and ten tribes another; but all the twelve met by their representatives at the same altar.

Nehemiah 12:45

I rent - Both mine inner and my upper garment.

Nehemiah 12:46

Evening sacrifice - When the people used to assemble together. All good people ought to own those that appear and act for God against vice and profaneness. Every one that fears God, ought to stand by them, and do what he can to strengthen their hands.

Nehemiah 12:47

Heaviness - From that mournful posture, and put myself into the posture of a petitioner. He did this at the time of the evening sacrifice, because then devout people used to come into the courts of the temple, that hearing his confession, they likewise might be made sensible of the sins of the people. And he had an eye to that great propitiation, of which that sacrifice was a peculiar type.