Tyndale Open Study NotesNehemiah 12

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

priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel...with Jeshua: See Ezra 1:1–5. Only those who could prove their priestly lineage could serve at the temple. Therefore, maintaining an accurate genealogical record of these families was important.

• leaders of the priests: Compare 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 continued serving in 520 BC when Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the people to complete the temple (Ezra 5:1; Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 3:1).

their associates, stood across: To perform antiphonal singing (a call-and-response style) as described in Nehemiah 12:24 and Ezra 3:1–11.

• Joiakim likely served during the early years of Ezra's service.

• Eliashib and Joiada served during Nehemiah's time (Nehemiah 3:1; 13:4, 28).

• Jonathan: An Aramaic papyrus document from a Jewish colony in Elephantine, Egypt (around 410 BC). Josephus (Antiquities 11.5.4, AD 93) also mentions Jonathan serving after Nehemiah's time.

This list was likely compiled when Joiakim was the high priest (Nehemiah 12:12) to confirm the legitimacy of the priests and Levites in office. Except for the omission of Hattush (see Nehemiah 12:2), this list includes the same names as Nehemiah 12:1–7.

• Since few Levites had returned to live in Jerusalem (see Ezra 2:40–42; 8:15–19), leaders recruited all Levites throughout the land to form two impressive choirs and orchestras.

• Netophathites came from near Bethlehem (1 Chronicles 2:54).

• Beth-gilgal was near Jericho.

• Geba and Azmaveth were in the territory of Benjamin.

The dedication of the new wall likely occurred soon after it was finished (Nehemiah 6:15–19). This account likely came from Nehemiah’s personal writings.

The dedication ceremony required the priests and Levites to be purified and ready to enter the temple area (see Exodus 19:10; Numbers 8:5–7).

The impressive march moved south along the top of the wall to the Dung Gate at the city's southern end (Nehemiah 3:13–14). Then the procession went 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 (Nehemiah 3:26; 8:1) near the temple.

Long, slender, metal trumpets were played for joyful celebrations (1 Chronicles 13:8; 15:23; 16:6, 42; Ezra 3:10) by Asaph's descendants.

• The second choir went north along the western wall, passing:

  • The Broad Wall (Nehemiah 3:8)

  • The Old City Gate (Nehemiah 3:6)

  • The Fish Gate (Nehemiah 3:3)

  They continued along the northern side of the wall until they reached the Sheep Gate (Nehemiah 3:1) at the northeast corner of the temple.

• The Guard Gate might be the Inspection Gate (Nehemiah 3:31).

This community celebration included everyone. God was the true source of their great joy because his power helped them rebuild the walls. Psalm 147 might have been written for this occasion.

On the day of the wall's dedication (Nehemiah 12:44; 13:1), men were appointed to manage the tithes and gifts for the priests and Levites' needs. Their duties included collecting people's gifts for the priests and Levites (Nehemiah 10:32–39; see also Exodus 30:11–16; 38:25–26), performing services for God (probably sacrifices; see Leviticus 1–5), and overseeing the purification of unclean people. They also purified pans, knives, and clothing used in temple worship as described in Leviticus 11–15 (see also 1 Chronicles 23:28).

David gave instructions for organizing the music at the temple (1 Chronicles 23–26). He put Asaph, along with Heman and Jeduthun, in charge of the music (1 Chronicles 25:2–5).

From the time the first people returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel in 538 BC (Ezra 3:1) until Nehemiah's time around 445 BC, Israelites provided food for temple workers. Most Levites lived in cities across the country. They collected a tithe and brought a tenth of it to the temple in Jerusalem to support its ministry (see Nehemiah 10:38–39).