# Nehemiah 12 đź“–: The Wall Is Dedicated
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## The Priests and the Levites Who Returned to Jerusalem
[[#Verse 10.]] These are the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
[[#Verse 02.]]Â Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,Â
[[#Verse 03.]]Â Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,Â
[[#Verse 04.]] Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,Â
[[#Verse 05.]]Â Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,Â
[[#Verse 06.]]Â Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,Â
[[#Verse 07.]] Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and their colleagues in the days of Jeshua.
[[#Verse 08.]] And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who together with his colleagues was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] Bakbukiah and Unni, their colleagues, stood opposite them in the services.
[[#Verse 10.]] Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim was the father of Eliashib, Eliashib was the father of Joiada,Â
[[#Verse 11.]]Â Joiada was the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.
[[#Verse 12.]]Â In the days of Joiakim, these were the priests who were leaders of the families: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;Â
[[#Verse 13.]]Â of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
[[#Verse 14.]] of Malluch, Jonathan; of Shecaniah, Joseph;Â
[[#Verse 15.]] of Harim, Adna; of Meremoth, Helkai;Â
[[#Verse 10.]]6 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;Â
[[#Verse 17.]] of Abijah, Zicri; of Miniamin and of Moadiah, Piltai;Â
[[#Verse 18.]]Â of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;Â
[[#Verse 19.]]Â of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;Â
[[#Verse 20.]] of Sallu, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;Â
[[#Verse 21.]]Â of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
[[#Verse 22.]] As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua the heads of families were recorded, as were the priests during the reign of Darius the Persian.Â
[[#Verse 23.]] The descendants of Levi were recorded in the Book of the Chronicles as heads of families up to the days of Johanan son of Eliashib.Â
[[#Verse 24.]] And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their colleagues, who stood opposite them to offer praise and thanks, one contingent corresponding to the other, as specified by David the man of God.
[[#Verse 25.]]Â Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who were guarding the storerooms at the gates.Â
[[#Verse 26.]]Â These all served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priestly scribe.
## The Wall of Jerusalem is Dedicated
[[#Verse 27.]] At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out the Levites from all the places they lived to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication joyfully with songs of thanksgiving and songs accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.Â
[[#Verse 28.]] The singers were also assembled from the district around Jerusalem and from the settlements of the NetophathitesÂ
[[#Verse 29.]]Â and from Beth Gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built settlements for themselves around Jerusalem.Â
[[#Verse 30.]]Â When the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
[[#Verse 31.]] I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on the top of the wall southward toward the Dung Gate.Â
[[#Verse 32.]]Â Going after them were Hoshaiah, half the leaders of Judah,
[[#Verse 33.]]Â Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,Â
[[#Verse 34.]]Â Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah,Â
[[#Verse 35.]] some of the priests with trumpets, Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,Â
[[#Verse 36.]] and his colleagues—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—with musical instruments of David the man of God. (Ezra the scribe led them.)Â
[[#Verse 37.]]Â They went over the Fountain Gate and continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall. They passed the house of David and continued on to the Water Gate toward the east.
[[#Verse 38.]] The second choir was proceeding in the opposite direction. I followed them, along with half the people, on top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall,Â
[[#Verse 39.]] over the Ephraim Gate, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate. They stopped at the Gate of the Guard.
[[#Verse 40.]] Then the two choirs that gave thanks took their stations in the temple of God. I did also, along with half the officials with me,
[[#Verse 41.]] and the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with their trumpets—Â
[[#Verse 42.]] and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. The choirs sang loudly under the direction of Jezrahiah.Â
[[#Verse 43.]]Â And on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard from far away.
[[#Verse 44.]] On that day men were appointed over the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits, and tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions prescribed by the law for the priests and the Levites, for the people of Judah took delight in the priests and Levites who were ministering.
[[#Verse 45.]] They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, according to the commandment of David and his son Solomon.Â
[[#Verse 46.]] For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanks to God.Â
[[#Verse 47.]] So in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah, all Israel was contributing the portions for the singers and gatekeepers, according to the daily need. They also set aside the portion for the Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
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## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The list of priests and Levites goes back to those who returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua (12:1).
2. The high priests are listed from Jeshua to Jaddua over several generations (12:10-11).
3. Josephus mentions a high priest named Jaddua in the time of Alexander the Great, though scholars debate whether he is the same person.
4. Ezra led one choir (12:36), and Nehemiah followed the other (12:38).
5. The first choir went to the right toward the Dung Gate (12:31), and the second went the opposite way (12:38).
6. The musicians used the instruments of David, the man of God (12:36).
7. Tobiah had once mocked that a fox could break down this wall (4:3), yet now large choirs walked on top of it.
8. Men were appointed over the storerooms for contributions, firstfruits, and tithes (12:44).
9. The singers and gatekeepers served according to the commands of David and his son Solomon (12:45).
10. In the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel gave daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers (12:47).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the reason for the loudest joy of God's people. At the wall's dedication, the rejoicing of Jerusalem was heard far away (12:43), and at Jesus' birth the angel announced good news of great joy for all the people (Luke 2:10-11).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. The priests and Levites purified themselves, the people, the gates, and the wall before the dedication (12:30). Why does worship begin with being made clean?
2. Two large choirs walked the wall in opposite directions and met at the temple (12:31-40). What does this picture of unity in worship say to the church?
3. God gave them great joy, and even the women and children rejoiced (12:43). When did you last celebrate God's goodness with your whole family?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 27: Levites are gathered to celebrate the dedication with thanksgiving, songs, cymbals, harps, and lyres.
- đź“– verses 31-40: Two large thanksgiving choirs walk the wall in opposite directions and meet at the house of God.
- đź“– verse 43: God gives them great joy, and the rejoicing of Jerusalem is heard far away.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Psalm 48#Verse 12.|Psalm 48:12-14]] - Walk around Zion and count her towers.
- đź”— [[Psalm 147#Verse 02.|Psalm 147:2]] - The Lord builds up Jerusalem and gathers the exiles.
- đź”— [[2 Chronicles 05#Verse 12.|2 Chronicles 5:12-14]] - Music and praise at the dedication of Solomon's temple.
- đź”— [[Luke 02#Verse 10.|Luke 2:10-11]] - Good news of great joy for all the people.
- đź”— [[Revelation 05#Verse 11.|Revelation 5:11-13]] - Every creature worships the Lamb.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
📝 SOAP: [[Nehemiah 12 - SOAP|Don’t Forget To Celebrate]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes