Read Nehemiah 12
Priests and Levites
These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginnethon,
Abijah,
5 Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah.
These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua.
8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services.
10 Joshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada, 11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.
12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families:
of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah;
of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;
13 of Ezra’s, Meshullam;
of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;
14 of Malluk’s, Jonathan;
of Shekaniah’s, Joseph;
15 of Harim’s, Adna;
of Meremoth’s, Helkai;
16 of Iddo’s, Zechariah;
of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;
17 of Abijah’s, Zikri;
of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;
18 of Bilgah’s, Shammua;
of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;
19 of Joiarib’s, Mattenai;
of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;
20 of Sallu’s, Kallai;
of Amok’s, Eber;
21 of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah;
of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.
22 The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.
25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.
Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem
27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.
31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.
38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.
40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.
44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.
Go Deeper
This chapter in Nehemiah is really what the whole book has been building toward. The wall has been rebuilt, exiles have returned to Jerusalem, and the people of God now are able to celebrate His faithfulness. This passage gives us a detailed instruction of who was there for the dedication and describes exactly what took place. While it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the list of names and places, this chapter gives us an important lesson as followers of Jesus today. These people have just seen God answer a prayer, and they were willing to stop everything else in their life to make time for celebration.
Unfortunately for us, the speed of our lives frequently prevents these types of celebrations from taking place. We may want to be grateful, but we just don’t have the time for it. When God answers a prayer for us, we’re prone to just start worrying about the next problem in our life. If our life lacks a dedicated time for joy-filled celebration (both individually and corporately), our relationship with Jesus will be stunted. We will begin to believe that we are doing more for Him, than what He has done for us.
This dedication ceremony would certainly have an important role for the Jewish people in the days ahead. There would surely be times where they would lack faith in God or a desire for God. But on those days, they could remind each other of this day of celebration of the Lord’s faithfulness. If God was able to help them rebuild the wall, couldn’t He help them in whatever situation they were in next?
On this day there was so much celebration that “The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.” (v. 43). Shouldn’t this be what our lives with Jesus look like? We should take the time to get with other believers to rejoice about what God has done in our midst. And as we rejoice, others will be able to hear and take note of the goodness of our God.
Questions
- What do you think it felt like to be at the dedication on that day?
- Why do you think it was important for everyone to be present on the day of dedication?
- Is there anything in your life for which you have failed to slow down and give God thanks?
Did You Know?
The trumpet that earlier was used as a tool to rally the workers against a potential threat (4:18) now became one of the instruments used to celebrate what God had allowed them to accomplish.
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3 thoughts on “Nehemiah 12”
I can only imagine the beauty and joy of the celebration described in this chapter. What a moving testimony and tribute to their ever faithful God! Music has always played a prominent role in my faith journey that connects me in a profound way to the Savior. I’m convicted this morning of the frenzied pace I sometimes keep. Being a recovering people-pleaser, it’s hard for me to say “no” to the multitude of opportunities that come my way. The demands of my job as a public school teacher especially over the last few years has been heavy. My motto has been “Stay in the day, for the manna & quail will surely come.” When my heart is overwhelmed I remind myself of Christ’s words in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Not only do I find rest, but joy & peace!
There are so many big answered prayers, for which I have thanked God with those who prayed for and with me. But I do not stop to thank Him with the same joy for the many answered prayers throughout the day. Those prayers for safety to and from work and activities, for the provisions of daily life, and for the freedoms often overlooked are just as important to celebrate as the healing from cancer, COVID, and other crises. Thank you, Lord, for every little answered prayer!
It is amazing how God works in my life, he blesses me everyday, I feel I do give thanks, but it is so small in comparison for what he deserves. I will work a lot harder, and “make time” for thanking my Lord and Savior.
This is an awesome story of the Bible…enjoy reading it again.