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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7 responses to “Nehemiah 12”
43 “The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.”
What a beautiful picture! The closest thing I have observed during my life to this type of true community rejoicing is when a championship is won by “our team”. Would love to see that happen beyond the realm of sports into that of faith.
True!! Why is it that I have no issue making a raucous noise for my team but a subdued noise in church? I pray I can be more raucous in my praise.
Exactly!
Oh, happy day! The dedication of the wall in Jerusalem commenced including women and children.This was a pivotal moment that would be etched in their memories forever. The rebuilding of the physical wall represented rediscovering and reclaiming their identity as God’s people. Every enemy opposing their endeavor had been silenced and now they celebrated. Each year in August, HC gathers for Family Reunion to celebrate baptisms, God’s past faithfulness and collectively setting our hearts on following him into a new season. The atmosphere of rejoicing together is a small glimpse of heaven.
Celebration!!!
Wow what a fun rejoicing time I bet this was. The priests and Levites worshipped God in heartfelt gratitude for what He had done.
Do you (as asked above) stop and take time to thank God when He answers prayers? That was a hard question. Yes and no. But do I/we celebrate?
Another commentary about this chapter talked about how God used the burnt stones from the previous temple to rebuild this temple. “God does not waste your pain, He repurposes it” What a great picture of when we cry out because God didnt answer our prayers the way we thought He would or should. BUT GOD rich in mercy, has a plan/purpose for each of us. Your testimony of what you have walked through can help others through their walk. Your broken pieces and God’s faithfulness in restoring you is an amazing part of His story in your life. What we think is a tragedy can be a great testimony of burnt stones built back to glorify God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
God thank You for showing me how You use my circumstances that did not turn out like I thought and You use it for Your glory and honor if I let You. Thank You for my burnt stones. Thank You for not wasting my pain but repurposing it, to glorify and honor You. God thank You for directing my path. God thank You for compassion. God give me eyes to see what You need/want me to do today. Thank You for loving me and me loving You back. God thank You for these minutes of this day that I glorify You in all I say and do in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back 25+ years ago at our church in Michigan, we would close the service with the repeating of “Praise God, praise God…” to the tune of Amazing Grace. One young boy sang PRAISE GOD at the top of his lungs and could be heard well above the rest of the congregation. That kid had it right! PRAISE GOD!!!!!
“They offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had given them great joy”
A celebration of God’s faithfulness and the people rejoiced because they recognized God’s hand in their success.
Let us celebrate God’s faithfulness in our lives out loud, praising His goodness and grace in every season.