Neemias 12
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Neemias 12
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS A. The purpose of the lists in this chapter (and for that matter the whole book) is difficult to grasp. 1. Neh. 12:1-11 refers to those who initially returned with Zerubbabel and Joshua. 2. Neh. 12:12-26 refers to a later group: a. priests in Joiakim's (cf. Neh. 12:10) day b. Levites in Eleashib's (cf. Neh. 12:10) day 3. Neh. 12:26 implies that the list in Neh. 12:22-26 were contemporaries with Ezra and Nehemiah. 4. Neh. 10:2-8 refers to Nehemiah's day (cf. Derek Kidner, Tyndale Commentary Series, p. 122). B. In comparing all of these other lists in Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles, it seems that often priests identify themselves by a prominent ancestor instead of their personal name. The twenty-four divisions of King David (cf. 1 Chr. 23-24) become a guiding paradigm. An additional problem is that the priestly families used the same names over and over again. C. The problem of trying to put a date or historical setting to these names is clearly seen in that Mattaniah and Bakbakiah were Levitical leaders of antiphonal choirs in Zerubbabel's day (cf. Neh. 12:8-9) and Nehemiah's day (cf. Neh. 11:17).
Neemias 12:1-7
12:1 "Now these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel" The main return of exiled Israelites under Cyrus' decree occurred in 538 B.C. Documenting one's ancestry was very important for the returning exiles to verify their tribal lineage. This list is similar to, but has some differences in comparison with Ezra 2:36-39 and Neh. 7:39-47. The exact reasons for the differences are uncertain. ▣ "Ezra" This is not Ezra, the priest/scribe (cf. Ezra 7; 10; Neh. 8; 12:13,26,33,26). 12:4 "Ginnethoi" The priest's name appears as Ginnethon in Neh. 10:6; 12:16 (and the Vulgate).
Neemias 12:8-11
12:8-9 This list expands the list in Ezra 2:40-42 of Levites who returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. 12:8 "Mattaniah who was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving" This was a common name among Levitical musicians. It is also mentioned in 1 Chr. 9:15; 2 Chr. 20:14; Neh. 11:17,22; 12:8,25,35. 12:9 "Unni" The MT has (Kethiu‒written) Unno, but has a note that it should be read (Qere) as Unni. ▣ "stood opposite them in their service divisions" This may refer to liturgical or antiphonal singing aspects of worship (cf. 2 Chr. 7:6). Because of Neh. 12:24 and the term "opposite" (BDB 617), which means "in front of," it may simply refer to the Levites being divided into twenty-four groupings to share the load of ministry (cf. 1 Chr. 23:6). 12:10-11 This is a 1ist of the High Priest's family, which may run into the Greek Period. Josephus (Antiq. 11.7.8) says Judda was high priest in 322 B.C. 12:10 "Jeshua. . .Joiakim. . .Eliashib" Jeshua was the descendant of the last high priest when Jerusalem fell in 586 B.C. (cf. Ezra 3:2). Eliashib was the chief priest when Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem in 445 B.C. (cf. Neh. 3:1).
Neemias 12:12-21
12:14 "Malluchi" In Neh. 12:2 the name is spelled Malluch. ▣ "Shebaniah" Many assume he is the same as Shecaniah of Neh. 12:3. 12:15 "Meraioth" Many assume he is the same as Meremoth of Neh. 12:3. ▣ "Helkai" Many assume he is the Hilkiah of Neh. 12:7. 12:16 "Zechariah" This is the post-exilic prophet (519 B.C., cf. Zech. 1:1) linked with Haggai, Zerubbabel, and Joshua. 12:20 "Sallai" Many assume he is the same as Sallu of Neh. 12:7.
Neemias 12:22-26
12:22 "Darius" This either refers to the reign of Darius II (423-404 B.C., i.e., Josephus is inaccurate so Derek Kidner, Tyndale Commentary, pp. 143-146) or to the reign of Darius III (336-331 B.C., if Josephus' identifications are correct). Apparently, Jewish scribes had added to the genealogies unto their day. Special Topic: Kings of Persia 12:23 "the book of the Chronicles" This does not refer to the biblical book of I and 2 Chronicles, but to the temple records which Ezra and Nehemiah draw from freely. 12:24 "the son of Kadmiel" The KJV has "Binnui." The UBS Text Project, p. 542, gives "son of" a "C" rating (considerable doubt), but suggests in its note that "son of" is probably the remains of the original reading, which was the name "Binnui." ▣ "as prescribed by David" See 1 Chronicles 23:6. ▣ "the man of God" This is a title used of Moses (cf. Deut. 33:1; Jos. 14:6). It was used of the prophets. In Hebrew theology one must be a prophet to write Scripture. Moses is called a prophet in Deuteronomy 18. David was considered to be the author of numerous Psalms; therefore, he too must be a prophet, a man of God (ish Elohim). 12:25 "the storehouses of the gates" There were storehouses in the temple in several locations. small rooms off of the central building small rooms at the gates 12:26 "in the days of Nehemiah. . .Ezra" Those who assume that Ezra 7:7 is inaccurate and place Ezra after Nehemiah usually change or delete this verse and Neh. 12:36 and 38. This debate grows out of three theories concerning Ezra 7:7, "seventh year of King Artaxerxes." The traditional view has been to date this in 457 B.C. in the reign of Artaxerxes I. A second theory has been to suppose a scribal error, which should have been "twenty-seventh year of King Artaxerxes." The third theory supposes it to refer to Artaxerxes II which would be 398 B.C. I like the first!
Neemias 12:27-30
12:27-43 This section deals with the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem, which relates back to chapter 7. The FIRST PERSON SINGULAR PRONOUN "I" appears again (cf. Neh. 12:31), as it last did in Neh. 7:5. 12:27 "cymbals, harps and lyres" These were also used in Solomon's dedication of the temple (cf. 2 Chr. 5:13). These returnees tried to mimic Solomon's rituals, procedures, and actions. 12:28 "Netophathites" This was a city near Bethlehem (cf. Ezra 2:22; Neh. 2:26). 12:29 "Beth-gilgal" Beth means "house" or "place." Gilgal means "wheel" or "circle." There are two possibilities: the first camp site of Joshua in the Promised Land (cf. Jos. 4,5,10), near Jericho a place twelve miles north of Shechem (cf. 2 Kgs. 2:1; 4:38) associated with Elijah and Elisha ▣ "Geba" This means "height" or "hill." It was a Levitical city of Benjamin (cf. Joshua 21:17; 1 Sam. 13:3; 2 Sam. 5:25; 1 Chr. 6:60; 8:6; 2 Chr. 16:6; Neh. 11:31; 12:29; Isa. 10:29; Zech. 14:10). 12:30 "purified" This VERB (BDB 372, KB 369, used twice, the first Hithpael IMPERFECT and the second Piel IMPERFECT) means "cleanse" or "purify." The Piel form denotes cleansing: the altar of incense, Lev. 16:19 the temple, 2 Chr. 29:15,16,18; Neh. 13:6 Judah and Jerusalem, 2 Chr. 34:3,5,8 of Jerusalem, Neh. 12:30 the priesthood, Neh. 13:30 the altar Ezek. 43:26 Often the cleansing was by blood or water.
Neemias 12:31-37
12:31-43 This is the official dedication of the walls. How soon it followed their construction is uncertain. It was a religious occasion much like Joshua's covenant renewal at Shechem. It is unusual to dedicate a wall in the OT, but in reality it offered protection for the holy city and its holy temple. 12:31 "two great choirs" These two processionals started on the top of the western wall about in the middle (south of the temple). This was exactly where Nehemiah had started his nighttime reconnoitering (cf. Neh. 2:13-16). Ezra led one group (Neh. 12:36) south, counter clockwise, while Nehemiah followed with the other one north, clockwise (cf. Neh. 12:38). They met on the eastern wall level with the temple (the Gate of the Guard, Neh. 12:39). For specific locations see notes at Nehemiah 3. 12:35 "trimpets" See Special Topic: Horns Used by Israel.
Neemias 12:44-47
12:44-47 This seems to be a parenthesis giving further information and not part of Nehemiah's first person account. 12:44 "tithes" See Special Topic: Tithing in the Mosaic Legislation 12:45 "in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon" See 1 Chronicles 23-26 and 2 Chr. 8:14. 12:47 The order of tithes is seen in Num. 18:21-32 (cf. Neh.10:38).