Nehemiah 12 — MAS

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12וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָל֛וּ עִם־זְרֻבָּבֶ֥ל בֶּן־שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵ֖ל וְיֵשׁ֑וּעַ שְׂרָיָ֥ה יִרְמְיָ֖ה עֶזְרָֽא׃^{Verse 2}אֲמַרְיָ֥ה מַלּ֖וּךְ חַטּֽוּשׁ׃^{Verse 3}שְׁכַנְיָ֥ה רְחֻ֖ם מְרֵמֹֽת׃^{Verse 4}עִדֹּ֥וא גִנְּתֹ֖וי אֲבִיָּֽה׃^{Verse 5}מִיָּמִ֥ין מַֽעַדְיָ֖ה בִּלְגָּֽה׃^{Verse 6}שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה וְיֹויָרִ֖יב יְדַֽעְיָֽה׃^{Verse 7}סַלּ֣וּ עָמֹ֔וק חִלְקִיָּ֖ה יְדַֽעְיָ֑ה אֵ֣לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֧י הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים וַאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם בִּימֵ֥י יֵשֽׁוּעַ׃ פ^{Verse 8}וְהַלְוִיִּ֗ם יֵשׁ֧וּעַ בִּנּ֛וּי קַדְמִיאֵ֥ל שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה יְהוּדָ֣ה מַתַּנְיָ֑ה עַֽל־הֻיְּדֹ֖ות ה֥וּא וְאֶחָֽיו׃^{Verse 9}וּבַקְבֻּֽקְיָ֨ה *וְעֻנֹּו (וְעֻנִּ֧י) אֲחֵיהֶ֛ם לְנֶגְדָּ֖ם לְמִשְׁמָרֹֽות׃^{Verse 10}וְיֵשׁ֖וּעַ הֹולִ֣יד אֶת־יֹֽויָקִ֑ים וְיֹֽויָקִים֙ הֹולִ֣יד אֶת־אֶלְיָשִׁ֔יב וְאֶלְיָשִׁ֖יב אֶת־יֹויָדָֽע׃^{Verse 11}וְיֹויָדָע֙ הֹולִ֣יד אֶת־יֹונָתָ֔ן וְיֹונָתָ֖ן הֹולִ֥יד אֶת־יַדּֽוּעַ׃^{Verse 12}וּבִימֵי֙ יֹֽויָקִ֔ים הָי֥וּ כֹהֲנִ֖ים רָאשֵׁ֣י הָאָבֹ֑ות לִשְׂרָיָ֣ה מְרָיָ֔ה לְיִרְמְיָ֖ה חֲנַנְיָֽה׃^{Verse 13}לְעֶזְרָ֣א מְשֻׁלָּ֔ם לַאֲמַרְיָ֖ה יְהֹוחָנָֽן׃^{Verse 14}*לִמְלוּכִי (לִמְלִ֙יכוּ֙) יֹֽונָתָ֔ן לִשְׁבַנְיָ֖ה יֹוסֵֽף׃^{Verse 15}לְחָרִ֣ם עַדְנָ֔א לִמְרָיֹ֖ות חֶלְקָֽי׃^{Verse 16}*לַעֲדָיָא (לְעִדֹּ֥וא) זְכַרְיָ֖ה לְגִנְּתֹ֥ון מְשֻׁלָּֽם׃^{Verse 17}לַאֲבִיָּ֖ה זִכְרִ֑י לְמִ֨נְיָמִ֔ין לְמֹועַדְיָ֖ה פִּלְטָֽי׃^{Verse 18}לְבִלְגָּ֣ה שַׁמּ֔וּעַ לִֽשְׁמַעְיָ֖ה יְהֹונָתָֽן׃^{Verse 19}וּלְיֹויָרִ֣יב מַתְּנַ֔י לִֽידַֽעְיָ֖ה עֻזִּֽי׃^{Verse 20}לְסַלַּ֥י קַלָּ֖י לְעָמֹ֥וק עֵֽבֶר׃^{Verse 21}לְחִלְקִיָּ֣ה חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה לִֽידַֽעְיָ֖ה נְתַנְאֵֽל׃^{Verse 22}הַלְוִיִּם֩ בִּימֵ֨י אֶלְיָשִׁ֜יב יֹויָדָ֤ע וְיֹוחָנָן֙ וְיַדּ֔וּעַ כְּתוּבִ֖ים רָאשֵׁ֣י אָבֹ֑ות וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים עַל־מַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ הַפָּֽרְסִֽי׃ פ^{Verse 23}בְּנֵ֤י לֵוִי֙ רָאשֵׁ֣י הָֽאָבֹ֔ות כְּתוּבִ֕ים עַל־סֵ֖פֶר דִּבְרֵ֣י הַיָּמִ֑ים וְעַד־יְמֵ֖י יֹֽוחָנָ֥ן בֶּן־אֶלְיָשִֽׁיב׃^{Verse 24}וְרָאשֵׁ֣י הַ֠לְוִיִּם חֲשַׁבְיָ֨ה שֵֽׁרֵבְיָ֜ה וְיֵשׁ֤וּעַ בֶּן־קַדְמִיאֵל֙ וַאֲחֵיהֶ֣ם לְנֶגְדָּ֔ם לְהַלֵּ֣ל לְהֹודֹ֔ות בְּמִצְוַ֖ת דָּוִ֣יד אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים מִשְׁמָ֖ר לְעֻמַּ֥ת מִשְׁמָֽר׃^{Verse 25}מַתַּנְיָ֧ה וּבַקְבֻּֽקְיָ֛ה עֹבַדְיָ֥ה מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם טַלְמֹ֣ון עַקּ֑וּב שֹׁמְרִ֤ים שֹֽׁועֲרִים֙ מִשְׁמָ֔ר בַּאֲסֻפֵּ֖י הַשְּׁעָרִֽים׃^{Verse 26}אֵ֕לֶּה בִּימֵ֛י יֹויָקִ֥ים בֶּן־יֵשׁ֖וּעַ בֶּן־יֹוצָדָ֑ק וּבִימֵי֙ נְחֶמְיָ֣ה הַפֶּחָ֔ה וְעֶזְרָ֥א הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הַסֹּופֵֽר׃ פ^{Verse 27}וּבַחֲנֻכַּ֞ת חֹומַ֣ת יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם בִּקְשׁ֤וּ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּם֙ מִכָּל־מְקֹ֣ומֹתָ֔ם לַהֲבִיאָ֖ם לִֽירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם לַעֲשֹׂ֨ת חֲנֻכָּ֤ה וְשִׂמְחָה֙ וּבְתֹודֹ֣ות וּבְשִׁ֔יר מְצִלְתַּ֖יִם נְבָלִ֥ים וּבְכִנֹּרֹֽות׃^{Verse 28}וַיֵּאָ֣סְפ֔וּ בְּנֵ֖י הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים וּמִן־הַכִּכָּר֙ סְבִיבֹ֣ות יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וּמִן־חַצְרֵ֖י נְטֹפָתִֽי׃^{Verse 29}וּמִבֵּית֙ הַגִּלְגָּ֔ל וּמִשְּׂדֹ֥ות גֶּ֖בַע וְעַזְמָ֑וֶת כִּ֣י חֲצֵרִ֗ים בָּנ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ הַמְשֹׁ֣רֲרִ֔ים סְבִיבֹ֖ות יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃^{Verse 30}וַיִּֽטַּהֲר֔וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֑ם וַֽיְטַהֲרוּ֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם וְאֶת־הַשְּׁעָרִ֖ים וְאֶֽת־הַחֹומָֽה׃^{Verse 31}וָאַעֲלֶה֙ אֶת־שָׂרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה מֵעַ֖ל לַחֹומָ֑ה וָאַעֲמִ֡ידָה שְׁתֵּ֣י תֹודֹת֩ גְּדֹולֹ֨ת וְתַהֲלֻכֹ֤ת לַיָּמִין֙ מֵעַ֣ל לַחֹומָ֔ה לְשַׁ֖עַר הָאַשְׁפֹּֽת׃^{Verse 32}וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ אַחֲרֵיהֶם֙ הֹושַׁ֣עְיָ֔ה וַחֲצִ֖י שָׂרֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃^{Verse 33}וַעֲזַרְיָ֥ה עֶזְרָ֖א וּמְשֻׁלָּֽם׃^{Verse 34}יְהוּדָה֙ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֖ה וְיִרְמְיָֽה׃ ס^{Verse 35}וּמִבְּנֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בַּחֲצֹצְרֹ֑ות זְכַרְיָ֨ה בֶן־יֹֽונָתָ֜ן בֶּן־שְׁמַֽעְיָ֗ה בֶּן־מַתַּנְיָה֙ בֶּן־מִ֣יכָיָ֔ה בֶּן־זַכּ֖וּר בֶּן־אָסָֽף׃^{Verse 36}וְֽאֶחָ֡יו שְֽׁמַעְיָ֡ה וַעֲזַרְאֵ֡ל מִֽלֲלַ֡י גִּֽלֲלַ֡י מָעַ֞י נְתַנְאֵ֤ל וִֽיהוּדָה֙ חֲנָ֔נִי בִּכְלֵי־שִׁ֥יר דָּוִ֖יד אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעֶזְרָ֥א הַסֹּופֵ֖ר לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃^{Verse 37}וְעַל֩ שַׁ֨עַר הָעַ֜יִן וְנֶגְדָּ֗ם עָלוּ֙ עַֽל־מַעֲלֹות֙ עִ֣יר דָּוִ֔יד בַּֽמַּעֲלֶ֖ה לַחֹומָ֑ה מֵעַל֙ לְבֵ֣ית דָּוִ֔יד וְעַ֛ד שַׁ֥עַר הַמַּ֖יִם מִזְרָֽח׃^{Verse 38}וְהַתֹּודָ֧ה הַשֵּׁנִ֛ית הַהֹולֶ֥כֶת לְמֹ֖ואל וַאֲנִ֣י אַחֲרֶ֑יהָ וַחֲצִ֨י הָעָ֜ם מֵעַ֣ל לְהַחֹומָ֗ה מֵעַל֙ לְמִגְדַּ֣ל הַתַּנּוּרִ֔ים וְעַ֖ד הַחֹומָ֥ה הָרְחָבָֽה׃^{Verse 39}וּמֵעַ֣ל לְשַֽׁעַר־אֶ֠פְרַיִם וְעַל־שַׁ֨עַר הַיְשָׁנָ֜ה וְעַל־שַׁ֣עַר הַדָּגִ֗ים וּמִגְדַּ֤ל חֲנַנְאֵל֙ וּמִגְדַּ֣ל הַמֵּאָ֔ה וְעַ֖ד שַׁ֣עַר הַצֹּ֑אן וְעָ֣מְד֔וּ בְּשַׁ֖עַר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃^{Verse 40}וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֛דְנָה שְׁתֵּ֥י הַתֹּודֹ֖ת בְּבֵ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַאֲנִ֕י וַחֲצִ֥י הַסְּגָנִ֖ים עִמִּֽי׃^{Verse 41}וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים אֶלְיָקִ֡ים מַעֲשֵׂיָ֡ה מִ֠נְיָמִין מִיכָיָ֧ה אֶלְיֹועֵינַ֛י זְכַרְיָ֥ה חֲנַנְיָ֖ה בַּחֲצֹצְרֹֽות׃^{Verse 42}וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֨ה וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֜ה וְאֶלְעָזָ֧ר וְעֻזִּ֛י וִֽיהֹוחָנָ֥ן וּמַלְכִּיָּ֖ה וְעֵילָ֣ם וָעָ֑זֶר וַיַּשְׁמִ֙יעוּ֙ הַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים וְיִֽזְרַחְיָ֖ה הַפָּקִֽיד׃^{Verse 43}וַיִּזְבְּח֣וּ בַיֹּום־הַ֠הוּא זְבָחִ֨ים גְּדֹולִ֜ים וַיִּשְׂמָ֗חוּ כִּ֤י הָאֱלֹהִים֙ שִׂמְּחָם֙ שִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדֹולָ֔ה וְגַ֧ם הַנָּשִׁ֛ים וְהַיְלָדִ֖ים שָׂמֵ֑חוּ וַתִּשָּׁמַ֛ע שִׂמְחַ֥ת יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם מֵרָחֹֽוק׃^{Verse 44}וַיִּפָּקְד֣וּ בַיֹּום֩ הַה֨וּא אֲנָשִׁ֜ים עַל־הַנְּשָׁכֹ֗ות לָאֹ֨וצָרֹ֥ות לַתְּרוּמֹות֮ לָרֵאשִׁ֣ית וְלַמַּֽעַשְׂרֹות֒ לִכְנֹ֨וס בָּהֶ֜ם לִשְׂדֵ֤י הֶעָרִים֙ מְנָאֹ֣ות הַתֹּורָ֔ה לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֑ם כִּ֚י שִׂמְחַ֣ת יְהוּדָ֔ה עַל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים וְעַל־הַלְוִיִּ֖ם הָעֹמְדִֽים׃^{Verse 45}וַֽיִּשְׁמְר֞וּ מִשְׁמֶ֤רֶת אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶם֙ וּמִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַֽטָּהֳרָ֗ה וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֑ים כְּמִצְוַ֥ת דָּוִ֖יד שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בְנֹֽו׃^{Verse 46}כִּֽי־בִימֵ֥י דָוִ֛יד וְאָסָ֖ף מִקֶּ֑דֶם *רֹאשׁ (רָאשֵׁי֙) הַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים וְשִׁיר־תְּהִלָּ֥ה וְהֹדֹ֖ות לֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃^{Verse 47}וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֩ בִּימֵ֨י זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל וּבִימֵ֣י נְחֶמְיָ֗ה נֹֽתְנִ֛ים מְנָיֹ֛ות הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֥ים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֖ים דְּבַר־יֹ֣ום בְּיֹומֹ֑ו וּמַקְדִּשִׁים֙ לַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם מַקְדִּשִׁ֖ים לִבְנֵ֥י אַהֲרֹֽן׃ פ

Commentary

Introduction

Account of the priests and Levites that come up with Zerubbabel, Neh 12:1-7. Of the Levites, Neh 12:8-21. The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Neh 12:22-26. Of the dedication of the wall, and its ceremonies, vv. 27-43. Different officers appointed, Neh 12:44-47.

Now these are the priests - Not the whole, but the chief of them, as we are informed, Neh 12:7, Neh 12:22, Neh 12:23, and Neh 12:24. The Septuagint omit Neh 12:3, except the word Shechaniah; as also Neh 12:4, Neh 12:5,Neh 12:6, Neh 12:9,Neh 12:37, Neh 12:38, Neh 12:39, Neh 12:40, and Neh 12:41. The Arabic omits the first twenty-six verses, and Neh 12:29. Mention is made of Ezra in this verse; and he is generally allowed to be that Ezra whose book the reader has already passed over, and who came to Jerusalem in the time of Cyrus, with Zerubbabel. If this were the same, he must have been at this time upward of a hundred years of age: and this case is not improbable, as an especial providence might preserve such a very useful man beyond the ordinary age of men. See what has been said on the case of Nehemiah, Neh 1:1 (note).

The chief of the priests - They were twenty-four orders or courses in number, all subordinate to each other; as established by David, Ch1 24:18. And these orders or courses were continued till the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. See Calmet.

Over the thanksgiving - The principal singers: See on Neh 11:17 (note).

Jaddua - This was probably the high priest who went in his pontifical robes, accompanied by his brethren, to meet Alexander the Great, when he was advancing towards Jerusalem, with the purpose to destroy it, after having conquered Tyre and Gaza. Alexander was so struck with the appearance of the priest, that he forbore all hostilities against Jerusalem, prostrated himself before Jaddua, worshipped the Lord at the temple, and granted many privileges to the Jews. See Josephus, Ant. lib. xi., c. 3, and Prideaux's Connections, lib. 7, p. 695. To the reign of Darius the Persian - Calmet maintains that this must have been Darius Codomanus, who was defeated by Alexander the Great: but Archbishop Usher understands it of Darius Nothus, in whose reign he thinks Jaddua was born, who was high priest under Darius Codomanus.

The book of the chronicles - This is not the book of Chronicles which we have now, no such list being found in it; but some other book or register, which is lost.

The thresholds of the gates - Some understand this of a sort of porticoes at the gates, and are puzzled about it, because they find no mention of porticoes elsewhere: but why may we not suppose these to resemble our watch-boxes or some temporary moveable shelters for those who took care of the gates? That there must have been some such conveniences, common sense dictates.

At the dedication of the wall - They sent for the Levites from all quarters, that this dedication might be as solemn and majestic as possible; and it is likely that this was done as soon as convenient after the walls were finished. The dedication seems to have consisted in processions of the most eminent persons around the walls, and thanksgivings to God, who had enabled them to bring the work to so happy a conclusion: and no doubt to all this were added a particular consecration of the city to God, and the most earnest invocation that he would take it under his guardian care, and defend it and its inhabitants against all their enemies. The ancients consecrated their cities to the gods, and the very walls were considered as sacred. Ovid gives us an account of the ceremonies used in laying the foundations of the walls of the city of Rome, by Romulus. After having consulted together who should give name to the city, and have the direction of the wall by which it was necessary to surround it, they agreed to let the case be decided by the flight of birds. One brother went to the top of the Mons Palatinus, the other to that of Mount Aventine. Romulus saw twelve birds, Remus saw but six; the former, therefore, according to agreement, took the command. The poet thus describes the ceremonies used on the occasion: - Apta dies legitur, qua moenia signet aratro; Sacra Palis suberant; inde movetur opus. Fossa fit ad solidum: fruges jaciuntur in ima. Et de vicino terra petita solo Fossa repletur humo, plenaeque imponitur ara; Et novus accenso finditur igne focus. Inde, premens stivam, designat moenia sulco; Alba jugum niveo cum bove vacca tulit. Vox tuit haec regis; Condenti Jupiter urbem, Et genitor Mavors, Vestaque mater ades: Quosque pium est adhibere deos, advertite cuncti: Auspicibus vobis hoc mihi surgat opus. Longa sit huic aetas, dominaeque potentia terrae: Sitque sub hac oriens occiduusque dies! Ille precabatur. Ovid, Fast. lib. iv., ver. 819. "A proper day is chosen in which he may mark out the walls with the plough: the festival of Pales was at hand when the work was begun. A ditch is dug down to the solid clay, into which they cast the fruits of the season; and bring earth from the neighboring ground, with which they fill up the trench; and on it build an altar, by whose flames the newly made hearth is cleft asunder. Then Romulus, seizing the plough, which a white heifer yoked with a snowy bull drew along, marked out the walls with a furrow. And thus spoke the king: 'O Jupiter, and Father Mars, with Matron Vesta, prosper me in founding this city! And all ye gods, approach, whomsoever it is right to invoke! Under your auspices may the work arise; may it endure for countless ages, and be the mistress of the world; and may the East and the West be under its control!' Thus he prayed." The above is a literal version, and the account is not a little curious.

From the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth - Or, from Beth-Gilgal; a village erected in the place where the Israelites encamped after they had, under the direction of Joshua, passed over Jordan.

The priests and the Levites purified themselves - This consisted in washings, abstinence from wine, and other matters, which, on all other occasions, were lawful. And as to the purifying of the gates and the walls, nothing was requisite but to remove all filth from the former, and all rubbish that might have been laid against the latter.

Then I brought up the princes - Perhaps this verse should be read thus: "Then I caused the princes of Judah to go upon the wall, and appointed two great choirs, [to sing praises], and two processions, one on the right hand, etc. The following seems to have been the order of the procession: he divided the priests, the Levites, the magistrates, and the people into two companies; each company to go round one half of the wall. They began at the dung gate, one party going to the right and the other to the left, till they met at the great space opposite to the temple, where they all offered many sacrifices to God, and rejoiced with exceeding great joy; shouting so that the noise was heard a great way off.

The broad wall - What part this was, we know not: it might have been a place designed for a public promenade, or a parade for assembling the troops or guard of the temple.

All Israel - gave the portions of the singers - The singers and the porters were supported by the people at large; and each of these had their portions served out to them daily. And they sanctified - unto the Levites - The things which were provided for sacred uses were delivered by the people to the Levites, and the Levites presented them to the priests. The children of Aaron - This may refer principally to the tithes which the people brought to the Levites; the tithe or tenth of which the Levites gave to the priests. The presenting these tithes is termed sanctifying them; that is, dedicating them to those sacred or ecclesiastical uses for which they were designed: this is a very general meaning of the word sanctify in Scripture.

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