Neh. 12 The priests, Neh. 12:1–7, and Levites which came up with Zerubbabel, Neh. 12:8–9. The succession of high priests, Neh. 12:10–21. Certain chief Levites, Neh. 12:22–26. The manner of dedicating the wall, Neh. 12:27–43. The offices of priests and Levites, Neh.

The priests, i.e. the chief of the priests, as they are called here, Neh. 12:7, to wit, the heads of those twenty-four courses which David appointed by Divine direction, 1 Chron. 24:0. And whereas there are twenty-four, and here but twenty-two, and Neh. 12:12;c.

In the repetition of Malluch’s and some other men’s names hereafter, Neh. 12:14;c., there are some small variations, which are very frequent in that language.

The progenitor of John the Baptist, Luke 1:5.

Of their brethren, i.e. of the priests, who were their brethren.

i.e. In the places where they were appointed to stand, and wait, and perform their office, one standing over against another, as it is explained, Neh. 12:24, ward over against ward; for the Hebrew word is the same there and here. Others, according to their turns, or courses, of which see 1 Chron.

Here follows a catalogue of the Jewish high priests; which was the more necessary, because their times were now to be measured, not by the years of their kings, as formerly, but by their high priests. Eliashib; of whom see Neh. 3:1, Neh. 13:4–5.

Generally supposed to be the same man who was high priest in the days of Alexander the Great, as Josephus mentions; whence a great difficulty ariseth, how Nehemiah could mention this man, who seems not to have been high priest till many years after Nehemiah’s death.

As their fathers were priests in the days of Joshua, so in the days of Joiakim, the son of Joshua, the sons of those persons executed the priesthood in their fathers’ steads, some of their fathers probably being yet living, and many of them now dead.

Either Darius Codomanus, and then what was said concerning Jaddua, Neh. 12:11, must be in part repeated and applied here: or Darius Nothus; and so this Jaddua might be father to him who was in the days of Darius Codomanus, and of Alexander the Great.

In the book of the chronicles, i.e. in the public annals or registers, in which the genealogies of the several families were set down by the Jews with great exactness, as all persons agree.

Of which See Poole “Neh. 12:9”.

To wit, of the temple, their watching-place being close by the thresholds of the gates, as it now is.

At the dedication of the wall; and of the gates, which are mentioned Neh. 12:30; and of the city itself within the gates; which is here dedicated to God, and to his honour and service, not only upon a general account, by which we ought to devote ourselves, and all that is ours, to God; but upon a…

That they might be near at hand for the service of God, and of his house.

Partly by sprinkling the water of purification upon them, by which the tabernacle and sacred utensils were purified, Num. 8:0; and partly by solemn prayers and sacrifices.

The princes of Judah, and half of the people with them, as it is expressed afterwards, Neh. 12:38. Upon the wall; for the wall was broad and strong, and so ordered that men might conveniently walk upon it, as at this day it is in many cities. On the right hand; towards the south and east.

Ezra; not the scribe, as is evident from Neh. 12:36, but another Ezra.

The stairs of the city of David; by which they went up to the hill of Zion, and city of David.

Over against them, to wit, on the other side of the city, northward and eastward. The broad wall; which they made thicker and stronger than the rest of the wall, for some special reason.

Waiting, as also their brethren did, that they might go together in due order into God’s house, there to perfect the solemnity.

In the house of God, i.e. in the courts of the temple. I, and the half of the rulers with me; and Ezra, and the other half with him, as appears by comparing this with Neh. 12:31, Neh. 12:36.

Either their loud voices and instruments were heard to a great distance, or the fame of it was spread far and near.

For the offerings; such as they had lately engaged themselves to give, or other voluntary or prescribed offerings. The portions of the law, i.e. the foresaid first-fruits, and tithes, and other things which God by his law appointed for them.

The ward of their God, i.e. that ward, or charge, or business which God had prescribed to them. And the ward of the purification; and in particular the charge of purification, i.e.

David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun, 1 Chron. 25:1; but Asaph only is mentioned here, as the most eminent and useful in that work. There were chief of the singers; there were some overseers, whose office it was to see that the singers were fit for and diligent in their work; and therefore…

They sanctified holy things, i.e. they sequestered or set apart the first-fruits and tithes from their own share, and devoted them to the use of the Levites, to whom they belonged. And so did the Levites by the tithe of the tithes.