Nehemiah 12:25

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 12:1-26

We have here the names, and little more than the names, of a great many priests and Levites, that were eminent in their day among the returned Jews. Why this register should be here inserted by Nehemiah does not appear, perhaps to keep in remembrance those good men, that posterity might know to whom they were beholden, under God, for the happy revival and re-establishment of their religion among them. Thus must we contribute towards the performance of that promise, Ps. 112:6; The righteous... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 12:25

Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters ,.... At the gates of the temple, see 1 Chronicles 9:15 , keeping the ward, at the thresholds of the gates ; of the temple, where they stood and watched; or "at the collection of the gates", meaning either where the people were gathered together, or where money gathered was laid up; and so some render it, "the treasuries of the gates": unless a place called Asuppim should be meant, 1 Chronicles 26:15 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 12:25

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. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 12:1-26

1. That of the priestly families whose seals were set to the covenant ( Nehemiah 10:2-8 ); and, 2. That of the heads of the priestly courses under the high priest Joiakim ( Nehemiah 12:12-21 ). The number of the names in each of the three lists is almost exactly the same (twenty-two or twenty-one); the names are for the most part the same; and they are given nearly in the same order. That they are the names of families appears most distinctly from the third list ( Nehemiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 12:1-26

Ministers in God's temple. These lists, once so important, are to us little more than fragmentary relics of a vanished system. They remind us how all that is external decays and passes away. They may, however, also suggest to us truths which abide and retain their worth throughout all ages. I. THE VARIETIES OF MINISTRY IN THE HOUSE OF GOD . Here, high priests, priests, Levites; chiefs and subordinates; singers and musicians; gate-keepers and guards of treasure-houses.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 12:1-47

Ministers of the Lord. Twenty-six verses of this chapter are given to the record of the names of priests and Levites. That fact itself is suggestive. It is indicative of the high place which the ministers of God held in the national estimation. We meet in these chronicles with the names of few men of comparative wealth, or rank, or soldierly ability; but the names of the ministers of religion are recorded, and are thus immortalised. Concerning these we may learn— I. THEIR RELATIVE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 12:1-47

Joy of Jerusalem. "That day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off" ( Nehemiah 12:43 ). I. THE CONSTITUENTS OF TRUE JOY . These are— 1. Thankfulness and praise in the remembrance of the past and in confident anticipation of the future. The people recounted the mercies of the Lord. Their dedication of the completed walls... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 12:24-26

LIST OF THE CHIEF LEVITICAL FAMILIES IN THE TIME OF JOIAKIM AND LATER ( Nehemiah 12:24-26 ). That family, rather than personal, names are here intended is sufficiently shown in the final summary of Nehemiah 12:26 , since the same individuals cannot have flourished under Joiakim and also under Nehemiah. The actual names—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Hashabiah, Shersbiah, etc.—are all found as family names. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 12:25

Meshullam and Obadiah are new as Levitical names; but the remaining names of the passage are well known. Talmon and Akkub are among the porters of David's time ( 1 Chronicles 9:17 ), and are mentioned in Ezra 2:42 ; Nehemiah 7:45 ; Nehemiah 11:19 . Bakbukiah and Mattaniah occur in Nehemiah 11:17 and Nehemiah 12:8 , Nehemiah 12:9 ; but as families of singers, rather than of porters, in those places. Keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates . Rather, as in the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 12:25

In 1Ch 9:17, 1 Chronicles 9:24, 1 Chronicles 9:26, four families of porters only are mentioned; six are implied here, in Nehemiah 7:45, and in Ezra 2:42. From 1 Chronicles 26:14-19 it appears that the temple had four chief gates, fronting the cardinal points, and two minor ones, “toward Asuppim,” and “at Parbar.” read more

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