And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam. Not Ezra the priest and the scribe, for he has another place assigned him in this procession, Nehemiah 12:36 , but this seems to be one of the princes. read more
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
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
The dedication of the wall. As soon as possible after the completion of the wall, a joyful celebration of the event was made, in which all the people participated. As Jerusalem was "the holy city," this took the form of a "dedication." I. THE SOLEMNITIES WITH WHICH THE DEDICATION WAS MADE . 1. The preparations. The gathering of the Levites, especially the singers and musicians, who were to take a leading part in the ceremonies ( Nehemiah 12:27-29 ). 2. The... read more
A joyous dedication. Knowing all that we do know of God's ancient people, of the devoutness of their spirit, and their disposition to connect closely the human and the Divine, we should expect that the building of the wall round the sacred city would be followed by some religious service. The verses of the text give a graphic description of this interesting scene. The Levites who had been dispersed through the province were "sought out of all their places" ( Nehemiah 12:27 ), and the... read more
PART IV . DEDICATION OF THE WALL OF JERUSALEM UNDER NEHEMIAH AND EZRA , WITH NEHEMIAH 'S ARRANGEMENT OF THE TEMPLE OFFICERS , AND HIS EFFORTS FOR THE REFORM OF RELIGION ( Nehemiah 12:27-47 , AND , Nehemiah 13:1-31 .). The dedication of a city wall was, so far as we know, a new thing in Israel; but it had been customary from a remote time to dedicate houses ( Deuteronomy 20:5 ); and natural piety extended this practice to... read more
Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam. Next to the "princes" came two priestly families—those of Azariah (or Ezra) and Meshullam (ch. x, 2, 7); then Judah and Benjamin , or certain lay people of those tribes; after them two other priestly families — those of Shemaiah and Jeremiah ( Nehemiah 10:2 , Nehemiah 10:8 ; Nehemiah 12:1 , Nehemiah 12:6 ). read more
Nehemiah 12:31-33. Then I brought up the princes And half of the people with them, as it is expressed afterward, Nehemiah 12:38. Upon the wall For the wall was broad and strong, and so built that men might conveniently walk upon it, as at this day it is in many cities. Whereof one went on the right hand Toward the south and east. Azariah and Ezra Not the scribe, as is evident from Nehemiah 12:36, but another Ezra. read more
Dedication of the wall (12:27-13:3)The story continues from where it left off in 10:39. After the reading of the law, the celebration of the Festival of Tabernacles and the people’s oath of loyalty to the covenant, the wall was dedicated. Priests, Levites, singers, musicians and leading citizens joined in the ceremony (27-30). The people assembled at a point beside the wall on one side of the city. They then divided into two groups and set off marching in opposite directions around the wall.... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 12:27-43
We have read of the building of the wall of Jerusalem with a great deal of fear and trembling; we have here an account of the dedicating of it with a great deal of joy and triumph. Those that sow in tears shall thus reap. I. We must enquire what was the meaning of this dedication of the wall; we will suppose it to include the dedication of the city too (continens pro contento?the thing containing for the thing contained), and therefore it was not done till the city was pretty well replenished,... read more