Nehemiah 12:8

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 12:8

Moreover the Levites ,.... Who lived in the same times: were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah ; most of these are made mention of in Nehemiah 8:7 , the last of them is said to be over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren ; he was the precentor, or had the directing and conducting of the songs of the temple, particularly the thanksgiving song at the daily sacrifices; Jarchi takes the word here used to be the name of a musical instrument. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 12:8

Over the thanksgiving - The principal singers: See on Nehemiah 11:17 ; (note). 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 12:8

Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel , etc. Here again families are probably intended, as in Ezra 2:40 ; Ezra 3:9 ; Nehemiah 9:4 , Nehemiah 9:5 , etc; though it is possible that the founders of the families actually returned with Zerubbabel. Jeshua, Binnui, and Kadmiel appear as the leading Levitical families at the sealing of the covenant ( Nehemiah 10:9 ). On Mattaniah see the comment upon Nehemiah 11:17 . read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 12:8

Of the Levitical houses here mentioned, three only returned at first, those of Jeshua, Kadmiel, and Judah or Hodevah Nehemiah 7:43. The others must have returned subsequently. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 12:8-9

Nehemiah 12:8-9. Moreover the Levites, which were over the thanksgiving Appointed to see that the psalms of thanksgiving were continually sung in the temple, in due time and manner. Also, their brethren were over against them in the watches That is, in the places where they were appointed to stand, and wait, and perform their office, which was to keep the guard of the gates, while the others sung. read more

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