Nehemiah 7:1

NEHEMIAH PREPARES TO RETURN TO BABYLON;

TACKLES THE PROBLEM OF REPOPULATING JERUSALEM THE SECURITY OF THE CITY

"Now it came to pass when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters, and the singers, and the Levites were appointed."

The singers and the Levites are here named along with the keepers of the city gates; and, because that was something of an unusual assignment for Levites and singers, the critics promptly claim that their mention here is, "A mistaken addition by the Chronicler."[1] Of course, Nehemiah is the author here, not the mythical `chronicler' of the radical critics, who, in their view was not merely incompetent, but an unqualified liar as well. This view regarding this verse was long ago disputed and disproved; but true to the critical `style,' succeeding generations continue to parrot their old shibboleths. Hamrick, for example, wrote that, the addition of singers and Levites to the gatekeepers was due to, "Confusion,"[2] on the part of the author. There was no possibility whatever that Nehemiah was confused about whom he appointed as gatekeepers of Jerusalem.

And why were singers and Levites needed and appointed to this work? They were loyal to God and to Nehemiah; and the single largest group who populated the city at that time were the priests; and they were not loyal. Nehemiah was preparing to return to Persia, and he was taking the utmost precautions to leave Jerusalem's security intact.

Williamson refuted the usual critical claim that these words regarding the singers and Levites `are a gloss,' adding that, "These were emergency arrangements only."[3] F.C. Cook also agreed that the singers and Levites were assigned to this work, "Because their experience (as guardians of the Temple) pointed them out as the fittest persons for this task."[4]