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Nehemiah 11:22-12:47
New King James Version

22 Also the overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha, of the sons of Asaph, the singers in charge of the [a]service of the [b]house of God. 23 For (A)it was the king’s command concerning them that a [c]certain portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day. 24 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of (B)Zerah the son of Judah, was (C)the[d] king’s deputy in all matters concerning the people.

The People Dwelling Outside Jerusalem

25 And as for the villages with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt in (D)Kirjath Arba and its villages, Dibon and its villages, Jekabzeel and its villages; 26 in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth Pelet, 27 Hazar Shual, and Beersheba and its villages; 28 in Ziklag and Meconah and its villages; 29 in En Rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; in Azekah and its villages. They dwelt from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.

31 Also the children of Benjamin from Geba dwelt in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel, and their villages; 32 in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah; 33 in Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim; 34 in Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat; 35 in Lod, Ono, and (E)the Valley of Craftsmen. 36 Some of the Judean divisions of Levites were in Benjamin.

The Priests and Levites(F)

12 Now these are the (G)priests and the Levites who came up with (H)Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: (I)Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, [e]Malluch, Hattush, 3 [f]Shechaniah, [g]Rehum, [h]Meremoth, 4 Iddo, [i]Ginnethoi, (J)Abijah, 5 [j]Mijamin, [k]Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 [l]Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah.

These were the heads of the priests and their brethren in the days of (K)Jeshua.

8 Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah (L)who led the thanksgiving psalms, he and his brethren. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, stood across from them in their duties.

10 Jeshua begot Joiakim, Joiakim begot Eliashib, Eliashib begot Joiada, 11 Joiada begot Jonathan, and Jonathan begot Jaddua.

12 Now in the days of Joiakim, the priests, the (M)heads of the fathers’ houses were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 of [m]Melichu, Jonathan; of [n]Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 of [o]Harim, Adna; of [p]Meraioth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah, Zichri; the son of [q]Minjamin; of [r]Moadiah, Piltai; 18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 of [s]Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

22 During the reign of Darius the Persian, a record was also kept of the Levites and priests who had been (N)heads of their fathers’ houses in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua. 23 The sons of Levi, the heads of the fathers’ houses until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib, were written in the book of the (O)chronicles.

24 And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers across from them, to (P)praise and give thanks, (Q)group[t] alternating with group, (R)according to the command of David the man of God. 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storerooms of the gates. 26 These lived in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of [u]Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah (S)the governor, and of Ezra the priest, (T)the scribe.

Nehemiah Dedicates the Wall

27 Now at (U)the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, (V)both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the (W)villages of the Netophathites, 29 from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem. 30 Then the priests and Levites (X)purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

31 So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. (Y)One went to the right hand on the wall (Z)toward the Refuse Gate. 32 After them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, 33 and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 and some of the priests’ sons (AA)with trumpets—Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his brethren, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with (AB)the musical (AC)instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. 37 (AD)By the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went up (AE)the stairs of the (AF)City of David, on the stairway of the wall, beyond the house of David, as far as (AG)the Water Gate eastward.

38 (AH)The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the (AI)Tower of the Ovens as far as (AJ)the Broad Wall, 39 (AK)and above the Gate of Ephraim, above (AL)the Old Gate, above (AM)the Fish Gate, (AN)the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of [v]the Hundred, as far as (AO)the Sheep Gate; and they stopped by (AP)the Gate of the Prison.

40 So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, likewise I and the half of the rulers with me; 41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, [w]Minjamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers [x]sang loudly with Jezrahiah the director.

43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard (AQ)afar off.

Temple Responsibilities

44 (AR)And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the (AS)tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who [y]ministered. 45 Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, (AT)according to the command of David and Solomon his son. 46 For in the days of David (AU)and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for (AV)each day. (AW)They also [z]consecrated holy things for the Levites, (AX)and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 11:22 work
  2. Nehemiah 11:22 Temple
  3. Nehemiah 11:23 fixed share
  4. Nehemiah 11:24 Lit. at the king’s hand
  5. Nehemiah 12:2 Melichu, v. 14
  6. Nehemiah 12:3 Shebaniah, v. 14
  7. Nehemiah 12:3 Harim, v. 15
  8. Nehemiah 12:3 Meraioth, v. 15
  9. Nehemiah 12:4 Ginnethon, v. 16
  10. Nehemiah 12:5 Minjamin, v. 17
  11. Nehemiah 12:5 Moadiah, v. 17
  12. Nehemiah 12:7 Sallai, v. 20
  13. Nehemiah 12:14 Malluch, v. 2
  14. Nehemiah 12:14 Shechaniah, v. 3
  15. Nehemiah 12:15 Rehum, v. 3
  16. Nehemiah 12:15 Meremoth, v. 3
  17. Nehemiah 12:17 Mijamin, v. 5
  18. Nehemiah 12:17 Maadiah, v. 5
  19. Nehemiah 12:20 Sallu, v. 7
  20. Nehemiah 12:24 Lit. watch by watch
  21. Nehemiah 12:26 Jehozadak, 1 Chr. 6:14
  22. Nehemiah 12:39 Heb. Hammeah
  23. Nehemiah 12:41 Or Mijamin, v. 5
  24. Nehemiah 12:42 Lit. made their voice to be heard
  25. Nehemiah 12:44 Lit. stood
  26. Nehemiah 12:47 set apart
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Nehemiah 11:22-12:47
New International Version

22 The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah,(A) the son of Mika. Uzzi was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the musicians responsible for the service of the house of God. 23 The musicians(B) were under the king’s orders, which regulated their daily activity.

24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, one of the descendants of Zerah(C) son of Judah, was the king’s agent in all affairs relating to the people.

25 As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba(D) and its surrounding settlements, in Dibon(E) and its settlements, in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 in Jeshua, in Moladah,(F) in Beth Pelet,(G) 27 in Hazar Shual,(H) in Beersheba(I) and its settlements, 28 in Ziklag,(J) in Mekonah and its settlements, 29 in En Rimmon, in Zorah,(K) in Jarmuth,(L) 30 Zanoah,(M) Adullam(N) and their villages, in Lachish(O) and its fields, and in Azekah(P) and its settlements. So they were living all the way from Beersheba(Q) to the Valley of Hinnom.

31 The descendants of the Benjamites from Geba(R) lived in Mikmash,(S) Aija, Bethel(T) and its settlements, 32 in Anathoth,(U) Nob(V) and Ananiah, 33 in Hazor,(W) Ramah(X) and Gittaim,(Y) 34 in Hadid, Zeboim(Z) and Neballat, 35 in Lod and Ono,(AA) and in Ge Harashim.

36 Some of the divisions of the Levites of Judah settled in Benjamin.

Priests and Levites

12 These were the priests(AB) and Levites(AC) who returned with Zerubbabel(AD) son of Shealtiel(AE) and with Joshua:(AF)

Seraiah,(AG) Jeremiah, Ezra,

2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,

3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

4 Iddo,(AH) Ginnethon,[a] Abijah,(AI)

5 Mijamin,[b] Moadiah, Bilgah,

6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,(AJ)

7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah.

These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua.

8 The Levites were Jeshua,(AK) Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah,(AL) who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services.

10 Joshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib,(AM) Eliashib the father of Joiada, 11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.

12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families:

of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah;

of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;

13 of Ezra’s, Meshullam;

of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;

14 of Malluk’s, Jonathan;

of Shekaniah’s,[c] Joseph;

15 of Harim’s, Adna;

of Meremoth’s,[d] Helkai;

16 of Iddo’s,(AN) Zechariah;

of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;

17 of Abijah’s,(AO) Zikri;

of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;

18 of Bilgah’s, Shammua;

of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;

19 of Joiarib’s, Mattenai;

of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;

20 of Sallu’s, Kallai;

of Amok’s, Eber;

21 of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah;

of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.

22 The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24 And the leaders of the Levites(AP) were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.(AQ)

25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.

Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem

27 At the dedication(AR) of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals,(AS) harps and lyres.(AT) 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites,(AU) 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people,(AV) the gates and the wall.

31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of[e] the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of[f] the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate.(AW) 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin,(AX) Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets,(AY) and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments(AZ) prescribed by David the man of God.(BA) Ezra(BB) the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate(BC) they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate(BD) on the east.

38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of[g] the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens(BE) to the Broad Wall,(BF) 39 over the Gate of Ephraim,(BG) the Jeshanah[h] Gate,(BH) the Fish Gate,(BI) the Tower of Hananel(BJ) and the Tower of the Hundred,(BK) as far as the Sheep Gate.(BL) At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.

40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms(BM) for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes.(BN) From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.(BO) 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David(BP) and his son Solomon.(BQ) 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph,(BR) there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise(BS) and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.(BT)

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 12:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 16); most Hebrew manuscripts Ginnethoi
  2. Nehemiah 12:5 A variant of Miniamin
  3. Nehemiah 12:14 Very many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also verse 3); most Hebrew manuscripts Shebaniah’s
  4. Nehemiah 12:15 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 3); Hebrew Meraioth’s
  5. Nehemiah 12:31 Or go alongside
  6. Nehemiah 12:31 Or proceed alongside
  7. Nehemiah 12:38 Or them alongside
  8. Nehemiah 12:39 Or Old
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