Nehemiah 12:29

29 Others came from Beth Gilgal. Still others came from the area of Geba and Azmaveth. The singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 12:29 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 12:29

Also from the house of Gilgal
Which likewise was in a champaign country in the plains of Jericho, ( Deuteronomy 11:30 ) ( Joshua 5:9 Joshua 5:10 ) ,

and out of the fields of Geba;
which was a Levitical city in the tribe of Benjamin, ( Joshua 21:17 )

and Azmaveth;
the same with Bethazmaveth, ( Nehemiah 7:28 ) where it follows Anathoth and Netophah, as it does in ( Ezra 2:24 ) , and was very probably in the tribe of Benjamin:

for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem;
that they might be near it, to do their duty when required; by which it appears that the said places were near Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 12:29 In-Context

27 The wall of Jerusalem was set apart to God. For that occasion, the Levites were gathered together from where they lived. They were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate that happy occasion. They celebrated the fact that the wall was being set apart to God. They did it by singing and giving their thanks to him. They celebrated by playing music on cymbals, harps and lyres.

28 The singers were also brought together. Some of them came in from the area around Jerusalem. Others came from the villages where the people of Netophah lived.

29 Others came from Beth Gilgal. Still others came from the area of Geba and Azmaveth. The singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem.

30 The priests and Levites made themselves pure. Then they made the people, the gates and the wall pure and clean.

31 I, Nehemiah, had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also appointed two large choirs to sing and give thanks. I told one of them to walk south on top of the wall. That was toward the Dung Gate.