Nehemiah 12:1-26

Priests and Levites

1 These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginnethon,[a] Abijah,
5 Mijamin,[b] Moadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
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, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, 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, 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, Zechariah; of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;
17 of Abijah’s, 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 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.
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.

Nehemiah 12:1-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 12

This chapter gives an account of the chief of the priests and Levites in the days of Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Joiakim, Eliashib, and Nehemiah, Ne 12:1-26, of the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, and of the joy expressed on that occasion, Ne 12:27-43, and of the appointment of some persons over the treasuries for the priests, Levites, singers, and porters, Ne 12:44-47.

Cross References 16

  • 1. Nehemiah 10:1-8
  • 2. Nehemiah 10:9
  • 3. S 1 Chronicles 3:19; Ezra 3:2; Zechariah 4:6-10
  • 4. Ezra 3:2
  • 5. S Ezra 2:2
  • 6. S Ezra 2:2
  • 7. ver 16; Zechariah 1:1
  • 8. S 1 Chronicles 24:10; Luke 1:5
  • 9. S 1 Chronicles 24:7
  • 10. S Ezra 2:2
  • 11. S Nehemiah 11:17
  • 12. S Ezra 10:24; Nehemiah 3:20
  • 13. S ver 4
  • 14. S 1 Chronicles 24:10
  • 15. S Ezra 2:40
  • 16. S 2 Chronicles 8:14

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 16); most Hebrew manuscripts "Ginnethoi"
  • [b]. A variant of "Miniamin"
  • [c]. Very many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also verse 3); most Hebrew manuscripts "Shebaniah’s"
  • [d]. Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 3); Hebrew "Meraioth’s"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.