Nehemiah 12:29

29 and from the house of Gilgal, and from the country(sides) of Geba, and of Azmaveth; for the singers had builded towns to themselves in the compass of Jerusalem (for the singers had built towns for themselves all 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 Forsooth in the hallowing of the wall of Jerusalem they sought (out the) deacons of all their places, to bring them into Jerusalem, and to make the hallowing in gladness, in the doing of thankings, and in song, and in cymbals, and in psalteries, and in harps. (And for the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out the Levites in all the places where they were, to bring them to Jerusalem, to celebrate the dedication with gladness, and thanksgiving, and with songs, and cymbals, and lutes, and harps.)

28 And the sons of (the) singers were gathered together, both from the field places about Jerusalem, and from the towns of Netophathi (and from the towns of the Netophathites),

29 and from the house of Gilgal, and from the country(sides) of Geba, and of Azmaveth; for the singers had builded towns to themselves in the compass of Jerusalem (for the singers had built towns for themselves all around Jerusalem).

30 And [the] priests and deacons were cleansed, and then they cleansed the people, and the gates, and the wall. (And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and then they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.)

31 And I made the princes of Judah to go up on the wall, and I ordained two great choirs, or companies, of men praising the Lord; and they went to the right side on the wall, to the gate of the dunghill. (And I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall, and I ordained two great choirs, or companies, of men to give praise to the Lord; and the first group went up on the wall to the right side, toward the Dung Gate.)