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Joseph was leader of the family of
Shecaniah.*
Adna was leader of the family of Harim.
Helkai was leader of the family of
Meremoth.*
Zechariah was leader of the family of Iddo.
Meshullam was leader of the family of
Ginnethon.
Zicri was leader of the family of Abijah.
There was also a* leader of the family of
Miniamin.
Piltai was leader of the family of Moadiah.
Shammua was leader of the family of
Bilgah.
Jehonathan was leader of the family of
Shemaiah.
Mattenai was leader of the family of Joiarib.
Uzzi was leader of the family of Jedaiah.
Kallai was leader of the family of Sallu.*
Eber was leader of the family of Amok.
Hashabiah was leader of the family of
Hilkiah.
Nethanel was leader of the family of
Jedaiah.
22 A record of the Levite families was kept during the years when Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan,
and Jaddua served as high priest. Another record of the priests was kept during the reign of
Darius the Persian.* 23 A record of the heads of
the Levite families was kept in The Book of History down to the days of Johanan, the grandson*
of Eliashib.
24 These were the family leaders of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua, Binnui,*
Kadmiel, and other associates, who stood opposite them during the ceremonies of praise
and thanksgiving, one section responding to
the other, as commanded by David, the man
of God. 25 This included Mattaniah, Bakbukiah,
and Obadiah.
Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were the
gatekeepers in charge of the storerooms at the
gates. 26 These all served in the days of Joiakim
son of Jeshua, son of Jehozadak,* and in the
days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the
priest and scribe.
Dedication of Jerusalem’s Wall
27 For the dedication of the new wall of Jerusalem, the Levites throughout the land were
asked to come to Jerusalem to assist in the
12:14b As in many Hebrew manuscripts, some Greek
manuscripts, and Syriac version (see also 12:3); most
Hebrew manuscripts read Shebaniah. 12:15 As in some
Greek manuscripts (see also 12:3); Hebrew reads Meraioth.
12:17 Hebrew lacks the name of this family leader.
12:20 Hebrew Sallai; compare 12:7. 12:22 Darius the
Persian is probably Darius II, who reigned 423–404 b.c., or
possibly Darius III, who reigned 336–331 b.c. 12:23 Hebrew
descendant; compare 12:10-11. 12:24 Hebrew son of (i.e.,
ben), which should probably be read here as the proper name
Binnui; compare Ezra 3:9 and the note there. 12:26 Hebrew
Jozadak, a variant spelling of Jehozadak. 12:31 Hebrew to
the right. 12:38 Hebrew to the left. 12:39 Or the Mishneh
Gate, or the Jeshanah Gate.
NEHEM IAH 12
ceremonies. They were to take part in the joyous
occasion with their songs of thanksgiving and
with the music of cymbals, harps, and lyres.
28 The singers were brought together from the
region around Jerusalem and from the villages
of the Netophathites. 29 They also came from
Beth-gilgal and the rural areas near Geba and
Azmaveth, for the singers had built their own
settlements around Jerusalem. 30 The priests
and Levites first purified themselves; then they
purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
31 I led the leaders of Judah to the top of the
wall and organized two large choirs to give
thanks. One of the choirs proceeded southward* along the top of the wall to the Dung
Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah
followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and
Jeremiah. 35 Then came some priests who played
trumpets, including Zechariah son of Jonathan,
son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, a descendant of Asaph.
36 And Zechariah’s colleagues were Shemaiah,
Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah,
and Hanani. They used the musical instruments
prescribed by David, the man of God. Ezra the
scribe led this procession. 37 At the Fountain
Gate they went straight up the steps on the ascent of the city wall toward the City of David.
They passed the house of David and then proceeded to the Water Gate on the east.
38 The second choir giving thanks went northward* around the other way to meet them. I followed them, together with the other half of
the people, along the top of the wall past the
Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 then
past the Ephraim Gate to the Old City Gate,*
past the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel,
and on to the Tower of the Hundred. Then we
continued on to the Sheep Gate and stopped at
the Guard Gate.
40 The two choirs that were giving thanks then
proceeded to the Temple of God, where they
took their places. So did I, together with the
group of leaders who were with me. 41 We went
together with the trumpet-playing priests—
Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah—42 and the
singers—Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi,
Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. They
played and sang loudly under the direction of
Jezrahiah the choir director.
43 Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given the people cause
for great joy. The women and children also participated in the celebration, and the joy of the
people of Jerusalem could be heard far away.
Provisions for Temple Worship
44 On that day men were appointed to be in
charge of the storerooms for the offerings, the