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Texts -- Nehemiah 12:1-20 (NET)

Context
The Priests and the Levites Who Returned to Jerusalem
12:1 These are the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua : Seraiah , Jeremiah , Ezra , 12:2 Amariah , Malluch , Hattush , 12:3 Shecaniah , Rehum , Meremoth , 12:4 Iddo , Ginnethon , Abijah , 12:5 Mijamin , Moadiah , Bilgah , 12:6 Shemaiah , Joiarib , Jedaiah , 12:7 Sallu , Amok , Hilkiah , and Jedaiah . These were the leaders of the priests and their colleagues in the days of Jeshua . 12:8 And the Levites : Jeshua , Binnui , Kadmiel , Sherebiah , Judah , and Mattaniah , who together with his colleagues was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving . 12:9 Bakbukiah and Unni , their colleagues , stood opposite them in the services . 12:10 Jeshua was the father of Joiakim , Joiakim was the father of Eliashib , Eliashib was the father of Joiada , 12:11 Joiada was the father of Jonathan , and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua . 12:12 In the days of Joiakim , these were the priests who were leaders of the families : of Seraiah , Meraiah ; of Jeremiah , Hananiah ; 12:13 of Ezra , Meshullam ; of Amariah , Jehohanan ; 12:14 of Malluch , Jonathan ; of Shecaniah , Joseph ; 12:15 of Harim , Adna ; of Meremoth , Helkai ; 12:16 of Iddo , Zechariah ; of Ginnethon , Meshullam ; 12:17 of Abijah , Zicri ; of Miniamin and of Moadiah , Piltai ; 12:18 of Bilgah , Shammua ; of Shemaiah , Jehonathan ; 12:19 of Joiarib , Mattenai ; of Jedaiah , Uzzi ; 12:20 of Sallu , Kallai ; of Amok , Eber ;

Pericope

NET
  • Neh 12:1-26 -- The Priests and the Levites Who Returned to Jerusalem

Bible Dictionary

  • Nehemiah

    [ebd] comforted by Jehovah. (1.) Ezra 2:2; Neh. 7:7. (2.) Neh. 3:16. (3.) The son of Hachaliah (Neh. 1:1), and probably of the tribe of Judah. His family must have belonged to Jerusalem (Neh. 2:3). He was one of the "Jews of the d...
    [nave] NEHEMIAH 1. Son of Hachaliah, Neh. 1:1. Cupbearer of Artaxerxes, Neh. 1:11; 2:1. Is grieved over the desolation of his country, Neh. 1. Is sent by the king to rebuild Jerusalem, Neh. 2:1-8. Register of the people whom he...

  • Ezra

    [ebd] help. (1.) A priest among those that returned to Jerusalem under Zerubabel (Neh. 12:1). (2.) The "scribe" who led the second body of exiles that returned from Babylon to Jerusalem B.C. 459, and author of the book of Scriptur...
    [isbe] EZRA - ez'-ra (Aramaic or Chaldee, `ezra', "help"; a hypocoristicon, or shortened form of Azariah, "Yahweh has helped." The Hebrew spells the name `ezrah, as in 1 Ch 4:17, or uses the Aramaic spelling of the name, as in Ezr ...
    [nave] EZRA 1. A famous scribe and priest, Ezra 7:1-5, 6, 10, 21; Neh. 12:36. Appoints a fast, Ezra 8:21. Commissioned by Artaxerxes, returns to Jerusalem with a large company of Jews, Ezra 7:8. His charge to the priests, Ezra 8...

  • Zerubbabel

    [isbe] ZERUBBABEL - ze-rub'-a-bel (zerubbabhel, probably a transliteration of the Babylonian name Zeru-Babili, "seed of Babylon"; Zorobabel): 1. Name: Is commonly called the son of Shealtiel (Ezr 3:2,8; 5:2; Neh 12:1; Hag 1:1,12,14...
    [nave] ZERUBBABEL, called also Sheshbazzar. Directs the rebuilding of the altar and temple after his return from captivity in Babylon, Ezra 3:2-8; 4:2, 3; 5:2, 14-16; Hag. 1:12-14. Leads the emancipated Jews back from Babylon, Ezra...

  • DARIUS

    [isbe] DARIUS - da-ri'-us: The name of three or four kings mentioned in the Old Testament. In the original Persian it is spelled "Darayavaush"; in Babylonian, usually "Dariamush"; in Susian(?), "Tariyamaush"; in Egyptian "Antaryuas...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Levites

    [nave] LEVITES The descendants of Levi. Set apart as ministers of religion, Num. 1:47-54; 3:6-16; 16:9; 26:57-62; Deut. 10:8; 1 Chr. 15:2. Substituted in the place of the firstborn, Num. 3:12, 41-45; 8:14, 16-18; 18:6. Religious ...

  • GENEALOGY, 8 part 2

    [isbe] GENEALOGY, 8 part 2 - I. Primeval Genealogies (1 Chronicals 1:1-54). To show Israel's place among the nations; follows Genesis closely, omitting only the Cainites; boldly, skillfully compressed, as if the omitted facts were ...

  • Zichri

    [isbe] ZICHRI - zik'-ri (zikhri, meaning uncertain): (1) Levites: (a) grandson of Kohath (Ex 6:21, where some the King James Version editions read wrongly, "Zithri"); (b) an Asaphite (1 Ch 9:15), called "Zabdi" in Neh 11:17, where ...
    [smith] (memorable). Son of Ishar the son of Kohath. (Exodus 6:21) (B.C. 1401.) A Benjamite of the sons of Shimhi. (1 Chronicles 8:19) (B.C. 1440.) A Benjamite of the sons of Shashak. (1 Chronicles 8:23) A Benjamite of the son...
    [nave] ZICHRI 1. Son of Izhar, Ex. 6:21. 2. Three Benjamites, 1 Chr. 8:19, 23, 27. 3. A Levite, 1 Chr. 9:15. 4. Two chiefs in the days of David, 1 Chr. 26:25; 27:16. 5. Father of Amasiah, 2 Chr. 17:16. 6. Father of Elishaphat,...

  • Meshullam

    [ebd] befriended. (1.) One of the chief Gadites in Bashan in the time of Jotham (1 Chr. 5:13). (2.) Grandfather of Shaphan, "the scribe," in the reign of Josiah (2 Kings 22:3). (3.) A priest, father of Hilkiah (1 Chr. 9:11; Neh. 1...
    [isbe] MESHULLAM - me-shul'-am (meshullam, "resigned" or "devoted"; compare Arabic Muslim; Mesollam): An Old Testament name very common in post-exilic times. (1) The grandfather of Shaphan (2 Ki 22:3). (2) A son of Zerubbabel (1 Ch...
    [smith] (friend). Ancestor of Shaphan the scribe. (2 Kings 22:3) The son of Zerubbabel. (1 Chronicles 3:19) A Gadite in the reign of Jotham king of Judah. (1 Chronicles 5:13) A Benjamite, of the sons of Elpaal. (1 Chroni...
    [nave] MESHULLAM 1. Grandfather of Shaphan, 2 Kin. 22:3. 2. A son of Zerubbabel, 1 Chr. 3:19. 3. A Gadite of Bashan, 1 Chr. 5:13. 4. Three Benjamites, 1 Chr. 8:17; 9:7, 8. 5. An Aaronite, 1 Chr. 9:11; Neh. 11:11. 6. A priest, ...

  • Joiakim

    [ebd] (whom Jehovah has set up) = Jehoiakim, a high priest, the son and successor of Jeshua (Neh. 12:10, 12, 26).
    [isbe] JOIAKIM - joi'-a-kim (yoyaqim, "Yahweh raises up"; compare JEHOIAKIM; JOKIM): Son of Jeshua and father of Eliashib, the high priest (Neh 12:10,12,26).
    [smith] (whom Jehovah sets up), a high priest, son of the renowned Jeshua. (Nehemiah 12:10) (B.C. before 446.)
    [nave] JOIAKIM, a high priest, Neh. 12:10, 12, 26.

  • Jeshua

    [ebd] (1.) Head of the ninth priestly order (Ezra 2:36); called also Jeshuah (1 Chr. 24:11). (2.) A Levite appointed by Hezekiah to distribute offerings in the priestly cities (2 Chr. 31:15). (3.) Ezra 2:6; Neh. 7:11. (4.) Ezra 2:...
    [smith] (a saviour), another form of the name of Joshua of Jesus. Joshua the son of Nun. (Nehemiah 8:17) [JOSHUA] A priest in the reign of David, to whom the nine course fell by David, to whom the ninth course fell by lot. (1 Chr...
    [nave] JESHUA 1. Called also Jeshuah. A priest, head of the ninth course, 1 Chr. 24:11. Nine hundred and seventy-three of his descendants returned from Babylon, Ezra 2:36; Neh. 7:39. 2. A Levite, had charge of the tithes, 2 Chr. ...

  • Joiarib

    [ebd] (whom Jehovah defends) = Jehoiarib. (1.) The founder of one of the courses of the priests (Neh. 11:10). (2.) Neh. 11:5; a descendant of Judah. (3.) Neh. 12:6. (4.) Ezra 8:16, a "man of understanding" whom Ezra sent to "bring...
    [isbe] JOIARIB - joi'-a-rib (yoyaribh, "Yahweh pleads" or "contends"; compare JEHOIARIB): (1) A "teacher" of Ezra's time (Ezr 8:16). (2) A Judahite (Neh 11:5). (3) In Neh 11:10; 12:6,19 = JEHOIARIB (which see).
    [smith] (whom Jehovah defends.) A layman who returned form Babylon with Ezra. (Ezra 8:16) (B.C. 459.) The founder of one of the courses of priests, elsewhere called in full JEHOIARIB. (Nehemiah 12:6,19) A Shilonite --i.e. probably a...
    [nave] JOIARIB 1. A returned exile, Ezra 8:16. 2. A descendant of Judah, Neh. 11:5. 3. A priest who returned from Babylon, Neh. 12:6, 19. 4. See: Jehoiarib.

  • PRIESTS AND LEVITES

    [isbe] PRIESTS AND LEVITES - (kohen, "priest"; nothing is definitely known as to the origin of the word; Lewi, "Levite," on which see LEVI): I. DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE HISTORY 1. The Old View 2. The Graf-Wellhausen View 3. Mediating...

  • Priest

    [nave] PRIEST. Before Moses Melchizedek, Gen. 14:18; Heb. 5:6, 10, 11; 6:20; 7:1-21. Jethro, Ex. 2:16. Priests in Israel before the giving of the law, Ex. 19:22, 24. Called angel, Eccl. 5:6. Mosaic Ex. 28:1-4; 29:9, 44; Num....

  • Meremoth

    [ebd] exaltations, heights, a priest who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Neh. 12:3), to whom were sent the sacred vessels (Ezra 8:33) belonging to the temple. He took part in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 3:4).
    [isbe] MEREMOTH - mer'-e-moth, me-re'-moth (meremoth, "heights"; Mereimoth): (1) Son of Uriah (Ezr 8:33), who was head of the 7th course of priests appointed by David (1 Ch 24:10, Hakkoz = Koz; compare Neh 3:4,21). The family of Ko...
    [nave] MEREMOTH 1. A priest who was appointed to weigh and register gold and silver vessels brought to Jerusalem, Ezra 8:33; Neh. 3:4, 21. 2. A Jew who divorced his Gentile wife after the captivity, Ezra 10:36. 3. A priest who se...

  • Seraiah

    [ebd] soldier of Jehovah. (1.) The father of Joab (1 Chr. 4:13, 14). (2.) The grandfather of Jehu (1 Chr. 4:35). (3.) One of David's scribes or secretaries (2 Sam. 8:17). (4.) A Netophathite (Jer. 40:8), a chief priest of the time...
    [isbe] SERAIAH - se-ra'-ya, se-ri'-a (serayahu, "Yah hath prevailed"; Septuagint Saraias, or Saraia): (1) Secretary of David (2 Sam 8:17); in 2 Sam 20:25 he is called Sheva; in 1 Ki 4:3 the name appears as Shisha. This last or Shas...
    [smith] The king?s scribe or secretary in the reign of David. (2 Samuel 8:17) (B.C. 1043.) The high priest in the reign of Zedekiah. (2 Kings 25:18; 1 Chronicles 6:14; Jeremiah 52:24) (B.C. 594.) The son of Tanhumeth the Ne...
    [nave] SERAIAH 1. Called also Sheva, Shisha, and Shavsha. David's scribe, 2 Sam. 8:17; 20:25; 1 Kin. 4:3; 1 Chr. 18:16. 2. Chief priest at time of taking of Jerusalem, 2 Kin. 25:18. Father of Ezra, Ezra 7:1. Slain by Nebuchadne...

  • Shemaiah

    [isbe] SHEMAIAH - she-ma'-ya, she-mi'-a (shema`yah (in 2 Ch 11:2; 17:8; 31:15; 35:9; Jer 26:20; 29:24; 36:12, shema`yahu), "Jahveh hears"): The name is most frequently borne by priests, Levites and prophets. (1) Codex Vaticanus Sam...
    [smith] (heard by Jehovah). A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam. (1 Kings 12:22; 2 Chronicles 11:2) (B.C. 972.) He wrote a chronicle containing the events of Rehoboam?s reign. (2 Chronicles 12:5,15) The son of Shechaniah, am...
    [nave] SHEMAIAH 1. A prophet in the time of Rehoboam. Prevents Rehoboam from war with Jeroboam, 1 Kin. 12:22-24; 2 Chr. 11:2-4. Prophesies the punishment of Rehoboam by Shishak, king of Egypt, 2 Chr. 12:5, 7. Writes chronicles, 2...

  • Meraioth

    [ebd] rebellions. (1.) Father of Amariah, a high priest of the line of Eleazar (1 Chr. 6:6, 7, 52). (2.) Neh. 12:15, a priest who went to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. He is called Meremoth in Neh. 12:3.
    [isbe] MERAIOTH - me-ra'-yoth, me-ri'-oth (merayoth): The name varies much in the Greek. (1) A Levite, a descendant of Aaron (1 Ch 6:6 f; Ezr 7:3), called "Memeroth" in 1 Esdras 8:2; and "Marimoth" in 2 Esdras 1:2. (2) The son of A...
    [smith] (rebellious). A descendant of Eleazar the son of Aaron and head of a priestly house. (1 Chronicles 6:61; 7:62) It is apparently another Meraioth who comes in between Zadok and Ahitub in the genealogy of Azariah. (1 Chr...
    [nave] MERAIOTH 1. A high priest of the line of Eleazar, 1 Chr. 6:6, 7, 52; Ezra 7:3. Probably identical with the priest of same name in 1 Chr. 9:11; Neh. 11:11. 2. A priest in the time of Joiakim, Neh. 12:15.

  • Amariah

    [isbe] AMARIAH - am-a-ri'-a ('amaryah and 'amaryahu, "the Lord has said"; compare HPN, 180, 285). (1) A Levite in the line of Aaron-Eleazar; a son of Meraioth and grandfather of Zadok (1 Ch 6:7,52) who lived in David's time. Compar...
    [smith] (the Lord says , i.e. promises). Father of Ahitub according to (1 Chronicles 6:7,52) and son of Meraioth, in the line of the high priests. The high priest in the reign of Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 19:11) He was the so...
    [nave] AMARIAH 1. Two Levites, 1 Chr. 6:7, 52; 23:19; 24:23. 2. Chief priest in the reign of Jehoshaphat, 2 Chr. 19:11. 3. A high priest, father of Ahitub, 1 Chr. 6:11; Ezra 7:3. 4. A Levite, who assisted in distributing temple ...

  • Adna

    [isbe] ADNA - ad'-na (`adhna', "pleasure"; Aidaine): (1) An Israelite in Ezra's time who, having married a foreign wife, divorced her. He belonged to Pahath-moab (Ezr 10:30). (2) A priest of the family of Harum, during the high-pri...
    [smith] (rest, pleasure). One of the family of Pahath-moab, who returned with Ezra and married a foreign wife. (Ezra 10:30) (B.C. 459.) A priest, descendant of Harim in the days of Joiakim, the son of Jeshua. (Nehemiah 12:15) (B.C. ...
    [nave] ADNA 1. A son of Pahath-Moab, Ezra 10:30. 2. A priest, Neh. 12:15.
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Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • The writer evidently chose, under divine inspiration, to open his book with genealogies to help his readers appreciate their heritage and to tie themselves to Adam, Abraham, and David in particular. Adam was important as the ...
  • The years of history the book covers are 445-431 B.C. or perhaps a few years after that.In 445 B.C. (the twentieth year of Artaxerxes' reign, 1:1) Nehemiah learned of the conditions in Jerusalem that led him to request permis...
  • I. The fortification of Jerusalem chs. 1-7A. The return under Nehemiah chs. 1-21. The news concerning Jerusalem 1:1-32. The response of Nehemiah 1:4-113. The request of Nehemiah 2:1-84. The return to Jerusalem 2:9-20B. The re...
  • "The first seven chapters of Nehemiah as well as 12:31-13:31 are written in the first person. This, as well as all or part of Neh 11 and the rest of Neh 12, constitutes what is called the Nehemiah Memoirs. As such it offers a...
  • Eliashib (v. 1) was evidently the grandson of Jeshua (12:10; Ezra 3:2). Construction was an act of consecration because this was a project that God had ordained.Archaeologists are currently studying the exact location of the ...
  • One writer viewed chapters 8-13 (really 7:73-13:37) as the third part of the tripartite structure of Ezra-Nehemiah. Ezra 1:1-4 deals with "potentiality,"the decree to the community to build God's house. Ezra 1:5--Nehemiah 7:7...
  • The names in verses 2-8 are those of the heads of 21 priestly families (cf. 12:12-21). Verses 9-13 record the names of 17 Levites. Then the writer gave the names of 44 heads of other leading families (vv. 14-27)....
  • When the exiles returned to the Promised Land, living in Jerusalem was not an attractive prospect because the city lay in ruins. However with the rebuilding of the temple and the walls the capital became a more desirable plac...
  • The priests and Levites were the most important people who returned from exile because they reestablished worship in the land. Verses 1-7 give the names of 22 leaders among them who had returned in 537 B.C. with Zerubbabel an...
  • The Book of Nehemiah records the fortification of Jerusalem and the restoration of the Jews, two essential steps that were necessary to reestablish God's people in His will and in their land.Nehemiah continued the good work t...
  • 1:1 Yahweh sent a message to Zerubbabel and Joshua through the prophet Haggai, though it went to all the Israelites too (vv. 2, 4). Zerubbabel was the political governor (overseer) of the Persian province of Judah who had led...
  • The title of this book comes from its traditional writer, as is true of all the prophetical books of the Old Testament. The name "Zechariah"(lit. Yahweh remembers) was a common one among the Israelites identifying as many as ...
  • Zechariah's inspired preaching began in the eighth month of 520 B.C. (1:1). His eight night visions followed three months later in 520 B.C. (1:7), when he was a young man (2:4). He delivered the messages in chapters 7-8 in 51...
  • Zechariah began ministering among the Jews who had returned from captivity in Babylon (i.e., the restoration community) two months after Haggai began preaching (1:1; 7:1; cf. Neh. 12:10-16; Hag. 1:1). In a sense, Zechariah's ...
  • That this pericope introduces the whole book seems clear since verse 7 introduces the eight night visions that follow it (1:7-6:8). Its content is also foundational to all that follows."It strikes the keynote of the entire bo...
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