The priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel in BC 536 include 22 priests whose names are listed from verse one to seven. But from verse twelve to twenty-one only 20 names are mentioned; the names of Hattush and Maadiah are left out (v. 1-21).
During the reign of King Darius the Persian (Darius II Nothus BC 423-405), a record was kept of the Levites and priests who had been heads of the fathers’ houses in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua. The sons of Levi, the heads of the fathers’ houses until the days of Johanan, the son of Eliashib were written in the book of the chronicles (v.22-23).
The heads of the Levites Hashabiah, Sherebiah and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers across from them, to praise and give thanks, group alternating with group, according to the command of David the man of God. Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storerooms of the gates.
These lived in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe (v.24-26).
Nehemiah dedicated the wall of Jerusalem (v.27-43). They sought out the Levites in all their places to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. The sons of the singers had built for themselves villages all around Jerusalem; they gathered together from the countryside, from the villages of the Netophathites, from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth. The priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates and the wall (v.27-30).
Nehemiah brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate. After them went Hoshaiah, half of the leaders of Judah, Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, some of the priests’ sons with trumpets-Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, and his brethren, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani with the musical instruments of David, with Ezra before them.
By the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went up the stairs of the City of David on the stairway of the wall, beyond the house of David, as far as the Water Gate eastward (v.31-37).
The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way. Nehemiah went behind them with half of the people on the wall going past the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad Wall and above the Gate of Ephraim, above the Old Gate, above the Fish Gate, the Tower of the Hananel, the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate, and they stopped by the Gate of the Prison (v.38-39).
So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, likewise Nehemiah and the half of the rulers with him, and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Minjamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah with trumpets; also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer.
The singers sand loudly with Jezrahiah the director. Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off (v. 40-43).
At the same time, some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered. The singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, according to the command of David and Solomon his son.
For in the days of David and Asaph of old, there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. In the days of Zerrubabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated holy things for the Levites, and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron (v.44-47).
COMMENTARY
The 22 priests who came up with Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, were mentioned by name. They were among the priests and the assembly of 42,360 who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon after the seventy-year captivity to rebuild the holy temple.
They were together with Jeshua and Zerubbabel, who led the people to build the altar of the LORD and offer burnt sacrifices and kept the Feast of the Tabernacles on the 7th month before the foundation of the temple was laid (Ezra 3:3-6).
Fulltime preachers in the rebuilding and revival commission of the true church and restoration of the genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are liken to these priests.
Together with Jeshua and Zerubbabel, they erected the altar and set its base on its foundation to offer burnt sacrifices.
Preachers and ministers ought to lead in the frontline among the brethren to promote godly and holy worship in the church, and to remember the saving mercy of Christ Jesus, as the priests did in the days of the people’s return from the Babylonian exile.
They kept the Feast of the Tabernacle in remembrance of the LORD’s deliverance during the 40-year terrible and hazardous journey in the wilderness.
When Nehemiah dedicated the wall of Jerusalem, he gathered the Levites from the countryside and the cities to join in the rite and ceremony of the dedication and to be joyful with the leaders and the people. They with the priests purified and consecrated themselves.
The singers and gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and of the purification according to the commandment of David and his son Solomon. David appointed 288 singers and musicians (II Chron. 25:1-7) and allotted divisions of gatekeepers for the service in the house of the LORD (II Chron.26:1-19).
The Levites and priests and singers participated in the dedication rite, forming two choirs to march on the wall around the city; one went by the left led by Ezra and the other went by the right with Nehemiah. The singers sang loudly with Jezrahiah the director. Thus there was great joy in Jerusalem which was heard from afar off.
The divine responsibilities of preaching of the gospel and of pastoring of the flock and the administrative duties in the church should not fall just on the shoulders of the preachers and minsters and council members but should also be taken up by the brethren who love the Lord Jesus and fear Him, who have steadfast faith and wisdom from the Holy Spirit and gifts of God. When more brethren are involved in church work and serving the Lord Jesus Christ with one heart, there will be tremendous joy in the house of God, more praises and thanksgiving.
Such joy permeates the hearts of the church brethren so that it is felt even from afar off by their families some of whom have yet to believe in the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:32-37; 6:3-7; 9:28-31; 11:18-24; 13:20-31).
The result of joy in the house of the Lord is that offerings and firstfruits and tithes are continuously brought to the storerooms of God’s house. The Levites and gatekeepers and singers kept the charge of God and of the purification.
In the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated holy things for the Levites and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron. When the joy of the Lord permeates in the hearts of the brethren, the result is love for one another and growth in the service within the church.
TEACHINGS
Church activities and work should augment the sanctity of the house of God, the purity of the faith in Jesus Christ and the trust in the divine authority of the one true God. When church brethren are gathered together, the convocation ought to be holy.
The goal is growth in godliness and holiness. Therefore the gathering should not be secularized nor commercialised. The fellowship therein should not be just social but that which transcend the flesh and bodily satisfaction and brings about spiritual edification and growth in faith (Rom. 14:17).
The dedication of the repaired wall of the city of Jerusalem was full of the joy of the LORD. Those appointed gathered the offerings and the firstfruits and tithes into the storehouse, and Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered.
Both the singers and gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification according to the command of David and Solomon his son (v.43-45).
Nehemiah 8:1-12 recorded the holy convocation in which Ezra read the Law of God at the Water Gate. That day was holy to their Lord.
The people were not to sorrow, for the joy of the Lord was their strength. They went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and greatly rejoiced, because they understood the words that were declared to them.
Spiritual meetings and Sabbath-keeping should be hallowed. The program and sermons therein should be with biblical contents to build faith and spiritual character. Church dedication should be an occasion for every baptized believer to dedicate his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, rekindling of love for Him and the renewal of commitment to serve Him with gifts and possessions.
Participate in church work and share the joy of serving God as choir members, sacred music singers, music instrument personnel, interpreters, religious educators, general workers and kitchen staff members. One’s labour in the Lord is not in vain.
Offer willingly to the Lord for He loves a cheerful giver. The Lord would bless us with seed and multiply the seed we sow and increase the fruit of our righteousness, and we will be enriched in everything for all liberality which causes thanksgiving to God (Gal.6:9-10; II Cor.9:6-11).
The fulltime preachers and church workers who receive a living allowance from the monetary offerings of the believers are themselves obligated to offer a tenth-portion of such an allowance.
