Nehemiah 12 | |
---|---|
Book | Book of Nehemiah |
Category | Ketuvim |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 16 |
Nehemiah 12 is the twelfth chapter of the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, [1] or the 22nd chapter of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, which treats the book of Ezra and the book of Nehemiah as one book. [2] Jewish tradition states that Ezra is the author of Ezra-Nehemiah as well as the Book of Chronicles, [3] but modern scholars generally accept that a compiler from the 5th century BCE (the so-called " Chronicler") is the final author of these books. [4] This chapter recounts the lineage of the priests and Levites and describes the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem, whose construction has been a primary concern since the beginning of the book. [5]
The original text of this chapter is in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 47 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008). [6] [a]
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century). [8]
This part records the several lists of priests and Levites to document the genuineness of the Jewish community and its religious authority, in order to give legitimacy in this postexilic community. [9] The list starts with those said to have returned with Zerubbabel in the first wave at the time of the Persian king, Cyrus (verses 1–9), but this list is quite different from the one in Ezra 2. [9] After listing the high priests from the last one at the time of exile, Jozadak, the father of Jeshua, until Jaddua (verses 10–11), it records those returning at the time of Ezra (verses 12–21), with a careful note on its sources (verses 22–23).
These verses describe the joyous dedication of the completed work orchestrated by Nehemiah, within the frame of a symmetrically ordered structure as follows: [35]
The exuberant tone of this passage is indicated by the framework of "joy" which brackets this section (verse 27, five times in verse 43), as the final exposition after previous use in some turning points in the narrative: [36]
Two lists of participants are recorded in verses 32–36 and 41–42, [35] and also display a remarkable symmetry: [36]
The appearance of "Ezra, the scribe" (verse 36b) provides the primary evidence for the contemporaneity of Ezra and Nehemiah. [36]
The words "joy" and "rejoice" occur five times in this sentence: "this verse is full of joy; but before the rejoicing comes the abundant offering of sacrifices." [43] Methodist commentator Joseph Benson notes that the security of the walls meant that "they could praise the Lord there without disturbance or fear". [44]
The last part of this chapter focuses on the priests and Levites who help people worship God in the Temple, as their needs were taken care by the same people. [45] David was mentioned twice, indicating that the people were emulating the traditions established since the time 'God directed David to establish the Temple'. [45] Verse 47 also confirms that the pattern of bringing food for Temple workers was already observed from the time of Zerubbabel when the Temple was rebuilt, and consistently practiced until the time of Nehemiah. [46] This explains the anger of Nehemiah a few years later when he heard the people stopped providing the needs of the Temple workers (Nehemiah 13:10–13). [46]
Nehemiah 12 | |
---|---|
Book | Book of Nehemiah |
Category | Ketuvim |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 16 |
Nehemiah 12 is the twelfth chapter of the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, [1] or the 22nd chapter of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, which treats the book of Ezra and the book of Nehemiah as one book. [2] Jewish tradition states that Ezra is the author of Ezra-Nehemiah as well as the Book of Chronicles, [3] but modern scholars generally accept that a compiler from the 5th century BCE (the so-called " Chronicler") is the final author of these books. [4] This chapter recounts the lineage of the priests and Levites and describes the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem, whose construction has been a primary concern since the beginning of the book. [5]
The original text of this chapter is in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 47 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008). [6] [a]
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century). [8]
This part records the several lists of priests and Levites to document the genuineness of the Jewish community and its religious authority, in order to give legitimacy in this postexilic community. [9] The list starts with those said to have returned with Zerubbabel in the first wave at the time of the Persian king, Cyrus (verses 1–9), but this list is quite different from the one in Ezra 2. [9] After listing the high priests from the last one at the time of exile, Jozadak, the father of Jeshua, until Jaddua (verses 10–11), it records those returning at the time of Ezra (verses 12–21), with a careful note on its sources (verses 22–23).
These verses describe the joyous dedication of the completed work orchestrated by Nehemiah, within the frame of a symmetrically ordered structure as follows: [35]
The exuberant tone of this passage is indicated by the framework of "joy" which brackets this section (verse 27, five times in verse 43), as the final exposition after previous use in some turning points in the narrative: [36]
Two lists of participants are recorded in verses 32–36 and 41–42, [35] and also display a remarkable symmetry: [36]
The appearance of "Ezra, the scribe" (verse 36b) provides the primary evidence for the contemporaneity of Ezra and Nehemiah. [36]
The words "joy" and "rejoice" occur five times in this sentence: "this verse is full of joy; but before the rejoicing comes the abundant offering of sacrifices." [43] Methodist commentator Joseph Benson notes that the security of the walls meant that "they could praise the Lord there without disturbance or fear". [44]
The last part of this chapter focuses on the priests and Levites who help people worship God in the Temple, as their needs were taken care by the same people. [45] David was mentioned twice, indicating that the people were emulating the traditions established since the time 'God directed David to establish the Temple'. [45] Verse 47 also confirms that the pattern of bringing food for Temple workers was already observed from the time of Zerubbabel when the Temple was rebuilt, and consistently practiced until the time of Nehemiah. [46] This explains the anger of Nehemiah a few years later when he heard the people stopped providing the needs of the Temple workers (Nehemiah 13:10–13). [46]