Albert Barnes Commentary Nehemiah 12
Albert Barnes Commentary
Nehemiah 12
Albert Barnes Commentary
Nehemiah 12
"Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra," — Nehemiah 12:1 (ASV)
The priests - The number of the names here given, which is 22, is probably to be connected with that of the Davidic “courses,” which was 24 (1 Chronicles 24:7–18). Eight names are identical with those of the heads in David’s time.
On comparing the present list with that of the families who sealed to Nehemiah’s covenant (Nehemiah 10:2–8), we will find that the first sixteen recur in that document nearly in the same order, but that the last six are absent from it. It would seem that because these six declined to seal to Nehemiah’s covenant, they were placed below the rest here in a sort of supplementary list. Note especially the “and” which connects the second part of the lists with the earlier part, both in Nehemiah 12:6 and in Nehemiah 12:19.
"Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, [and] Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren." — Nehemiah 12:8 (ASV)
Of the Levitical houses here mentioned, three only returned at first: those of Jeshua, Kadmiel, and Judah or Hodevah (Nehemiah 7:43). The others must have returned subsequently.
"And Jeshua begat Joiakim, and Joiakim begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada, and Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua." — Nehemiah 12:10-11 (ASV)
The six generations of high priests covered a little more than two centuries (538-333 B.C.), or a little under thirty-five years to a generation. Jaddua was the high priest who (according to Josephus) had an interview with Alexander shortly after the battle of Issus.
"As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of fathers` [houses]; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian. The sons of Levi, heads of fathers` [houses], were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib." — Nehemiah 12:22-23 (ASV)
These verses interrupt the account of the church officers in the time of Joiakim, resumed in (Nehemiah 12:24). They appear to be an addition to the original text, made about the time of Alexander the Great, when the Books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah would seem to have first taken their existing shape. The same writer who introduced these verses, probably also added (Nehemiah 12:11) to the original text.
Darius the Persian — Probably Darius Codomannus (336-331 B.C.), the antagonist of Alexander the Great. See the introduction to the Book of Nehemiah.
This passage shows that the practice of keeping a record of public events in state archives was continued after the return from the captivity, at least to the time of Johanan, the son, i.e., “the grandson,” of Eliashib.
"And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch next to watch." — Nehemiah 12:24 (ASV)
Jeshua the son of Kadmiel - If the reading is sound, this Jeshua must have been the head of the Levitical family of Kadmiel in the time of Joiakim; but (Nehemiah 9:4), some read “Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel,” etc.
Ward over against ward - that is, “alternately,” one part of the choir corresponding to the other.
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