Nehemiah 12:1-47
Q.1. Why were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel given prominence? How did they change the mood of the people? When did they serve? – (Neh.12:1-26; 45-46)
Returning to the land from captivity was not just a national thing – it was a spiritual return. The priests recorded – … were the heads of the priests and their kinsmen in the days of Jeshua (Neh.12:7). Jeshua was the High Priest who had been especially identified by the prophet Zechariah as the one who was to officiate in the rebuilt post –exilic temple (Zech.3:1-7). The Levites had been given the added function of leading in worship and song – 45 they performed the worship of their God and the service of purification, together with the singers and the gatekeepers in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon. 46 For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times, there were leaders of the singers, songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God (Neh.12:45-46). These songs were intended to remind the people of their covenant relationship with God, and to inspire them with His many stunning victories in former days. These families served -… in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest and scribe (Neh.12:26).
Q.2. What made the participation of the Levites crucial at the dedication of the Jerusalem wall? How did the priests and Levites prepare for the dedication? – (Neh.12:27-30)
Dedication services can sometimes seem boring. This was certainly not the case in Israel, because this service made room for the presence of God. Thus – at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps, and lyres (Neh.12:27). Even before preparing the music – The priests and the Levites purified themselves; they also purified the people, the gates, and the wall (Neh.12:30). This was a unique occasion in the history of the nation.
Q.3. What made the dedication such a memorable and joyous occasion? How did they store the offerings? Why were these offerings so important? – (Neh.12:31-47)
Like an opening event for the Olympic Games, this dedication was marked by special songs, sung by choirs, and accompanied with instruments. It was planned with choreography, with two great choirs on the top of the walls that finished at the temple (Neh.12:31-42). The day was also attended with generous offerings – and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar (Neh.12:43). So copious were the offerings, that chambers were prepared around the temple for – … the contributions, the first fruits and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and Levites … (Neh.12:44). Without these tithes and offerings, the Priests and Levites could not carry out their spiritual functions on behalf of the nation – So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron (Neh.12:47).