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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Nehemiah 12 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/nehemiah/12.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/nehemiah/12-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Nehemiah 12</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../nehemiah/11.htm" title="Nehemiah 11">◄</a> Nehemiah 12 <a href="../nehemiah/13.htm" title="Nehemiah 13">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">A List of Priests and Levites</h3><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_1"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.1" class="v16_12_1">1</span>Many priests and Levites had returned from Babylonia with Zerubbabel<a href="#fn" id="link_Neh.12.1!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and Joshua as their leaders. Those priests were Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, </span><span class="v16_12_2"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.2" class="v16_12_2">2</span>Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, </span><span class="v16_12_3"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.3" class="v16_12_3">3</span>Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, </span><span class="v16_12_4"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.4" class="v16_12_4">4</span>Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, </span><span class="v16_12_5"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.5" class="v16_12_5">5</span>Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, </span><span class="v16_12_6"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.6" class="v16_12_6">6</span>Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, </span><span class="v16_12_7"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.7" class="v16_12_7">7</span>Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and another Jedaiah. These were the leading priests and their assistants during the time of Joshua.<a href="#fn" id="link_Neh.12.7!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_8"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.8" class="v16_12_8">8</span>The Levites who returned were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah. They and their assistants were responsible for the songs of praise, </span><span class="v16_12_9"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.9" class="v16_12_9">9</span>while Bakbukiah and Unno, together with their assistants, were responsible for the choral responses.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Descendants of Joshua the High Priest</h3><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_10"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.10" class="v16_12_10">10</span>Joshua was the father of Joiakim, the grandfather of Eliashib, and the great-grandfather of Joiada. </span><span class="v16_12_11"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.11" class="v16_12_11">11</span>Joiada was the father of Jonathan and the grandfather of Jaddua.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Leaders of the Priestly Clans</h3><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_12"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.12" class="v16_12_12">12</span>When Joiakim was high priest, the following priests were leaders of their clans: Meraiah of the Seraiah clan, Hananiah of Jeremiah, </span><span class="v16_12_13"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.13" class="v16_12_13">13</span>Meshullam of Ezra, Jehohanan of Amariah, </span><span class="v16_12_14"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.14" class="v16_12_14">14</span>Jonathan of Malluchi, Joseph of Shebaniah, </span><span class="v16_12_15"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.15" class="v16_12_15">15</span>Adna of Harim, Helkai of Meraioth, </span><span class="v16_12_16"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.16" class="v16_12_16">16</span>Zechariah of Iddo, Meshullam of Ginnethon, </span><span class="v16_12_17"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.17" class="v16_12_17">17</span>Zichri of Abijah,<a href="#fn" id="link_Neh.12.17!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Piltai of Moadiah, </span><span class="v16_12_18"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.18" class="v16_12_18">18</span>Shammua of Bilgah, Jehonathan of Shemaiah, </span><span class="v16_12_19"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.19" class="v16_12_19">19</span>Mattenai of Joiarib, Uzzi of Jedaiah, </span><span class="v16_12_20"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.20" class="v16_12_20">20</span>Kallai of Sallai, Eber of Amok, </span><span class="v16_12_21"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.21" class="v16_12_21">21</span>Hashabiah of Hilkiah, and Nethanel of Jedaiah.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Priestly and Levite Families</h3><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_22"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.22" class="v16_12_22">22</span>During the time of the high priests Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, and including the time that Darius was king of Persia, a record was kept of the heads of the Levite and priestly families. </span><span class="v16_12_23"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.23" class="v16_12_23">23</span>However, no official record was kept of the heads of the Levite clans after the death of Johanan,<a href="#fn" id="link_Neh.12.23!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> the grandson of Eliashib.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_24"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.24" class="v16_12_24">24</span>Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel,<a href="#fn" id="link_Neh.12.24!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and their assistants organized two choirs of Levites to offer praises to God, just as King David, the man of God, had commanded.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_25"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.25" class="v16_12_25">25</span>Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were responsible for guarding the storerooms near the temple gates.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_26"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.26" class="v16_12_26">26</span>All of these men lived during the time of Joiakim<a href="#fn" id="link_Neh.12.26!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and during the time that I was governor and Ezra, a teacher of the Law of Moses, was priest.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Nehemiah Dedicates the City Wall</h3><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_27"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.27" class="v16_12_27">27</span>When the city wall was dedicated, Levites from everywhere in Judah were invited to join in the celebration with songs of praise and with the music of cymbals, small harps, and other stringed instruments. </span><span class="v16_12_28"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.28-Neh.12.29" class="v16_12_28">28-29</span>The Levite singers lived in villages around Jerusalem, and so they came from there, as well as from the villages around Netophah, Beth-Gilgal, Geba, and Azmaveth. </span><span class="v16_12_30"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.30" class="v16_12_30">30</span>The priests and Levites held special ceremonies to make themselves holy, and then they did the same for the rest of the people and for the gates and walls of the city.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_31"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.31" class="v16_12_31">31</span>I brought the leaders of Judah to the top of the city wall and put them in charge of the two groups that were to march around on top of the wall, singing praises to God. One group marched to the right in the direction of Garbage Gate. </span><span class="v16_12_32"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.32" class="v16_12_32">32</span>Hoshaiah and half of the leaders followed them. </span><span class="v16_12_33"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.33" class="v16_12_33">33</span>Then came the priests Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, </span><span class="v16_12_34"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.34" class="v16_12_34">34</span>Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, </span><span class="v16_12_35"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.35" class="v16_12_35">35</span>all of them blowing trumpets. Next, there was Zechariah of the Asaph clan<a href="#fn" id="link_Neh.12.35!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v16_12_36"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.36" class="v16_12_36">36</span>and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. They played musical instruments like those that had been played by David, the man of God. And they marched behind Ezra, the teacher of the Law. </span><span class="v16_12_37"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.37" class="v16_12_37">37</span>When they reached Fountain Gate, they climbed the steps to David's City and went past his palace, before stopping at the Water Gate near the eastern wall of the city.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_38"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.38" class="v16_12_38">38</span>The second group of singers marched along the wall in the opposite direction, and I followed them, together with the other half of the leaders of Judah. We went past Oven Tower, Broad Wall, </span><span class="v16_12_39"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.39" class="v16_12_39">39</span>Ephraim Gate, Old Gate, Fish Gate, Hananel Tower, Hundred Tower, and on to Sheep Gate. Finally, we stopped at Gate of the Guard, </span><span class="v16_12_40"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.40" class="v16_12_40">40</span>where we stood in front of the temple with the other group, praising God. In the group with me were half of the leaders, </span><span class="v16_12_41"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.41" class="v16_12_41">41</span>as well as the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, who were blowing trumpets. </span><span class="v16_12_42"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.42" class="v16_12_42">42</span>Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer also stood there, as Jezrahiah led the singers. </span><span class="v16_12_43"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.43" class="v16_12_43">43</span>God had made the people very happy, and so on that day they celebrated and offered many sacrifices. The women and children joined in the festivities, and joyful shouts could be heard far from the city of Jerusalem.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Preparation for Worship</h3><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_44"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.44" class="v16_12_44">44</span>On that same day, some leaders were appointed to be responsible for the safekeeping of gifts for the temple and to be in charge of receiving the first part of the harvest and the ten percent of the crops and livestock that was offered to God. These same leaders also collected the part of crops that the Law of Moses taught was to be given to the Levites.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v16_12_44">Everyone was pleased with the work of the priests and Levites, </span><span class="v16_12_45"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.45" class="v16_12_45">45</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Neh.12.45!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span>-</span></a> when they performed the ceremonies to make people acceptable to worship God. And the singers and the temple guards did their jobs according to the instructions given by David and his son Solomon. </span><span class="v16_12_46"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.46" class="v16_12_46">46</span>In fact, ever since the days of David and Asaph, there had been song leaders and songs of praise and worship. </span><span class="v16_12_47"><span class="reftext" id="Neh.12.47" class="v16_12_47">47</span>During the time that Zerubbabel and I were in charge, everyone in Israel gave what they were supposed to give for the daily needs of the singers and temple guards from the Levi tribe. Then the Levites would give the priests their share from what they had received.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.1 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Zerubbabel: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew “Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.7 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Joshua: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Joshua the high priest and friend of Zerubbabel (see verse 1 and Haggai 1.1; 2.2).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.17 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">of Abijah: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Hebrew text adds “of Miniamin.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.23 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">death of Johanan: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Probably between 408 and 405 <char style="sc">b.c.</char>, when Darius II died.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.24 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">son of Kadmiel: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or possibly “Binnui, Kadmiel” (see 10.9; 12.8).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.26 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Joiakim: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew “Joiakim son of Joshua son of Jozadak.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.35 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Zechariah of the Asaph clan: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew “Zechariah son of Jonathan son of Shemaiah son of Mattaniah son of Micaiah son of Zaccur son of Asaph.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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