Dedication of Wall Nehemiah 12

Nehemiah 12:47 "And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron."

We again see a list of names. I think this chapter is retro and is a summary of the people and the events of the time.

The book of Ezra covers about 80 years and Nehemiah covers about 11 years. Nehemiah came up after Ezra (14 years)and set things in order. I do not quite get the time frame of Zerubbabel but it seems he was the strong man of the people who returned.

In reading these books we should do some remembering. Israel was redeemed out of Egypt as slaves. The wondered in the wilderness where they were taught to trust in the one true God and learned the law there. They rose to the greatest nation on earth under David and Solomon. They turned from God and worshipped idols and as a result were taken away into captivity. They were granted permission to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild it. Most of the people choose to stay in Babylon and Assyria because they prospered there. A remnant, with a heart for God, came back and did the rebuilding of Jerusalem. These books are their stories.

v27 "And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgiving and with singing with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps."

It is a flashback to the procedures set up by David to praise the LORD. The people were divided into two groups and they climbed the steps above David's house and joined at the top to dedicate the wall.

v43 "Also that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off."

The chapter places emphasis on the singers set up by David and Solomon, Asaph was chief in the old days. His descendants carry on the talent for the LORD. Looking in the book of Psalms, you will see the name of Asaph on many of the chapters.

v46 "For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God."

So to some degree we see now the shame taken away. The destroyed city of Jerusalem represented the nation Israel and the shame they bore for turning from the LORD. It is a physical sign of their spiritual revival.

Next we have the last chapter of Nehemiah.

Malachi 1:5 "And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel."

Dedication of the wall of Jerusalem.

Who will live in Jerusalem?