Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 11:17
And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, [was] the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
17. Micha ] R.V. Mica.
was the principal ] R.V. who was the chief. The expression ‘the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer’ is not very intelligible. The Hebrew for ‘the chief to begin’ is literally ‘the head of the beginning ( t’khillah) who used to give thanks to the prayer’ i.e. after it. The LXX. and Vulg. Vss. follow a text, which differs in one letter, ‘the head of the praise’ ( t’hillah), and gives a good sense, viz. ‘the head or leader of praise, one who gave thanks in the time of prayer,’ (LXX. ; Vulg. ‘princeps ad laudandum et ad confitendum in oratione.’) But the obscurity of the Hebrew phrase probably arises from its having been a technical title of the leader of the Temple choir, a choregus.
Bakbukiah the second among his brethren ] i.e. second to Mattaniah. Bakbukiah probably corresponds to Bakbakkar in 1Ch 9:15, or to Berechiah in 1Ch 9:16.
Abda ] This name appears with the same genealogy as Obadiah in 1Ch 9:16.
From the mention of ‘Asaph’ and ‘Jeduthun’ we evidently have in these verses (as in 1Ch 9:14-15) the class of Levites, who, e.g. in Ezr 2:41, stand before ‘the porters,’ i.e. ‘the singers.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 17. The principal to begin the thanksgiving] The precentor, pitcher of the tune, or master-singer.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In prayer, i.e. in the public and solemn prayers and praises which were constantly joined with the morning and evening sacrifice, at which the singers were present, and praised God with a psalm or hymn, which this man began.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. the principal to begin thethanksgiving in prayerthat is, the leader of the choir whichchanted the public praise at the time of the morning and eveningsacrifice. That service was always accompanied by some appropriatepsalm, the sacred music being selected and guided by the personnamed.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph,…. Zabdi is called Zichri in 1Ch 9:15
was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: he was the precentor, or led the song at the time of the daily sacrifice, in which prayer was also made, as in many of the songs, hymns, and psalms of David:
and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren; he was the next singer, or deputy to Mattaniah; perhaps the same that is called Bakbakkar, 1Ch 9:15
and Abda the son of Shammua; called Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, 1Ch 9:16
the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun: one of the three principal singers.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17. The principal to begin the thanksgiving He was the precentor and chief musician, like Asaph, mentioned in 1Ch 16:5.
Bakbukiah the second Second in rank; next in position and authority to Mattaniah.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Neh 11:17. Was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer Presided over the hymns and praises in prayer. Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Neh 11:17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, [was] the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
Ver. 17. To begin the thanksgiving in prayer ] To set tunes to psalms of praise, and to begin those tunes, as precentor, chief chanter.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the principal to begin the thanksgiving. Or, [was] head: “the starting point [was], he was to praise at the time of prayer. “
Abda the son of Shammua. Probably = Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, as in 1Ch 9:16.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Zabdi: In the parallel passage, instead of Zichri, many manuscripts have Zabdi, as here: he is also called Zaccur. Neh 10:12, 1Ch 9:15, Zichri
to begin: Neh 12:8, Neh 12:31, 1Ch 16:4, 1Ch 16:41, 1Ch 25:1-6
thanksgiving: Phi 4:6, 1Th 5:17, 1Th 5:18
Bakbukiah: Neh 12:9, Neh 12:25
Reciprocal: 1Sa 2:1 – prayed 1Ch 6:32 – and then 1Ch 6:39 – Asaph 1Ch 9:16 – Obadiah 1Ch 9:33 – were free 2Ch 31:2 – to give thanks Ezr 2:41 – Asaph Neh 11:22 – Mattaniah Neh 12:35 – Zechariah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 11:17. To begin the thanksgiving in prayer In the public and solemn prayers and praises, which were constantly joined with the morning and evening sacrifice, at which the singers were present, and praised God with a psalm or hymn, which this man began.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
11:17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, [was] the principal to {e} begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
(e) That is, he began the psalm and was the chanter.