Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 12:8
Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, [and] Mattaniah, [which was] over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
8. Moreover the Levites ] This list of Levite houses which returned along with Zerubbabel consists of eight names, Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Unni. In Ezr 2:40-42, the list of the Levites and singers that returned consists of Jeshua, Kadmiel, Hodaviah (?), and the children of Asaph. Other Levitical lists occur in Neh 10:9-14, Neh 12:24-26. Jeshua and Kadmiel occur in all the lists. Binnui represents ‘the sons of Henadad’, cf. Ezr 3:9 with Neh 3:24; Neh 10:10, who probably returned to Jerusalem in the year after Zerubbabel. Sherebiah’s name occurs in Neh 8:7, Neh 9:4, Neh 10:13. Judah is probably to be identified with Hodijah in Neh 10:10. Mattaniah is mentioned in Neh 11:17 as an Asaphite chief. It is probable therefore that he represents ‘the children of Asaph’ in Ezr 2:41, while other families of ‘the singers’ are represented by Bakbukiah (? = Bukkiah of the sons of Heman, 1Ch 25:4), who is mentioned in Neh 11:17, and by Unno = Unni (1Ch 15:18; 1Ch 15:20).
the thanksgiving ] R.V. marg. ‘Or, the choirs ’. The Hebrew word only occurs here; and the LXX. not understanding it renders . The Vulgate gives ‘super hymnos.’ Compare the description of Mattaniah, the Asaphite, in Neh 11:17, ‘the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Of the Levitical houses here mentioned, three only returned at first, those of Jeshua, Kadmiel, and Judah or Hodevah Neh 7:43. The others must have returned subsequently.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. Over the thanksgiving] The principal singers: See Clarke on Ne 11:17.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Moreover the Levites,…. Who lived in the same times: were
Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah; most of these are made mention of in Ne 8:7, the last of them is said to be
over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren; he was the precentor, or had the directing and conducting of the songs of the temple, particularly the thanksgiving song at the daily sacrifices; Jarchi takes the word here used to be the name of a musical instrument.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Neh 12:8 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, [and] Mattaniah, [which was] over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
Ver. 8. Which was over the thanksgiving ] Praefectus Musicus, before doing the music. See Neh 11:17 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Neh 12:8-11
8The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving, he and his brothers. 9Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, stood opposite them in their service divisions. 10Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada, 11and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua.
Neh 12:8-9 This list expands the list in Ezr 2:40-42 of Levites who returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua.
Neh 12:8 Mattaniah who was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving This was a common name among Levitical musicians. It is also mentioned in 1Ch 9:15; 2Ch 20:14; Neh 11:17; Neh 11:22; Neh 12:8; Neh 12:25; Neh 12:35.
Neh 12:9 Unni The MT has (Kethiu-written) Unno, but has a note that it should be read (Qere – read) as Unni.
stood opposite them in their service divisions This may refer to liturgical or antiphonal singing aspects of worship (cf. 2Ch 7:6).
Because of Neh 12:24 and the term opposite (BDB 617), which means in front of, it may simply refer to the Levites being divided into twenty-four groupings to share the load of ministry (cf. 1Ch 23:6).
Neh 12:10-11 This is a 1ist of the High Priest’s family, which may run into the Greek Period. Josephus (Antiq. 11.7.8) says Judda was high priest in 322 B.C.
Neh 12:10 Jeshua. . .Joiakim. . .Eliashib Jeshua was the descendant of the last high priest when Jerusalem fell in 586 B.C. (cf. Ezr 3:2). Eliashib was the chief priest when Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem in 445 B.C. (cf. Neh 3:1).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
the Levites. Compare Ezr 2:40 with Ezr 7:43, above.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jeshua: Neh 7:48, Neh 9:4, Neh 10:9-13
Mattaniah: Neh 11:17, Neh 11:22
the thanksgiving: that is, The psalms of thanksgiving, Neh 12:24, 1Ch 9:33
Reciprocal: Num 1:50 – thou shalt Neh 3:19 – Jeshua Neh 10:12 – Sherebiah Neh 12:25 – Mattaniah Rev 7:12 – thanksgiving
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 12:8-9. Moreover the Levites, which were over the thanksgiving Appointed to see that the psalms of thanksgiving were continually sung in the temple, in due time and manner. Also, their brethren were over against them in the watches That is, in the places where they were appointed to stand, and wait, and perform their office, which was to keep the guard of the gates, while the others sung.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
12:8 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, [and] Mattaniah, {c} [which was] over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
(c) Had charge of them who sang the psalms.