Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 12:30
And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
30. purified themselves ] Cf. Ezr 6:20. The description of the sacrifices offered by Hezekiah on the occasion of a national purification should be compared, 2Ch 29:20-24.
the people the gates the walls ] i.e. the people were purified in order that they might engage in the solemn dedication of their city walls without violation of the laws of purity. ‘The gates and walls’ were probably sprinkled, both as a sign of the dedication and to remove defilement from the path of the sacred procession.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Neh 12:30
And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people.
Beginning at the right place
I. A pure church may make a sound commonwealth. They purified themselves. Like priest, like people. Cleric and laie act and react on each other. Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord. Elis sons. Uzzah may not sustain the ark.
II. To a pure people all things are pure. They purified the people and the gates and the wall. Citizens and city; sanctuary and house; Gods work and their own.
All things are sacred;
The eye of God is on them all,
And hallows all.
Jesus revealed God in the minutest. Peters vision. The present preparatory. I think our fathers had a better, grander, a diviner idea even of common life than we have when they spoke of the trades and professions of men as being their calling. There is a great thought in this word. It makes all the men, streets, shops, and warehouses to me as I walk along Divine objects. I feel that I am in a Divine place when I think of the men about me as following their calling. I feel that there is a God above men; that there is a God in human society; a God in the shops and counting-houses of London, touching and teaching every human being; and that every man is occupying the place, and putting his hand to the work to which God has called him. Sometimes you may see a man at a certain calling which is but preparatory. He is meant for something else. Providence opens the way, and he goes up higher and does another thing. God has given us a spiritual vocation–a Divine calling in Christ Jesus–and we are to walk worthy of that vocation here, doing all worldly things in a spiritual manner, preparatory to a higher calling which shall come one day, when we shall enter upon other forms of duty and service, to which the present inferior forms of duty and service faithfully fulfilled shall gradually prepare and fit us. (T. Binney.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 30. The priests and the Levites purified themselves] This consisted in washings, abstinence from wine, and other matters, which, on all other occasions, were lawful. And as to the purifying of the gates and the walls, nothing was requisite but to remove all filth from the former, and all rubbish that might have been laid against the latter.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Partly by sprinkling the water of purification upon them, by which the tabernacle and sacred utensils were purified, Num 8; and partly by solemn prayers and sacrifices.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the priests and the Levites purified themselves,…. By washing their bodies and their clothes, perhaps by sprinkling the water of purification on them, see Nu 8:6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(30) Purified themselves.Before consecration to God there must be purification from defilement. It is made emphatic that both priests and Levites purified themselves, that is, by offerings and ablutions (comp. 2Ch. 29:15; Ezr. 6:20): the gates and the wall by being sprinkled.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
30. Purified themselves people gates wall This was probably done by the sprinkling of water, (Num 19:18,) and the offering of sacrifices. Compare 2Ch 29:21.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Preparatory Purifying Of All Involved ( Neh 12:30 ).
The presence of the priests is assumed. For unlike the Levites, who were dependent on the then non-existent tithes (Neh 13:10), the priests would have been continually provided for from their appointed share in the offerings and sacrifices. All would be involved because now a great purification exercise was necessary. This was to be the holy city.
Neh 12:30
‘And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.’
So the Levites having gathered from their towns and villages, the priests and Levites purified themselves. We do not know exactly how this purification was performed, but it might have included such means as offering sacrifices and offerings; bathing themselves ceremonially; being sprinkled with the water of purification (water containing the ashes of a heifer – Numbers 19); washing their clothes; and abstaining from sexual activity (compare Exo 19:10; Exo 19:14-15; Lev 16:28; Num 8:6-8; Num 8:19).
They then proceeded to purify the people, possibly by offerings and sacrifices (compare Exo 24:8), and the wall and gates of the city (compare possibly Lev 14:49-53). This latter was confirmation that the city was now seen in a new light. Their hope was that the kingdom of God was now present among them (Psa 22:27-28; Psa 47:8 compare Hag 2:22). The King reigned (Psa 93:1; Psa 97:1; Psa 99:1). They believed that a purified Jerusalem would be the beginning of great things as YHWH acted on their behalf. So they were putting on its beautiful garments, with the intention of its remaining pure (Isa 52:1). This is the emphasis of this section. The purification of the people would have followed a similar pattern to that of the purifying of priests and Levites, although not being as intensive. The purification of the gates and the wall may have followed the pattern of the purification of buildings and have been by the sprinkling of blood-sprinkled water, and the releasing of birds (Lev 14:49-53).
Then, all being purified, there began the great ceremony of praise and thanksgiving. In a sense Jerusalem was seen as reborn.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Neh 12:30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
Ver. 30. Purified themselves, and purified the people ] But first themselves; because whoso would reform others must begin with himself, as Lyra here notes.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
themselves: Gen 35:2, Exo 19:10, Exo 19:15, Num 19:2-20, 2Ch 29:5, 2Ch 29:34, Ezr 6:21, Job 1:5, Heb 5:1, Heb 5:3
Reciprocal: Neh 3:1 – sanctified it Neh 13:22 – I commanded Psa 147:13 – he hath Jer 31:38 – that