Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 12:40
So stood the two [companies of them that gave] thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:
40. rulers ] R.V. marg. ‘Or, deputies ’. In Neh 12:31, ‘the princes.’
and I, and the half of the rulers with me ] We have here rather fuller details of Nehemiah’s company to correspond with the description of the other in Neh 12:32-36.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In the house of God, i.e. in the courts of the temple.
I, and the half of the rulers with me; and Ezra, and the other half with him, as appears by comparing this with Neh 12:31,36.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God,…. Having made their procession on the wall in different ways, they met in the temple, that is, in the great court of it, for no other would hold them:
and I, and the half of the rulers with me; Nehemiah, and the other half with Hoshaiah, Ne 12:32.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(40) In the house of God.They stood first outside, but afterwards entered to present their offerings. But the main interest of the day was the professional worship under the open heavens.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
40. So stood Rather, and they stood. The two processions probably united in the street before the water gate, or else in the temple area, and at once proceeded into the courts of the temple, where they stood and worshipped together.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Make-up Of The Second Company ( Neh 12:40-42 b).
Not yet having given the details of the make-up of the second company the writer now fills us in on the details. As well as the choir that led the way (‘those who gave thanks’), the second company in procession was made up of :
Nehemiah.
Half of the aristocrats of wider Judah.
Seven leading priests along with their priestly trumpets.
Eight leading Levite singers, possibly under the supervision of a ninth, Jezrahiah their overseer.
This followed the pattern of the other company, but whereas that was led by Ezra the Scribe and Hoshaiah, this one was led by Nehemiah.
Neh 12:40
‘And I, and the half of the rulers with me;’
In the lead (although behind the choir) was Nehemiah, and he was followed by half the aristocrats, leading priests and leading Levites.
Neh 12:41
‘And the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets,’
The seven leading priests in this procession are named. Of these only Maaseiah (Maaziah) and Miniamin (Mijamin) are recorded as signing the covenant, although others may have done so under the family name. The blowing of trumpets was the prerogative of the priests.
Neh 12:42
‘And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer.
Together with them were nine leading Levites, the eight named in this verse and Jezrahiah who oversaw them in the same way as Zechariah had overseen those in the other procession (Neh 12:35). If seen in this way these Levites were ‘the singers’ of Neh 12:42 b. An alternative possible interpretation is found under Neh 12:42 b.
Neh 12:42
‘And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.’
If ‘the singers’ were the eight prominent Levites, then Jezrahiah was their leader and made up a ninth, tying in with the nine leading Levites in the other group headed by Zechariah the son of Jonathan (Neh 12:35-36).
An alternative is to see this as indicating that Jezrahiah was not one of the leading Levites, but led the singers who went ahead of the company, for we would expect mention of the singers. Whilst in some ways spoiling the symmetry, this interpretation limits the leading Levites to seventeen, tying in with the number of leading Levite families in Neh 10:9-13.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
in = at.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Neh 12:31, Neh 12:32, Psa 42:4, Psa 47:6-9, Psa 134:1-3
Reciprocal: Ezr 3:11 – they sang Heb 13:15 – the sacrifice