Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 12:24
And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise [and] to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.
24. And the chief of the Levites ] Once more a brief list is given of the chief Levite families.
Hashabiah ] This name occurs in Neh 10:12, and Ezr 8:19, but not in Neh 12:8-9. Probably the same as Hashabneiah (Neh 9:5).
Sherebiah ] Cf. Neh 12:8, Neh 9:5, Neh 10:13; Ezr 8:18.
Jeshua the son of Kadmiel ] We have here an almost certain error in the text ‘Jeshua ben-Kadmiel’ instead of ‘Jeshua, Bani, (or Binnui), Kadmiel.’ Cf. Neh 12:8, Neh 10:9. In favour of this emendation is to be cited the reading of the LXX. (b’n) .
over against them ] Cf. Neh 12:9. LXX. , Vulg. ‘per vices suas.’
to praise and (R.V. to) give thanks ] The reference is to the anti-phonal singing of the Levites in the Temple worship.
according to the commandment of David the man of God ] The reference is to the organization of the Levitical singers by David mentioned in 1Ch 16:4; 1Ch 23:30.
On the title ‘the man of God’ applied to David cf. 2Ch 8:14.
ward over (R.V. omit) against ward ] The same phrase occurs in 1Ch 26:16.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jeshua the son of Kadmiel – If the reading be sound, this Jeshua must have been the head of the Levitical family of Kadmiel in the time of Joiakim; but (compare Neh 8:7; Neh 9:4), some read Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, etc.
Ward over against ward – i. e., alternately, one part of the choir corresponding the other.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Neh 12:24
According to the Commandment Of David the man of God.
Posthumous influence
A mans influence after he is dead. He is still present with his people.
I. By his will. The commandment of David. The grip of the dead is on our fields and churches, our schools and hospitals.
II. By his writings. Immortality of genius. Davids psalms. Solomons proverbs. The writings of Shakespeare, Milton, Bunyan, and many others.
III. By his example. David the man of God. For good or evil a man lives. For good or evil his deeds will live after him. The memory of the just is blessed. (Homiletic Commentary.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Of which See Poole “Neh 12:9“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the chief of the Levites,…. Here the thread of the history of Nehemiah, interrupted by the insertion of the two preceding verses, is carried from the priests to the Levites in the times of the third high priest:
Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel; these were singers, since it follows:
with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward; which office of theirs they performed by turns in courses, as David under a divine direction ordered, see
1Ch 23:5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The names Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, frequently occur as those of heads of Levitical orders: the two first in Neh 10:12., Ezr 8:18.; the two last in Neh 12:8, Neh 10:10, and Ezr 2:40; and the comparison of these passages obliges us to regard and expunge as a gloss the before Kadmiel. Opposite to these four are placed their brethren, whose office it was “to praise (and) to give thanks according to the commandment of David,” etc.: comp. 1Ch 16:4; 1Ch 23:30; 2Ch 5:13; and , 2Ch 29:25. , ward opposite ward, elsewhere used of the gatekeepers, 1Ch 26:16, is here applied to the position of the companies of singers in divine worship. The names of the brethren, i.e., of the Levitical singers, follow, Neh 12:25, where the first three names must be separated from those which follow, and combined with Neh 12:24. This is obvious from the consideration, that Mattaniah and Bakbukiah are mentioned in Neh 11:17 as presidents of two companies of singers, and with them Abda the Jeduthunite, whence we are constrained to suppose that is only another form for of Neh 11:17. According, then, to what has been said, the division into verses must be changed, and Neh 12:25 should begin with the name . Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub are chiefs of the doorkeepers; the two last names occur as such both in Neh 11:19 and Ezr 2:42, and even so early as 1Ch 9:17, whence we perceive that these were ancient names of races of Levitical doorkeepers. In Ezr 2:42 and 1Ch 9:17, , answering to of the present verse, is also named with them. The combination is striking: we should at least have expected , because, while cannot be combined with , may well be so; hence we must either transpose the words as above, or read according to Neh 11:19, . In the latter case, is more closely defined by the apposition : at the doors, viz., at the treasure-chambers of the doors. On ‘acupiym, see rem. on 1Ch 26:15, 1Ch 26:17.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(24) And the chief.The account resumes with the Levites, and gives a list of the extant officers of the Temple, many names being the same as in earlier times.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. The commandment of David See 1Ch 16:4; 1Ch 23:30.
Ward over against ward One company of singers opposite another company, so as to worship antiphonally. See note on Ezr 3:11.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
the man of God. See App-49.
God. Hebrew. Elohim.(with Art.) = the [true]God. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Hashabiah: Neh 12:8, Neh 8:7, Neh 9:4, Neh 10:9-13
according: 1Ch 23:1-32, 1Ch 25:1 – 1Ch 26:32
the man: Deu 33:1, Jos 14:6, 1Ki 17:24, 2Ch 8:14, 1Ti 6:11, 2Ti 3:17
ward: Neh 12:9, Ezr 3:10, Ezr 3:11
Reciprocal: Jos 3:8 – command 1Ch 9:14 – Hashabiah 1Ch 16:7 – on that day 1Ch 25:8 – ward against ward 1Ch 26:16 – ward against ward Ezr 8:18 – Sherebiah Neh 7:1 – the porters Neh 10:11 – Hashabiah Neh 11:22 – Hashabiah Neh 12:36 – musical instruments
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12:24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise [and] to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over {g} against ward.
(g) That is, one after another and every one in his course.