Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 12:9
Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, [were] over against them in the watches.
9. and Unni ] R.V. and Unno. The K’ri reads ‘and Unni,’ the C’thib ‘and Unno.’ The C’thib reading might, however, be rendered as the verb which occurs in Ezr 3:11, ‘And they sang one to another’ (cf. Deu 21:7; Deu 27:14), with the sense of ‘And their brethren responded to them in choral antiphon.’ This suggestion, however, apart from grammatical objections, requires us to suppose that Bakbukiah’s name has been interpolated. For this there is no evidence; and so far as the sense is concerned, the idea of antiphonal singing is sufficiently expressed in our own text. The confusion between ‘Unno’ and ‘Unni’ arises from the commonest source of variation in the Hebrew text, the similarity of Yod and Vv ( and ). But the original reading was very probably ‘Also Bakbukiah and Unni [and] their brethren;’ Yd, the last letter of Unni, having fallen out before the Vv, the Vv became, instead of the copula, the last letter of ‘Unno.’ Another conjectural and less probable emendation of the text is to read ‘Obadiah’ instead of ‘Unni,’ in order to bring the verse in closer correspondence with Neh 12:25.
over against them ] The same expression as in 2Ch 7:6, ‘The priests sounded trumpets before them,’ where probably the meaning is ‘over against, i.e. in answer to, the Levites:’ See also Neh 12:24.
in the watches ] R.V. in wards. LXX. . Vulg. ‘in officio suo.’ The Hebrew could equally well be rendered ‘as watches, i.e. for the purpose of keeping watch.’ But the sense required is more probably ‘according to wards,’ ‘in wards by rotation.’ Cf. Neh 13:14.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
i.e. In the places where they were appointed to stand, and wait, and perform their office, one standing over against another, as it is explained, Neh 12:24, ward over against ward; for the Hebrew word is the same there and here. Others, according to their turns, or courses, of which see 1Ch 25:9.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. their brethren, were over againstthem in the watchesthat is, according to some, theirstationsthe places where they stood when officiating”wardover against ward” (Ne12:24); or, according to others, in alternate watches, in courseof rotation.
Ne12:10-47. SUCCESSION OF THEHIGH PRIESTS.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Also Bakbukiah and Unni,…. Two other Levites; the first is mentioned in Ne 11:17,
their brethren, were over against them in the watches; the Levites were divided into twenty four wards, and these were placed one against another, 1Ch 23:6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
What is meant by being appointed over against them in the watches, unless it means making responses in praising God, is not easy to gather.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Neh 12:9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, [were] over against them in the watches.
Ver. 9. In the watches ] In the order of their functions, taking their turns.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
over against = corresponding to those in Neh 12:8.
in the watches: i.e. the courses, or waitings.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
over against: Psa 134:1-3
Reciprocal: Neh 11:17 – Bakbukiah Neh 12:24 – ward Neh 12:25 – Mattaniah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12:9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, [were] over against them in the {d} watches.
(d) They kept the wards and watches according to their turns, 2Ch 23:6.