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The chief of the priests and Levites that came up with Zerubbabel,
ver. 1 - 9.
The succession of the chief - priests, ver. 10 - 21.
The eminent Levites, ver. 22 - 26.
The wall dedicated, ver. 27 - 43.
The offices of the priests and Levites settled, ver. 44 - 47.
1: Priests - The chief of the priests, the heads of those
twenty four courses which David appointed by divine direction,(1Ch 24:1-19). And whereas there were twenty four, and here
but twenty - two, and ver.(12), &c. only twenty, the reason of this
difference may be, because two of the twenty four courses were extinct
in Babylon, and two of the persons here named, (Ne 12:2,5),
Hattush, and Maadiah, may be omitted in the account of the
posterity of these, ver.(12), &c. because they had no posterity.
Ezra - Either this was another Ezra, or if it were the same mentioned(Ezr 7:1), he lived to a great age; which may well be supposed,
considering his great sobriety, and his great piety to which God
promised long life, and withal the special providence of God continuing
him so long in such a season, wherein the church of God did greatly need
his help and counsel.
8: Moreover, &c. - He was to see, that the psalms of thanksgiving
were continually sung in the temple, in due time and manner.
10: Jeshua - Here follows a catalogue of the Jewish high - priests;
which was the more necessary, because their times were now to be measured,
not by the years of their kings as formerly, but by their high - priests.
12: Priests - As their fathers were priests in the days of Joshua,
so in the days of Joiakim the son of Joshua, the sons of those
persons executed the priesthood in their father's steads, some of
their fathers probably being yet living, and many of them dead.
22: Darius - Darius Noehus; and so this Jaddua might be
father to him who was in the days of Darius Codomanus, and of
Alexander the Great.
27: The wall - Of the city itself, which is here dedicated to God,
and to his honour and service, not only upon a general account, by which
we ought to devote ourselves, and all that is ours, to God; but upon
a more special ground, because this was a place which God himself had
chosen, and sanctified by his temple and gracious presence, and therefore
did of right belong to him; whence it is often called the holy city.
And they restored it to God by this dedication, withal imploring the
presence, and favour, and blessing of to this city by solemn prayers,
and praises, and sacrifices, wherewith this dedication was accompanied.
Places - To which they were now retired after that great and general
assembly, chap. 8, 9, & 10. (Ne 8:1 )&c.
30: Purified themselves - They that would be instrumental to sanctify
others, must sanctify themselves, and set themselves apart for God, with
purity of mind and sincerity of intention.
31: Princes - And half of the people with them. The wall - For
the wall was broad and strong, and so ordered that men might conveniently
walk upon it. Right hand - Towards the south and east.
39: Stood still - Waiting, as also their brethren did, that they
might go together in due order into God's house, there to perfect the
solemnity.
43: The children rejoiced - And their hosanna's were not despised,
but are recorded to their praise. All that share in public mercies,
ought to join in public thanksgivings.
44: Rejoiced - For the eminent gifts and graces which they observed
in many of them: for the great benefit which they had now received by
their ministry: and for the competent provision which hereby was made
for them, that so they might wholly wait upon their office. The sure
way for ministers to gain an interest, in the affections of their people,
is to wait on their ministry, to spend their whole time, and thought,
and strength therein.
45: The ward - That ward, or charge, which God had prescribed to
them. And in particular the charge of purification, of taking care
that no unclean person or thing should enter into the house or courts
of the Lord.
47: Sanctified - They set apart the first - fruits and tithes from
their own share, and devoted them to the use of the Levites. And so did
the Levites by the tithe of the tithes. Thus they all conscientiously
paid their dues, and did not profane those things which God had sanctified,
nor take them into their own common use. When what is contributed for the
support of religion, is given with an eye to God, it is sanctified, and
will cause the blessing to rest upon the house, and all that is therein.
