Priests and Levites who returned from exile

A list of priests and Levites

1Many priests and Levites had returned from Babylonia with Zerubbabel12.1 Zerubbabel: Hebrew “Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel”. and Joshua as their leaders. Those priests were Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and another Jedaiah. These were the leading priests and their assistants during the time of Joshua.12.7 Joshua: Joshua the high priest and friend of Zerubbabel (see verse 1 and Haggai 1.1; 2.2).

8The Levites who returned were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah. They and their assistants were responsible for the songs of praise, 9while Bakbukiah and Unno, together with their assistants, were responsible for the choral responses.

Descendants of Joshua the high priest

10Joshua was the father of Joiakim, the grandfather of Eliashib, and the great-grandfather of Joiada. 11Joiada was the father of Jonathan and the grandfather of Jaddua.

Leaders of the priestly clans

12When Joiakim was high priest, the following priests were leaders of their clans: Meraiah of the Seraiah clan, Hananiah of Jeremiah, 13Meshullam of Ezra, Jehohanan of Amariah, 14Jonathan of Malluchi, Joseph of Shebaniah, 15Adna of Harim, Helkai of Meraioth, 16Zechariah of Iddo, Meshullam of Ginnethon, 17Zichri of Abijah,12.17 of Abijah: The Hebrew text adds “…of Miniamin”. Piltai of Moadiah, 18Shammua of Bilgah, Jehonathan of Shemaiah, 19Mattenai of Joiarib, Uzzi of Jedaiah, 20Kallai of Sallai, Eber of Amok, 21Hashabiah of Hilkiah, and Nethanel of Jedaiah.

The priestly and Levite families

22During the time of the high priests Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, and including the time that Darius was king of Persia, a record was kept of the heads of the Levite and priestly families. 23However, no official record was kept of the heads of the Levite clans after the death of Johanan,12.23 death of Johanan: Probably between 408 and 405 BC, when Darius II died. the grandson of Eliashib.

24Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel,12.24 son of Kadmiel: Or possibly “Binnui, Kadmiel” (see 10.9; 12.8). and their assistants organized two choirs of Levites to offer praises to God, just as King David, the man of God, had commanded.

25Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were responsible for guarding the storerooms near the temple gates.

26All these men lived during the time of Joiakim12.26 Joiakim: Hebrew “Joiakim son of Joshua son of Jozadak”. and during the time that I was governor and Ezra, a teacher of the Law of Moses, was priest.

Nehemiah dedicates the city wall

27When the city wall was dedicated, Levites from everywhere in Judah were invited to join in the celebration with songs of praise and with the music of cymbals, small harps, and other stringed instruments. 28-29The Levite singers lived in villages around Jerusalem, and so they came from there, as well as from the villages around Netophah, Beth-Gilgal, Geba, and Azmaveth. 30The priests and Levites held special ceremonies to make themselves holy, and then they did the same for the rest of the people and for the gates and walls of the city.

31I brought the leaders of Judah to the top of the city wall and put them in charge of the two groups that were to march around on top of the wall, singing praises to God. One group marched to the right in the direction of Rubbish Gate. 32Hoshaiah and half of the leaders followed them. 33Then came the priests Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, 35all of them blowing trumpets. Next, there was Zechariah of the Asaph clan12.35 Zechariah of the Asaph clan: Hebrew “Zechariah son of Jonathan son of Shemaiah son of Mattaniah son of Micaiah son of Zaccur son of Asaph”. 36and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. They played musical instruments like those that had been played by David, the man of God. And they marched behind Ezra, the teacher of the Law. 37When they reached Fountain Gate, they climbed the steps to David's City and went past his palace, before stopping at the Water Gate near the eastern wall of the city.

38The second group of singers marched along the wall in the opposite direction, and I followed them, together with the other half of the leaders of Judah. We went past Oven Tower, Broad Wall, 39Ephraim Gate, Old Gate, Fish Gate, Hananel Tower, Hundred Tower, and on to Sheep Gate. Finally, we stopped at Gate of the Guard, 40where we stood in front of the temple with the other group, praising God. In the group with me were half of the leaders, 41as well as the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, who were blowing trumpets. 42Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer also stood there, as Jezrahiah led the singers. 43God had made the people very happy, and so on that day they celebrated and offered many sacrifices. The women and children joined in the festivities, and joyful shouts could be heard far from the city of Jerusalem.

Preparation for worship

44On that same day, some leaders were appointed to be responsible for the safekeeping of gifts for the temple and to be in charge of receiving the first part of the harvest and the ten per cent of the crops and livestock that was offered to God. These same leaders also collected the part of crops that the Law of Moses taught was to be given to the Levites.

Everyone was pleased with the work of the priests and Levites, 45when they performed the ceremonies to make people acceptable to worship God. And the singers and the temple guards did their jobs according to the instructions given by David and his son Solomon.12.45: a 1 Ch 25.1-8; b 1 Ch 26.12. 46In fact, ever since the days of David and Asaph, there had been song leaders and songs of praise and worship. 47During the time when Zerubbabel and I were in charge, everyone in Israel gave what they were supposed to give for the daily needs of the singers and temple guards from the Levi tribe. Then the Levites would give the priests their share from what they had received.