Nehemiah Dedicates the Wall

27 Now at (A)the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, (B)both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the (C)villages of the Netophathites, 29 from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem. 30 Then the priests and Levites (D)purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

31 So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. (E)One went to the right hand on the wall (F)toward the Refuse Gate. 32 After them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, 33 and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 and some of the priests’ sons (G)with trumpets—Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his brethren, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with (H)the musical (I)instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. 37 (J)By the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went up (K)the stairs of the (L)City of David, on the stairway of the wall, beyond the house of David, as far as (M)the Water Gate eastward.

38 (N)The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the (O)Tower of the Ovens as far as (P)the Broad Wall, 39 (Q)and above the Gate of Ephraim, above (R)the Old Gate, above (S)the Fish Gate, (T)the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of [a]the Hundred, as far as (U)the Sheep Gate; and they stopped by (V)the Gate of the Prison.

40 So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, likewise I and the half of the rulers with me; 41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, [b]Minjamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers [c]sang loudly with Jezrahiah the director.

43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard (W)afar off.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 12:39 Heb. Hammeah
  2. Nehemiah 12:41 Or Mijamin, v. 5
  3. Nehemiah 12:42 Lit. made their voice to be heard

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