Nehemiah 12

Priests and Levites

1 These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua:

Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,

3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

4 Iddo, Ginnethon,*12:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 16); most Hebrew manuscripts Ginnethoi Abijah,

5 Mijamin,*12:5 A variant of Miniamin Moadiah, Bilgah,

6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,

7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah.

These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua.

8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services.

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

12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families:

of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah;

of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;

13 of Ezra’s, Meshullam;

of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;

14 of Malluk’s, Jonathan;

of Shekaniah’s,*12:14 Very many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also verse 3); most Hebrew manuscripts Shebaniah’s Joseph;

15 of Harim’s, Adna;

of Meremoth’s,*12:15 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 3); Hebrew Meraioth’s Helkai;

16 of Iddo’s, Zechariah;

of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;

17 of Abijah’s, Zikri;

of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;

18 of Bilgah’s, Shammua;

of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;

19 of Joiarib’s, Mattenai;

of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;

20 of Sallu’s, Kallai;

of Amok’s, Eber;

21 of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah;

of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.

22 The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.

25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.

Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem

27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.

31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of*12:31 Or go alongside the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of*12:31 Or proceed alongside the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.

38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of*12:38 Or them alongside the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah*12:39 Or Old Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.

40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.

Os sacerdotes que tornaram a Jerusalém

1 Estes são sacerdotes e levitas que subiram com Zorobabel, filho de Sealtiel, e com Jesuá: Seraías, Jeremias, Esdras, 2 Amarias, Maluque, Hatus, 3 Secanias, Reum, Meremote, 4 Ido, Ginetoi, Abias, 5 Miamim, Maadias, Bilga, 6 Semaías, Joiaribe, Jedaías, 7 Salu, Amoque, Hilquias, Jedaías; estes foram os chefes dos sacerdotes e de seus irmãos, nos dias de Jesuá.

8 E os levitas: Jesuá, Binui, Cadmiel, Serebias, Judá, Matanias; este e seus irmãos dirigiam os louvores. 9 E Bacbuquias e Uni, seus irmãos, estavam defronte deles, nas guardas. 10 E Jesuá gerou a Joiaquim, e Joiaquim gerou a Eliasibe, e Eliasibe gerou a Joiada, 11 E Joiada gerou a Jônatas, e Jônatas gerou a Jadua.

12 E nos dias de Joiaquim foram sacerdotes, chefes dos pais: de Seraías, Meraías; de Jeremias, Hananias; 13 De Esdras, Mesulão; de Amarias, Joanã; 14 De Maluqui, Jônatas; de Sebanias, José; 15 De Harim, Adna; de Meraiote, Helcai; 16 De Ido, Zacarias; de Ginetom, Mesulão. 17 De Abias, Zicri; de Miamim e de Moadias, Piltai; 18 De Bilga, Samua; de Semaías, Jônatas; 19 E de Joiaribe, Matenai; de Jedaías, Uzi; 20 De Salai, Calai; de Amoque, Éber; 21 De Hilquias, Hasabias; de Jedaías, Natanael.

22 Dos levitas, nos dias de Eliasibe, foram inscritos como chefes de pais, Joiada, Joanã e Jadua; como também os sacerdotes, até ao reinado de Dario, o persa. 23 Os filhos de Levi foram inscritos, como chefes de pais, no livro das crônicas, até aos dias de Joanã, filho de Eliasibe. 24 Foram, pois, os chefes dos levitas: Hasabias, Serabias, e Jesuá, filho de Cadmiel; e seus irmãos estavam defronte deles, para louvarem e darem graças, segundo o mandado de Davi, homem de Deus; guarda contra guarda. 25 Matanias, Bacbuquias, Obadias, Mesulão, Talmom e Acube, eram porteiros, que faziam a guarda às tesourarias das portas. 26 Estes viveram nos dias de Jeoiaquim, filho de Jesuá, o filho de Jozadaque; como também nos dias de Neemias, o governador, e do sacerdote Esdras, o escriba.

A dedicação dos muros

27 E na dedicação dos muros de Jerusalém buscaram os levitas de todos os seus lugares, para trazê-los a Jerusalém, a fim de fazerem a dedicação com alegria, com louvores e com canto, saltérios, címbalos e com harpas. 28 E assim ajuntaram os filhos dos cantores, tanto da campina dos arredores de Jerusalém, como das aldeias de Netofati; 29 Como também da casa de Gilgal, e dos campos de Geba, e Azmavete; porque os cantores edificaram para si aldeias nos arredores de Jerusalém. 30 E purificaram-se os sacerdotes e os levitas; e logo purificaram o povo, as portas e o muro.

31 Então fiz subir os príncipes de Judá sobre o muro, e ordenei dois grandes coros em procissão, um à mão direita sobre o muro do lado da porta do monturo. 32 E após ele ia Hosaías, e a metade dos príncipes de Judá. 33 E Azarias, Esdras e Mesulão, 34 Judá, Benjamim, Semaías e Jeremias. 35 E dos filhos dos sacerdotes, com trombetas: Zacarias, filho de Jônatas, filho de Semaías, filho de Matanias, filho de Micaías, filho de Zacur, filho de Asafe. 36 E seus irmãos, Semaías, e Azareel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Natanael, Judá e Hanani, com os instrumentos musicais de Davi, homem de Deus; e Esdras, o escriba, ia adiante deles. 37 Indo assim para a porta da fonte, defronte deles, subiram as escadas da cidade de Davi, onde começa a subida do muro, desde cima da casa de Davi, até à porta das águas, do lado do oriente.

38 E o segundo coro ia em frente, e eu após ele; e a metade do povo ia sobre o muro, desde a torre dos fornos, até à muralha larga; 39 E desde a porta de Efraim, passaram por cima da porta velha, e da porta do peixe, e pela torre de Hananeel e a torre de Meá, até à porta das ovelhas; e pararam à porta da prisão. 40 Então ambos os coros pararam na casa de Deus; como também eu, e a metade dos magistrados comigo. 41 E os sacerdotes Eliaquim, Maaseias, Miniamim, Micaías, Elioenai, Zacarias e Hananias, com trombetas. 42 Como também, Maaseias, Semaías, Eleazar, Uzi, Joanã, Malquias, Elão e Ezer; e faziam-se ouvir os cantores, juntamente com Jezraías, o seu superintendente. 43 E ofereceram, no mesmo dia, grandes sacrifícios e se alegraram; porque Deus os alegrara com grande alegria; e até as mulheres e os meninos se alegraram, de modo que a alegria de Jerusalém se ouviu até de longe.

O sustento dos sacerdotes e levitas

44 Também no mesmo dia se nomearam homens sobre as câmaras, dos tesouros, das ofertas alçadas, das primícias, dos dízimos, para ajuntarem nelas, dos campos das cidades, as partes da lei para os sacerdotes e para os levitas; porque Judá estava alegre por causa dos sacerdotes e dos levitas que assistiam ali. 45 E observava os preceitos do seu Deus, e os da purificação; como também os cantores e porteiros, conforme ao mandado de Davi e de seu filho Salomão. 46 Porque já nos dias de Davi e Asafe, desde a antiguidade, havia chefes dos cantores, e dos cânticos de louvores e de ação de graças a Deus. 47 Por isso todo o Israel, já nos dias de Zorobabel e nos dias de Neemias, dava aos cantores e aos porteiros as porções de cada dia; e santificavam as porções aos levitas, e os levitas as santificavam aos filhos de Arão.