Nehemiah CHAP. XII.
THE principal Scope and main Design of this Chapter is, to declare the solemn Dedi∣cation of the new repaired Walls of Jerusalem: In which Narrative are; First, The Antecedents. Secondly, The Concomitants. And Thirdly, The Consequents.
Remarks first upon the Antecedents; are,
First, The Genealogy of the Priests and Levites begins this Chapter, because they had a principal Part in Repairing the Walls, but more especially in their Dedication; and their Genealogy is first Recorded, that it might be the more manifest, they were the true Priests and Levites, who were thus employed in this Holy Work.
Remark the Second, Their Pedigree is reckoned under three High Priests. 1. Un∣der Jehoshua, ver. 1, to 12. 2. Under Joiakim, from ver. 12, to ver. 21. and 3. Un∣der Eliashib, from ver. 22, to 26.
Mark 1. The Ancestors of those that Dedicated the Wall (namely those that came up with zerubbabel, &c. together with those that came up with Ezra, Ezra 8.2, 3, 18, 19.) are so distinctly described, not only for Reverence-sake to themselves, but also to demonstrate that those now employed in this Consecrating Work were no Interlo∣pers, but their Successors by a Right Descent, and entring into that Office by a right Door. N. B. Such as intrude themselves into the Ministry, and enter not in by Christ the Door, into the Office of an under-Shepherd, are but Thieves and Robbers, John 10.2, 8. Wanting his Call, Mission and Commission.
Mark 2. In these Catalogues of right-descended Priests, there be fewer courses Record∣ed, than were appointed by David, who nameth twenty four, 1 Chron. 24.7, &c. by Divine Direction: Now the Reason rendred, why here are fewer than twenty four, here is, that some of David's Courses were either extinct in the Captivity, or died without Posterity, and 'tis said, that Ezra found but few of them, when he gather'd them all toge∣ther at his return, Ezra 8.15.
Mark 3. Eliashib is reckoned one in this Catalogue, ver. 10. who proved a very wic∣ked Priest, Chap. 13.4, 5. and his Son Joiada was little better, by his being allied to Sanballat, Chap. 13.28. a base Apostate (saith Josephus) but more of that in its pro∣per Place.
Mark 4. Jaddua is mention'd also, ver. 11. who is generally supposed to be the same High-Priest, that met Alexander the Great in his Pontisicalibus or Sacerdotal For∣malities, and prevailed with him to spare the City Jerusalem, and not only so, but al∣so to confirm the Privileges thereof, as Josephus relateth at large, &c.
Objection, How could Nehemiah mention this Man here, who was not High-Priest, until many Years after Nehemiah's Death?
Answer the First, Though some say this will make Nehemiah to live, till he was two hundred Years Old, which is improbable, for so long did the Persian Monarchy continue after Cyrus, before Alexander came to Conquer it: Yet Scaliger on the other hand Page 726affirms, that this King of Persia (with whom Nehemiah was such a Favourite) was that Artaxerxes who Reigned a little while before Alexander, which at most could be (saith Piscator) no more than sixty Years.
Answer the Second, Grotius saith, that Nehemiah lived after this, to the times of Darius the last King of Persia (of whom he speaketh, ver. 22.) and who was Con∣quer'd by Alexander, and he mentions Jadduah also (as above, saith Dr. Lightfoot) that High-Priest, whom Alexander had in so great Veneration, &c. so Nehemiah might live to see Jaddua a Boy, though not yet an High-Priest (which might be many Years after) therefore is Jaddua barely named here, as born of Jonathan, but not called High-Priest here.
Answer the Third, Some suppose God might give this good Man Nehemiah the Bles∣sing of a very long Life, for the good of his Church in such a Time as this, wherein she much needed Nehemiah's help both for Counsel, and for Conduct. N.B. Lyra observes the same Objection against Ezra named here, ver. 1, 13, and 33. saying, if this be Ez∣ra the Scribe, he must now be an hundred and thirty Years Old if not more, this Wol∣phius well answereth, that these Holy Men that lived sober Lives, and were more conversant in their serious Studies, than in riotous Feasts (which shorten many Men's Lives, Plures pereunt gulâ quam Gladio, More die by Gluttony than by the Sword) and both of them most eminent Instruments for preserving the Church, God might probably grant them a longer Lease of their Lives promised in the fifth Command, and perform∣ed unto Aaron who was an hundred and thirty Years Old, though he died before his Time by a Divine Hand of God: Therefore 'tis no wonder, if these two did live so long.
Answer the Fourth, Others say these Passages might be put into this Book, by some other sacred and inspired Pen-man; there being some (though but few) such Passages in the forgoing Books of Scripture (as the last of Deuteronomy, &c.) which were added by succeeding Men of God in after Times; and A Lapide addeth, that this Addition was made by the Synagogue of the Jews, who then were guided by the Holy Spirit, to shew principally (saith he) the Succession of the High Priesthood.
Remark the Third, Ezra the Priest and Scribe (so called, ver. 26.) and is here an Holy Assistant to this good Governour Nehemiah, for though Ezra was no High Priest, Ezra 7.1. yet because of his great Wisdom, Zeal, and Courage, and because of that fa∣vour he found with the King of Persia, so as to grant him a very large Commission, Ez∣ra 7.22, &c. He had a Government over the Jews, as well as Nehemiah, and therefore the Years are reckoned here by the Time of Nehemiah, and of Ezra's Government.
The Second Part is, the Concomitant Circumstances of the Dedication of the Walls and Gates of the City newly repaired.
Remark the First, Not only the Walls, ver. 27. but also the Gates, ver. 30. yea the whole City (saith Tirinus) are now solemnly Dedicated to God in thankfulness to him, who had so wonderfully bless'd them in the Rebuilding of all, and with earnest Pray∣ers for God's Presence to preserve for the Future, not only their Lives, Families and Estates; but also his own Temple and Worship therein, from the furious Assaults of the Enemy. This Dedication was done with Prayers, Praises, Sacrifices, and all forts of Musick, &c. and all (saith A Lapide) a little after fifty Days they had rested, when all was perfected.
Remark the Second, They gather'd together all the Levites, that were gone into the Countrey (which they might do, till their turn came to Officiate in the Temple) that this legal Consecration might be carried on with more Solemnity: In Order whereunto, the Levites purified themselves (with legal Washings, Numb. 10.9, 10.) and then the People, ver. 30. whence Lyra learnedly observeth, N.B. That Ministers, who would reform others, must first begin to reform themselves: Yet this legal Dedication under the Law, will not warrant (as Wolphius saith well) those Superstitious Consecrations used by the Romanists under the Gospel.
Remark the Third, The Manner of managing this Dedication, from ver. 31, to 43. all the Princes, Priests, and People divided themselves into two Companies, and walk'd in solemn Procession two differing Ways upon the broad Walls, Ezra (the great Scribe) led the first Company, ver. 36. and Nehemiah as Captain General, follow'd the second, ver. 38. as the first Company went round from the West Southward, until they came to the East: So the second went round from the West Northward, until they came to the East also; where they both met together in the Temple, ver. 40. as in their Center, af∣ter these Circumferences, wherein they both as one praised God with all sorts of Musick, both Vocal and Instrumental, as the Law of Moses prescribed, upon all such solemn occasions of Joy. N.B. Saith Wolphius, both those two Companies, though they went dif∣fering Page 727Ways, the one Northward and the other Southward round about, yet could they come and convene together in the Temple as in the proper center, and publick Shop of Piety: Even so the Brethren of differing persuasions have lately (by a gracious influence of God upon them) made an amicable Coalition and Concord in God's Temple also. The good Lord grant that the envious one Satan may never be permitted to sow his Tares of Discord where God hath sown the good Seed of Concord, &c.
The Third Part is the Consequents of this Solemn Dedication, namely, A General Joy and Reformation, ver. 43, to 47.
Remark the First: This was a Solemn and Sacred Procession, far different from those Antick Processions practis'd by Papists, &c. who have their Jester in the midst of them to make them Merry, Epit. Hist. Gallic. pag. 191. there was Mad Devotion in the mean time. But these Godly Levites had the Musical Instruments of God (so call'd 1 Chron. 16.42. because they were of God's appointing under the Law.) And tho' much mention is made of their going from Gate to Gate, &c. yet this they did to excite them the more in Singing aloud to be heard a far off (as Vaiashmignu, Hebr. ver. 42. signifies) at the sight of them, and in praising God for his marvelous helping them so soon to build such For∣tifications: And 'tis expresly said, that [God made them Rejoice with great Joy] so that they offer'd up the greatest of Sacrifices (which, Sanctius saith, were Oxen, the biggest Beasts) ver. 43. yea, their Wives and Children were wrought upon so as to Rejoice with them. This look'd not like that Joy which Jesters but Jehovah put into them, Psal. 4.7.
Remark the Second: The People here generally Rejoiced to behold those eminent Gifts and Graces shining forth in those Godly Priests and Levites (saith Wolphius) while they so chearfully and devoutly executed their Offices in this Religious Work, ver. 44. And hereupon this Spiritual Joy did so inlarge the Peoples hearts, that they most promptly provide all the prescribed Maintenance for those pious Ministers, and to pay them all their Dues that God had appointed, and themselves had lately commanded to do; that so none of the Sacred Function might be forced out of the City into the Country to seek a Livelihood there for them and theirs. N. B. This was a Right and a Religious Recipro∣cation; the People had received much benefit by their Ministry, and therefore they most voluntarily return a competent Maintenance to them, according to that Rule, Gal. 6.6. 1 Cor. 9.4, 7, 9, 11, to 14. So warm were this Peoples hearts now by the Word, that they will by no means part with their Ministers, but they shall have a Competency in wholly wait∣ing on their Work for the Peoples Edification.
Remark the Third; The Reformation, in appointing Porters that no unclean Person might enter into the House of God, this care belonged unto them, 2 Chron. 23.19. the Law of Purification was committed to those Levite-Porters, ver. 30.45. (saith Masius) to keep the Temple free from pollution; they took care that themselves and the People might be kept in all purity for the Worship of God, according to the command of David and Solomon: And thus they Revived the old and good Reformation, ver. 46, 47. N. B. Assuredly it concerns Gospel-Ministers (who are God's Porters) to keep the Gospel-Temple (the Church) as clean from pollution both by any Persons and things that they may not pollute it, &c.
