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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
12:27-43 Dedication of the Walls. This section describes the Levites' role at the dedication of the completed city wall. Two great choirs precede the leaders in two companies on the wall, north and south.
12:27 Gladness . . . singing is reminiscent of the joy at the completion of the temple (Ezra 3:10-13). Joy is the right attitude at all feasts of celebration before the Lord (see Deut. 12:18; 16:14; Neh. 8:9-12).
12:28-29 Families of Levitical singers had settled in villages around Jerusalem to be near the place of their work. The Netophathites were from Netophah, near Bethlehem. Beth-gilgal is presumably the same as Gilgal, near Jericho (see Josh. 4:19). Geba and Azmaveth were to the north of Jerusalem.
12:30 They had purified themselves, as in readiness for a solemn act of worship (see Ex. 19:10, 14-15), perhaps by certain ritual acts such as washing clothes (Num. 8:5-7).
12:31-37 Two great choirs symbolically enclose the whole city for the purpose of the dedication. Ezra goes with the southern group, accompanied by half the leaders of Judah and priests playing instruments. Dung Gate (v. 31). See note on 2:13-15. Fountain Gate . . . Water Gate (12:37). See notes on 3:15; 3:26; and map.
12:38-43 Nehemiah goes with the group on the northern wall. The pattern is the same as for the southern wall.
12:40 Both processions continue into the temple area, where they meet for the culmination of the ceremony.
