Lists of Priests and the Dedication of the Wall (12:1–47)

Darius the Persian (12:22). Though some have favored either Nothus (Darius II, 423–404 B.C.) or Codomannus (Darius III, 335–331 B.C., the king whose empire Alexander the Great conquered), Williamson has argued persuasively that the writer intended to designate Darius I as “the Persian” in opposition to the enigmatic “Darius the Mede” of Daniel.300

At the dedication of the walls (12:27). On “dedication” (ḥanukkâ) compare the dedication of the temple by Solomon (1 Kings 8) and the dedication of Zerubbabel’s temple (Ezra 6:16). The dedication of the wall culminates the efforts of the people under Nehemiah’s inspired leadership. Great enthusiasm must have characterized their march to the joyful music. After the recapture of the temple by Judas Maccabeus from the Seleucids on Kislev 25, 165 B.C., the temple was again rededicated (1 Macc. 4:52–59; 2 Macc. 1:18), an act that serves as the basis for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, celebrated in December.

Procession of musicians with cymbals, harp, and lyre

Michael Greenhalgh/ArtServe, courtesy of the Istanbul Museum

Music of cymbals, harps and lyres (12:27). “Cymbals” (meṣiltayim) were used for religious ceremonies (2 Sam. 6:5; 1 Chron. 16:42; 25:1; 2 Chron. 5:12; 29:25; Ezra 3:10). Cymbals have been recovered from Beth Shemesh and from Tell Abu Hawam.

“Harps” (nebālîm) occurs twenty-seven times. The KJV translated the word twenty-three times as “psaltry” (cf. Vulgate psalterium) and four times as “viol.” It was used mainly in religious ceremonies (e.g., 1 Sam. 10:5; 2 Sam. 6:5; 1 Chron. 15:16, 20, 28; Ps. 150:3), with a few exceptions (Isa. 5:12; 14:11; Amos 5:23). The harp was an instrument with strings of varying lengths. As harps are usually large instruments, Williamson and Blenkinsopp translate the word by “lutes.”301

“Lyres” (kinnōrôt) occurs forty-two times. The LXX renders it twenty times as kithara and seventeen times as kinura. The KJV renders the term as “harp,” the RSV as “lyre.” Blenkinsopp prefers “zithers.”302 The lyre was an instrument with strings of the same length but of different diameters and tensions (see Gen. 4:21; 1 Sam. 16:16, 23; 1 Chron. 15:16, 21, 28; Ps. 137:2; 149:3; 150:3; Isa. 23:16; Dan. 3:5, 7, 10, 15).303 The Sea of Galilee, which resembles a lyre, was called Kinneret.

Choirs to give thanks (12:31). The word translated “choirs” is tôdôt, the plural form of tôdâ (“thanksgiving song, thanksgiving offering”). The translation as “thanksgiving choir” is found in the Vulgate and in the Syriac Peshitta. M. J. Boda argues against the majority of translators and commentators in holding that even in this context the word should be understood as “offerings” rather than “choirs.” He concludes: “The two processions that encircled the city of Jerusalem on their way to the temple were led by the sacrifices that were to be offered in the temple.”304

To proceed on top of the wall to the right (12:31). There were two great processions, starting probably from the area of the Valley Gate (2:13, 15; 3:13) in the center of the western section of the wall. The first procession led by Ezra (12:36) and Hoshaiah (12:32) moved in a counterclockwise direction on the wall; the second with Nehemiah at the head moved in a clockwise direction. They met between the Prison Gate and the Water Gate and then entered the temple area (cf. Ps. 48:12–13). “To the right” translates yāmîn. The literal rendering may be misleading to us, since this procession went left to the south. The Semites oriented themselves facing east, so the right hand represented the south (cf. the name of Yemen in southern Arabia; see Josh. 17:7; 1 Sam. 23:24; Job 23:9).

Priests with trumpets (12:35). Each choir was composed of seven priests blowing trumpets and the Levites playing on other musical instruments. Clines observes that “trumpets are the priestly musical instrument (cf. Ezr. 3:10); already in David’s time, according to the Chronicler (1 Chron. 15:24).”305 Greek musical instruments occur in the Aramaic of Daniel (Dan. 3:5).306 These Greek words have been used to date Daniel to the Hellenistic period, but contacts between the Aegean and the Near East are abundantly attested before Alexander the Great. While numerous musical instruments are mentioned in the Old Testament,307 the early Christian church eschewed the use of instruments as being associated with pagan and Jewish rites—a practice still maintained by the noninstrumental branch of the Church of Christ.308

Second choir (12:38). “The second choir” is literally “the second thanks [tôdâ],” that is, the thanksgiving choir. “In the opposite direction” (lemôl to be emended to liśmʾōl) is literally “to the left” but means northward (cf. Josh. 19:27; Isa. 54:3; Ezek. 16:46, cf. comment on Neh. 12:31). The procession led by Nehemiah went north in a clockwise direction around the northwestern sections of the wall.

Lydians bringing gifts; Apadana staircase façade at Persepolis.

Brian J. McMorrow

Other nations had such solemn processions as well. The famous fifth-century B.C. reliefs from the staircase of Darius’s Apadana depict representatives from many nations bearing gifts for the royal treasury.309 In Athens every fourth year the Panathenaic festival featured a procession from the Agora to the Acropolis for the presentation of a new garment for the statue of Athena.310 The famous Altar of Peace of Augustus depicts a solemn procession of the imperial family, senators, and priests.311

General view of nations bringing gifts on Apadana staircase façade at Persepolis

Rob Verhoeven