Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Nehemiah 11:15-18
Of The Levites (Nehemiah 11:15).
A number of Levites also took up permanent residence in Jerusalem in order to aid its new beginning. They would do so with high hopes.
‘And of the Levites:'
‘Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni,'
Shemaiah apparently had had part time residence in the city (1 Chronicles 9:14). And the Chronicler tells us that he was of the sons of Merari, one of the three sons of Levi (1 Chronicles 6:1). Now he moved into Jerusalem full time.
And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God,'
The non-mention of these by the Chronicler may be as a consequence of the fact that previously they had not resided in Jerusalem at all, or more likely because they were appointed after the time of which he wrote. They had become of primary importance because they had been given oversight of the ‘outward business of the house of God' (in contrast with ‘the work of the house' in Nehemiah 11:12.) This may indicate their responsibility for oversight of the gathering of the tithes, and, of course, of the new Temple tax, which would not require their presence in Jerusalem to any large extent, or it may also indicate responsibility for the outward fabric of the Temple, which would require their presence when necessary. The names of Shabbethai and Jozabad have already occurred in Nehemiah 8:7 as those of two Levites who helped the people to understand the Law.
‘And Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer.'
Also now taking up full time residence in the city was Mattaniah, the son of Mica, the son of Asaph (Asaph was the song leader and musician in the time of David - 1 Chronicles 16:5; 2 Chronicles 5:12). He (either Mattaniah or Asaph, but most probably Mattaniah, as otherwise why mention him?) had overall responsibility over aspects of Temple worship including the offering of thanksgiving. He was ‘head of the beginning' of the thanksgiving in prayer. Presumably it was his responsibility to initiate the commencement of the musical worship of thanksgiving.
Obadiah, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Jeduthun, mentioned in 1 Chronicles (Jeduthun was another song leader and musician from the time of David), was clearly already in full time residence in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:16), and is therefore not mentioned by Nehemiah. (Alternately, of course, he may have died).
‘And Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.'
Bakbukiah is possibly the Bakbakkar of 1 Chronicles 9:15, and if so he changed his residency from part time to full time. By Nehemiah's time he was second only to Mattaniah among the singers. (We can compare how in 1 Chronicles 16:5 the one who was second to Asaph was also noted). Abda, a prominent Levite and singer (we know he was prominent because his fuller genealogy is given) also moved full time to Jerusalem. Heresh, Galal (not Abda's grandfather who bore the same name) and possibly Bakbakkar, if not identified as Bakbukiah, were already permanent residents in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:15). Berechiah the son of Asa continued dwelling part time in the villages of the Netophathites (1 Chronicles 9:16).
‘All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty four.'
Altogether there were now 284 Levites who were newly and permanently resident in Jerusalem, ‘the holy city', and these no doubt included singers as such are mentioned above. They had great hopes for the future.