Priests — The chief of the priests, the heads of those twenty four courses which David appointed by divine direction, 1 Chronicles 24:1. And whereas there were twenty four, and here but twenty — two, and Nehemiah 12:12, &c. only twenty, the reason of this difference may be, because two of the twenty... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover, &c. — He was to see, that the psalms of thanksgiving were continually sung in the temple, in due time and manner.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jeshua — Here follows a catalogue of the Jewish high — priests; which was the more necessary, because their times were now to be measured, not by the years of their kings as formerly, but by their high — priests.... [ Continue Reading ]
Priests — As their fathers were priests in the days of Joshua, so in the days of Joiakim the son of Joshua, the sons of those persons executed the priesthood in their father's steads, some of their fathers probably being yet living, and many of them dead.... [ Continue Reading ]
Darius — Darius Noehus; and so this Jaddua might be father to him who was in the days of Darius Codomanus, and of Alexander the Great.... [ Continue Reading ]
The wall — Of the city itself, which is here dedicated to God, and to his honour and service, not only upon a general account, by which we ought to devote ourselves, and all that is ours, to God; but upon a more special ground, because this was a place which God himself had chosen, and sanctified by... [ Continue Reading ]
Purified themselves — They that would be instrumental to sanctify others, must sanctify themselves, and set themselves apart for God, with purity of mind and sincerity of intention.... [ Continue Reading ]
Princes — And half of the people with them. The wall — For the wall was broad and strong, and so ordered that men might conveniently walk upon it. Right hand — Towards the south and east.... [ Continue Reading ]
Stood still — Waiting, as also their brethren did, that they might go together in due order into God's house, there to perfect the solemnity.... [ Continue Reading ]
The children rejoiced — And their hosanna's were not despised, but are recorded to their praise. All that share in public mercies, ought to join in public thanksgivings.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rejoiced — For the eminent gifts and graces which they observed in many of them: for the great benefit which they had now received by their ministry: and for the competent provision which hereby was made for them, that so they might wholly wait upon their office. The sure way for ministers to gain a... [ Continue Reading ]
The ward — That ward, or charge, which God had prescribed to them. And in particular the charge of purification, of taking care that no unclean person or thing should enter into the house or courts of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sanctified — They set apart the first — fruits and tithes from their own share, and devoted them to the use of the Levites. And so did the Levites by the tithe of the tithes. Thus they all conscientiously paid their dues, and did not profane those things which God had sanctified, nor take them into... [ Continue Reading ]