Nehemiah 12 22

Nehemiah 12:22 kjv

The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian.

Nehemiah 12:22 nkjv

During the reign of Darius the Persian, a record was also kept of the Levites and priests who had been heads of their fathers' houses in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua.

Nehemiah 12:22 niv

The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian.

Nehemiah 12:22 esv

In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the Levites were recorded as heads of fathers' houses; so too were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian.

Nehemiah 12:22 nlt

A record of the Levite families was kept during the years when Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua served as high priest. Another record of the priests was kept during the reign of Darius the Persian.

Nehemiah 12 verses

Nehemiah 12 22 Meaning

Nehemiah 12:22 delineates the official recording of the heads of Levitical and priestly families. This record spanned through the high priesthoods of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, covering a significant period up to the reign of Darius the Persian. The verse signifies the meticulous maintenance of genealogical records for legitimate religious leadership within the post-exilic Jewish community, ensuring proper succession and identity for Temple service.

Nehemiah 12 22 Context

Nehemiah chapter 12 focuses on the dedication of the newly rebuilt wall of Jerusalem, a momentous occasion for the returning exiles. This chapter opens with a comprehensive list of priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the first wave of returnees. It then transitions to record the subsequent generations of High Priests. Nehemiah 12:22 serves to update and confirm the ongoing priestly and Levitical succession after the initial return, spanning through several high priestly terms (Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua) and extending the timeline well beyond Nehemiah's active ministry. It signifies the persistent importance of maintaining genealogical records to ensure the legitimacy and proper function of the Temple cult and the spiritual leadership within the restored community. Historically, this period covers a significant part of the Persian rule over Judea, reflecting the community's stability and commitment to order under the divinely appointed covenant.

Nehemiah 12 22 Word analysis

• The Levites (לְוִיִּים, Lewiyim): Refers to the descendants of Levi who were designated to assist the priests in their Temple duties. Their roles included guarding the Temple, maintaining its cleanliness, preparing sacrifices, singing, and serving as musicians and gatekeepers. The meticulous recording of their families highlights their crucial role in the post-exilic worship.
• in the days of: Indicates the timeframe during which these specific Levites and priests served and their records were maintained. This phrase underscores historical continuity.
• Eliashib (אֶלְיָשִׁיב, Elyashib): High Priest during Nehemiah's first governorship (Neh 3:1; 13:4, 28). His tenure saw significant reforms as well as some challenges.
• Joiada (יוֹיָדָע, Yoyada): Son of Eliashib. Succeeded his father as High Priest.
• Johanan (יוֹחָנָן, Yochanan): Son of Joiada, and successor. Likely the Johanan mentioned in Ezra 10:6. He is sometimes known as Jonathan.
• Jaddua (יַדּוּעַ, Yaddua): Son of Johanan, and successor. His high priesthood is generally associated by scholars with the time of Alexander the Great's conquest (circa 332 BC). His inclusion significantly extends the chronological scope of the genealogy recorded here.
• were recorded: Emphasizes the official, systematic, and written nature of these lists. This was not mere memory but a formal documentation vital for legal, administrative, and religious purposes in ancient Israel.
• as heads of fathers' houses: Highlights the patriarchal structure of Jewish society and the importance of familial lineage. "Fathers' houses" (bêt-'āb) signifies the smallest tribal unit, foundational for identifying individuals' proper places and roles. This ensures the integrity and legitimacy of priestly and Levitical roles passed down through specific family lines.
• also the priests (וְהַכֹּהֲנִים, v'hakohanim): Refers to the descendants of Aaron, the only ones authorized to perform sacrifices and serve in the Holy Place within the Temple. Their lineage was even more stringently traced than the Levites.
• until the reign of: Sets the endpoint for the period covered by these records.
• Darius the Persian (דָּרְיָוֶשׁ הַפָּרְסִי, Daryavesh ha-Parsi): This title, appended by "the Persian," refers to one of the kings of the Persian Empire. Given that Jaddua's high priesthood extended to the time of Alexander the Great, this Darius is generally understood to be Darius III Codomannus (336–330 BC), the last Achaemenid king of Persia, signaling that these Temple records were kept meticulously updated until the very end of the Persian era.

Nehemiah 12 22 Bonus section

• The careful recording of genealogies, particularly for the priestly and Levitical lines, speaks to a profound biblical principle: God is a God of order (1 Cor 14:33, 40). This attention to detail ensured that Temple worship and its various functions were performed by the divinely designated individuals.
• This verse provides crucial chronological anchors for the post-exilic period, showing the continuity of Jewish life and religious institutions under Persian rule. The inclusion of Jaddua stretching to Darius III means these sacred lists were actively maintained for over a century after Nehemiah's primary ministry, illustrating the community's deep commitment to preserving their religious heritage.
• The meticulous records are a testament to the community's understanding of their identity as a chosen people with specific, God-given roles for their leaders. Legitimacy derived from lineage was key in preventing false claims to spiritual authority and preserving the integrity of their covenant with God.
• Such genealogical lists serve not just as historical documents but as testaments to God's preservation of a remnant through whom His redemptive plan would continue to unfold, eventually leading to the lineage of Christ.

Nehemiah 12 22 Commentary

Nehemiah 12:22 functions as a vital update to the genealogical and administrative records of Jerusalem's post-exilic community. Following the detailed lists of priests and Levites who initially returned with Zerubbabel, this verse extends the record of legitimate spiritual leadership across several generations of High Priests, culminating with Jaddua. The meticulous maintenance of these genealogies was not merely historical bookkeeping; it was foundational to the integrity of the covenant community.

In the theocratic society of post-exilic Judah, proper lineage was paramount. Only those from the house of Aaron could serve as priests, and only those from the tribe of Levi could serve as Temple assistants. Without verified genealogies, claims to these sacred offices would be invalid, leading to chaos and profanation in worship. By recording "heads of fathers' houses," the community ensured the purity of the sacerdotal lines and the lawful continuation of Temple service according to Mosaic Law.

The mention of "Darius the Persian" indicates that these records were diligently kept up-to-date through generations, possibly reflecting updates by later Temple scribes after Nehemiah's own time, demonstrating the ongoing importance of legitimate succession right up to the fall of the Persian Empire. This continuous documentation underlines God's faithfulness in preserving His covenant people and their structure of worship, even amidst foreign rule. It provided a concrete basis for identity and spiritual authority, essential for a people striving to rebuild not just walls, but a covenant-faithful society.