Nehemiah 12 29

Nehemiah 12:29 kjv

Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 12:29 nkjv

from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 12:29 niv

from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 12:29 esv

also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 12:29 nlt

They also came from Beth-gilgal and the rural areas near Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built their own settlements around Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 12 verses

Nehemiah 12 29 Meaning

This verse specifies additional geographical origins of the Levitical singers who assembled for the dedication of Jerusalem's rebuilt wall, namely Beth Gilgal, Geba, and Azmaveth. The crucial point highlighted is that these singers had established permanent villages for themselves in these surrounding areas, demonstrating their dedicated communal life and readiness to serve at the Jerusalem temple.

Nehemiah 12 29 Context

Nehemiah chapter 12 begins by listing the priests and Levites who returned to Judah with Zerubbabel, laying the foundation for the reorganized religious establishment in post-exilic Jerusalem. This foundational listing leads to the chapter's main event: the joyous dedication of Jerusalem's newly rebuilt wall. Verses 27-47 describe the elaborate ceremony, marked by two great companies or choirs processing on the wall in opposite directions, culminating in a celebration at the Temple. Verse 29 specifically explains where a significant number of these dedicated singers came from, highlighting their organized and intentional settlements in the region surrounding Jerusalem, indicating their commitment to be readily available for Temple service. This reflects the restoration of orderly worship and community life after the return from Babylonian exile.

Nehemiah 12 29 Word analysis

• also (gam גַּם): "Even," "likewise." It emphasizes the inclusion of these places in addition to "the district around Jerusalem" mentioned in the previous verse (Neh 12:28), suggesting a broad gathering.
• from (min מִן): Denotes origin, indicating these places are where the singers originated or resided.
• Beth Gilgal (Bet Ha-Gilgal בֵּית הַגִּלְגָּל): Meaning "House of Gilgal." This is a place likely associated with the historical Gilgal, a significant early Israelite site (e.g., where Joshua circumcised the Israelites, Josh 5:9; where Samuel sacrificed, 1 Sam 10:8). It denotes a settlement linked to or perhaps a smaller town within the broader area of the historic Gilgal. Its inclusion indicates the singers’ settlement extended into historically meaningful areas.
• and from (u-min וּמִן): Connects additional places of origin.
• the fields of (sidê שְׂדֵי): Refers to the open lands, cultivated areas, or districts belonging to or surrounding the specific towns. This implies agricultural settlements, common for Levites who might support themselves in this way.
• Geba (Geva גֶּבַע): Meaning "hill." A city in the territory of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem. It was a Levitical city (Josh 21:17) and strategically important. Its mention here indicates the re-population and re-establishment of communities in ancestral tribal lands after the exile (cf. Ezra 2:26; Neh 7:30).
• and Azmaveth (wĕ-'Azmavet וְעַזְמָוֶת): Meaning "Death's Strength" or "Strong of Death." Another Benjamite town, often mentioned with Geba (Ezra 2:24; Neh 7:28). Its appearance alongside Geba underscores the concentration of returned exiles and their re-established settlements in the region north of Jerusalem.
• for (kî כִּי): A causal conjunction, providing the reason or explanation for why these particular places are listed. It explains why the singers were available from these specific locales.
• the singers (ha-mĕshôrĕrîm הַמְשֹׁרְרִים): Specifically refers to the Levitical musicians, trained and designated for leading worship through song and instrumentation in the Temple (e.g., 1 Chr 25). Their active participation was crucial to the dedication, embodying a return to orderly and joyful worship.
• had built (bānû בָּנוּ): From the verb banah "to build." This signifies intentional construction or establishment, not merely residing. It speaks of foresight and permanence in their communal living.
• for themselves (lāhem לָהֶם): Indicates self-provision or self-establishment, possibly reflecting their collective effort in establishing their communities without direct state funding for housing, but perhaps within their designated areas. It highlights their autonomy and collective action.
• villages (ḥătsērîm חֲצֵרִים): Refers to unfortified settlements, hamlets, or even "courts" (as in attached to larger towns or dwellings). These were smaller communities distinct from fortified cities. This choice of word highlights their rural, perhaps simpler, living arrangements but organized collective settlements.
• around Jerusalem (sĕbîbôt Yĕrûshālayim סְבִיבוֹת יְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם): "Circumference of Jerusalem." This phrase consolidates the locations, emphasizing their proximity and accessibility to Jerusalem and the Temple. Their strategic location facilitated their regular and dedicated service.
• Word-Groups Analysis:
  • "from Beth Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth": This phrase lists specific settlements, showing a broader geographical distribution of the singers, beyond just those living directly within Jerusalem. These are not merely passing mentions but reflect where active religious communities were taking root.
  • "for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem": This causal clause provides profound insight. It signifies that the singers were not just scattered individuals, but an organized group actively establishing communal living spaces. This reflects dedication, foresight, and a settled commitment to their spiritual duties, enabling them to regularly gather in Jerusalem for worship. Their intentional construction of homes demonstrates stability and their pivotal role in the re-establishment of religious life.

Nehemiah 12 29 Bonus section

The establishment of specific settlements for the singers and Levites in these particular areas around Jerusalem (Beth Gilgal, Geba, Azmaveth) echoes the earlier provisions in the Torah for Levitical cities. While these were not formal "Levitical cities" as ordained in Numbers and Joshua (which involved common land for cattle, Num 35:2-8), they represent a practical adaptation in the post-exilic period, where communities organized themselves to facilitate divine service. The locations mentioned – especially Beth Gilgal with its deep historical and spiritual significance from the time of Joshua – further bind the returned community to the foundational narrative of Israel. The careful organization and dwelling of the singers provided a stable infrastructure for the re-instituted temple worship, which had been dormant during the exile. This proactive communal living also ensured that a dedicated cadre of musicians was always near, vital for regular worship and national celebrations, portraying a meticulous rebuilding not just of physical structures but of the very fabric of spiritual life in Judah.

Nehemiah 12 29 Commentary

Nehemiah 12:29 offers more than a mere geographical listing; it provides a concise yet powerful glimpse into the practical restoration of the post-exilic Israelite community. The identification of specific places like Beth Gilgal, Geba, and Azmaveth as residences of the temple singers underscores the breadth of the return and resettlement. The key insight is that these singers themselves had actively "built for themselves villages." This indicates an intentional and organized effort by the Levitical musicians to establish communal settlements near Jerusalem. This proactive settlement demonstrated their dedication to their sacred duty, allowing them to be readily available for regular Temple service, especially during significant events like the wall's dedication. It speaks volumes of their commitment to worship and the re-establishment of divine order. Their willingness to construct permanent homes signifies stability and hope, laying the groundwork for sustained spiritual life in the restored land. This logistical detail underpins the vibrancy of the spiritual revival in Nehemiah's time.