Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 2 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Verſe 1. Now theſe are the Prieſts and the Levites.]
ANCESTOURS to thoſe that dedicated the walls: and here regiſtred, as for honours ſake to themſelves, ſo to ſhew that their ſucceſſors, now imployed in this work, were true Prieſts and Levites of a right deſcent and alloy.
That went up with Zerubbabel] Together with thoſe that came afterwards with Ezra. Ezr. 8.2, 3, 18, 19.
Verſ. 2. Amariah, Malluch,] See the Note on Ezr. 2.3.
Verſe 8. Which was over the thanksgiving] Praefectus Muſicus. See Chap. 11.17.
Verſ. 9. In their Watches] In the order of their functions, taking their turns.
Verſ. 10. Joiakim begat Eliaſhib] Who proved a very wicked Prieſt, Chap. 13.4, 5. and his Sonne Joiada was little better, being allied to Sanballat, Chap. 13.28.
Verſ. 11. And Jonathan begat Jadduah,] Who was High-Prieſt in Alexander the Greats time; and meeting him, in his formalities, prevailed with him to ſpare the City Jeruſalem, and to confirme the priviledges thereof, as Joſephus reporteth.Antiq. Jud. Lib. 1…. c. 8.
Verſ. 22. To the reigne of Darius the Perſian] Viz. Darius Godomannus, the laſt Perſian King.
Verſ. 23. In the book of the Chronicles] Sc. 1 Chron. 9.10, &c.
Johanan the Son of Eliaſhib] That is Jonathan the Grandchild of Eliaſhib, and the Son of Joiada.
Verſ. 27. And at the dedication of the Wall] To ſet down which is the main ſcope of this whole Chapter.
Verſ. 30. Purified themſelves, and purified the people] But firſt themſelves: becauſe who ſo would reforme others, muſt begin with himſelfe, as Lyra here noteth.
Verſ. 34. Judah and Benjamin] i. e. Men ſo called.
Verſ. 36. And Ezra before them] Before the firſt company, as Nehemiah came after the ſecond, verſe 3. As the firſt went round from the Weſt Southward till they came to the Eaſt: ſo the ſecond company went from the Weſt Northward, till they came to the Eaſt, where they both met at length in the Temple, verſe 41. Praiſing God with all ſorts of muſick vocall and inſtrumentall. This was a moſt ſolemne and ſacred proceſſion, farre different from thoſe of the Papiſts. The French Hiſtorian …elleth us of their Henry, that going in proceſſion together with his Cardinall, they had in the middle betwixt them Morionem, nugas & ineptias agentem, a jeſter to make them ſport: here was good devotion therewhile. The Philoſopher told the Fidlers, he could be merry without them.Epit. Hiſt. Gallic. 191. And Ariſtotle being asked what he thought of muſick? anſwered, Jovem nec canere, neque cytharam pulſare, Jupiter neither ſings nor plays on an inſtrument. But though God needeth it not, careth not for it: yet ſo far as it might excite and further devotion, theſe holy Prieſts and Levites made uſe of the muſicall inſtruments of David (called muſicall inſtruments of God, 1 Chron. 16.42) and Ezra before them, as a guide: they alſo ſang aloud, and ſo generally rejoyced, That their joy was heard even afar off. Verſ. 42.43. This was right.
Verſ. 39. And from above the gate of Ephraim] Much mention is here made of the ſeverall gates and Towers; becauſe God was much ſeen in helping them ſo ſoon to build ſuch: and, by the ſight of them, they were much excited to praiſe the Lord.
Verſ. 43. For God had made them rejoyce with great joy] By giving them both matter of joy, and hearts to do it aright. Crede mihi res ſevera eſt verum gaudium, ſaith Seneca, true joy is a ſevere buſineſſe. Quid nobis cum fabulis, cum riſu? ſaith Bernard. What have we to do with jeſting and paſtime, &c? we have meat to eate, pleaſure to take that the world wots not of; we can let out our ſouls into God the fountain of all good; and rejoyce in his Word, as one that findeth great ſpoile, wherein the pleaſure is as much as the profit, Pſal. 119.162.
Verſe 44. For Judah rejoyced] Heb. For the joy of Judah, the oile of ſpiritual gladneſſe had ſo dilatated their hearts, that they were moſt ready and willing to provide for the ſacred Miniſters; and to pay them that which was appointed, as they had alſo newly covenanted to do.
For the Prieſts and the Levites that waited] Heb. That ſtood, ſc. before the Lord, and ſerved in their courſes. Theſe they not onelyonly applauded, but liberally maintained. Nowadayes Miniſters ſhall have hard work and good words, but ſlight wages. Men deale by them as Carriers do by their horſes, lay heavy burdens upon them, and then hang bells about their necks, &c.