this way provided for tho sustenance of the Ver. 45.-This verse is wrongly translated clerical body, he was able to insist on their in the A. V. It should be rendered, as in regular performance of all their duties ; and the Vulgate and the Septuagint-" And they the success of his arrangements was such, that (i. e. the priests and Levites) maintained the ward of their God, and the ward of the puri- under him the temple service was restored, not fication, and the singers, and the porters merely to the condition established by Zcrub- (i. e. the institutions of singers and porters), babel (eh. xii. 47), but to one not markedly according to the ordinance of David and of different from that which had been attained Solomon his son." Maintaining the ward of in the time of David and Asaph (ibid. ver. their God is serving regularly in the templo at the times appointed; maintaining the 46). The priests, Levites, singers, and porters ward of the purification is observing the respectively performed their duties to his rules for the purifying of the holy things satisfaction, purifying themselves, and taking which had been laid down by David (1 Chron. the service in their turns, " according to the x:xiii. 28). commandment of David and Solomon" (ibid. Ver. 46.-For in the days of David. Th is verse is exegetical of the clause in ver. 45, ver. 45). "according to the commandment of David." Ver. 44.-At that time. Literally, "On The writer justifies his reference to that that day;" but a certain latitude must be "commandment" by reminding his readers allowed to the expression. The chambers that the whole musical service-the singers for the treasures. On these adjuncts of the themselves, and their "chiefs," together temple, see the comment on eh. x. 37. The ,vith the "songs of praise" and the "thanks- "treasures" themselves consisted chiefly of giving songs" -had descended to the Jews tithes (including corn, wine, and oil), first- of his day from David and Asaph. fruits, and free-will offerings. They also Ver. 47.-In the days of Zerubbabel, and included frankincense (eh. xiii. 5), and pro- in the do.ye of Nehemiah. I. e. "In the bably other spices. The portions of the days of Nehemiah, no less than in those of bw. I. e. the proportion of the produce re- Zerubbabel." Gave the portions. Paid their quired by the law to be set apart for sacred tithes, aml other dues, regularly, so that tile uses. These were to be gathered by the po1tions were forthcoming. Every day his officers out of the fields of the cities, that is, portion. Compare eh. xi. 23. They sancti- out of the portions of cultivable soil attached fied holy things unto the Levites. Ther, to each provincial town (eh. xi. 25 ). For i. e. the people, "set apart" for the Levites Judah rejoiced. The general satisfaction of all that the law required; and the Levites the people with their spiritual guides led set apart for the priests their due she1re- them to increase their contributions beyond " the tithe of the tithe" (Num. xviii 26).
HOMILETICS. Vera. 27--43.-The dedication of the wall. As soon 11s possible after the com- pletion of the wall, a joyful celebration of the event was made, in which all the people participated. As Jerusalem was "the holy city," this took the form of a " dedication." I. THE S?LEMNITIES WI1'H WHICH THE DEDICATION WAS MADE. 1. The preparations. The gathering of the Levites, especially the singers and musicians, who were to take a leading part in the ceremonies (vers. 27-29). 2. The purifications (ver. 30). The priests and Levites first purified themselves, and then the people, the gates, and the wall. By what rites is not recorded. 3. The processions (vers. 31-42). Twn processions were formed, Ezra accompanying one, and Nehemiah the other. OIlfl company marched on the wall to the right, the other to the left, both to the soun<l of trumpets, singing, and instruments of music ; and meeting over against the temple, they united their praises. 4. The universal rejoicing (ver. 43). Many sacrifices of thanksgiving were off P.red, of which the people, men, women, and chilJren alike, partook with many and loud oxpressions of joy. II. •ruE SIGNIFICANCE OF ·rIIESE SOLEMNITIES. Thoy were-1. An expre~sion of ardent gratitude to God. He" had rnade .them rejoice with great joy," and it was 136 THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. ten. xu. 27-47.