“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” — Nehemiah 12:43

Recently in one of our Portland church services, the minister preached about joy, and told of an experience he had some years ago in a poor village on Gonave Island off the coast of Port au Prince, Haiti. That is an arid region, and for hundreds of years, the women of the village had walked many miles in the hot sun to get water for their homes. They would carry large containers to the water source, fill them up, put them on their heads, and walk back to their mud huts. And that trek wasn’t down a sidewalk or a nice path—the path went around and over rocks, some of them bigger than a car. 

Sadly, most of the water in that area was horrible. Our minister related, “Some of the water sources looked like a low spot in a barnyard where water collected when it rained. Cows had drunk from it and kids had played in it, but it was water! Another water source was a pool in a cave. It was a pretty place with white sand around the edges of the water. However, the cave was full of bats—and the water was as green as a healthy lawn! It was full of bacteria and parasites, but the women filled their containers anyway. What else could they do? That was the only water available!” 

Then one day our minister’s brother, a well driller, came to the village with a big truck and a well-drilling machine. He set up the machine and started drilling, and after a time, some water gushed out! A crowd gathered and they were excited, but their excitement was short-lived. The well driller welded a solid lid on top of the well and then drove off. The lid had been put in place to keep the children from throwing items in the well and damaging it. The villagers were understandably disheartened. 

That was not the end of the story, though. One day, the drilling crew returned with different equipment and a load of pipe, and our minister was with them. The villagers gathered once more, watching . . . waiting . . . hoping. The men unloaded the pipe, cut the lid off the well, and ran the pipe down the hole. Then they placed a pump on top and bolted it down. The pump had what looked like bicycle pedals, but it was cranked by hand. One man started turning the pedals and the villagers heard rattling from inside the well. And then . . . out came water! Fresh water! Clean water! 

Our minister said, “I will never forget the rejoicing in that village! The people literally screamed and shouted with joy. An old, white-haired man was sitting nearby under a tree, watching. Somebody filled a dirty water jug and took it over to him. With a huge smile on his face, he took that jug, drank some water—and then held the jug over his head and poured the rest all over himself! 

“We showed the people how to use the well and then loaded up our equipment and prepared to drive off. At that moment, a young barefoot mother with a small child on her hip came running to us. We wondered what she wanted. Often people would approach us asking for money, but this young woman held out a little basket of eggs. That was probably at least a week’s worth of food for her little family, and it was her gift to us for providing water for her village.” 

In our text today, we read of a momentous day of rejoicing in the city of Jerusalem—a day the people who witnessed that event likely remembered for the rest of their lives. The wall was complete! The people gathered “to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps” (Nehemiah 12:27). Like the young village mother with her basket of eggs, they offered sacrifices of thanksgiving. Even the wives and the children joined in the celebration—a rejoicing so great the “the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” 

Our lives will also include events that bring great joy—times we will never forget. In addition, we will have private times of devotion when we experience joy as we reflect on all God has done for us. Whatever the occasion, let us follow the example of the people of Jerusalem, and make sure our joy includes heartfelt praises to God, the Giver of every good gift.

BACKGROUND

Following three chapters concerning the spiritual revival of the people, chapters 11 and 12 tell how Nehemiah focused on the logistical and civic aspects of restoring Jerusalem. After King Cyrus of Persia granted permission for the exiles to return to Judah, the city had gradually repopulated, but only sparsely. Jerusalem still needed more people, and these chapters describe Nehemiah’s plan for repopulating it. The close of chapter 12 provides a historical account of the dedication of the wall surrounding the city. 

Chapter 11 begins with the statement that “the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem.” This likely meant that most of the priests, Levites, and other officials had living quarters within the city walls. However, Jerusalem was spread across a fairly large area. The wall had been rebuilt on the original foundation, but the city’s population was small compared to what it had been before the exile, and there were many abandoned houses. The purpose of the census Nehemiah had previously ordered (see chapter 7) was to compile a list of the families of Judah. Based on that census, in these chapters Nehemiah implemented a plan to bring one tenth of the population of surrounding cities to live in Jerusalem. The selection was made through the casting of lots. In addition, verse 2 records that some people voluntarily agreed to move into the city. 

The roster of people who lived in Jerusalem and nearby towns during Nehemiah’s governorship begins in verse 3 and continues through the remainder of chapter 11. For the most part, the inhabitants of Jerusalem are listed by heads of families. This extensive list includes tribal leaders (of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin), military men, priests, Levites, gatekeepers, and civil and royal servants. Those who resided outside of the city (verses 25-36) are listed by villages. 

Verses 1-26 of chapter 12 are a listing of the priests and Levites from the time of Zerubbabel to that of Nehemiah. Twenty-two families are mentioned. 

The official dedication of the wall around Jerusalem, described in verses 27-47 of chapter 12, was joyous. Levites from around Judah were summoned to participate in the celebration. Musicians were present to join in this time of gladness. Verse 30 indicates that before the ceremony began, the priests purified themselves and the people; this would have been done through ceremonial washing and the offering of sacrifices of purification (see Numbers 8:6-11 and 19:1-10). 

Verses 31-43 describe two processionals at the dedication, one led by Ezra and one seemingly by Nehemiah himself. The two groups marched in opposite directions, giving their thanks to God. After encircling the city, they met near the Temple. These groups are described in verse 31 as marching “upon the wall.” Since portions of the wall that have been excavated had a thickness of seven to eleven feet, there was plenty of room for them to literally walk along the top of the wall.¹ The groups then joined and gave thanks in the house of God (verse 38). The singing and the sounds of the instruments was so loud and joyful that it was heard “even afar off” (verse 43). 

Verses 44-47 of chapter 12 describe the arrangements that were made for those who ministered in the Temple. Certain individuals were appointed to bring in the “treasures”—the offerings, firstfruits, and tithes—and to oversee the storage chambers that were filled with supplies for the sacrifices.

^1. Eliat Mazar, “The Wall that Nehemiah Built,” Biblical Archaeology Society, March/April 2009, https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/ the-wall-that-nehemiah-built/

AMPLIFIED OUTLINE

IV. The remaining actions of Nehemiah
     A. The establishment of the people in Jerusalem (11:1—12:26)
          1. The securing of inhabitants for Jerusalem (11:1-2)
          2. The inhabitants of Jerusalem (11:3-24)
               a. The heads of provinces (11:3-9)
               b. The priests (11:10-14)
               c. The Levites (11:15-18)
               d. The gatekeepers (11:19-21)
               e. The others (11:22-24)
          3. The residences outside Jerusalem (11:25-36)
          4. The priests and Levites at the time of Zerubbabel (12:1-9)
          5. The high priest, priests and Levites in Nehemiah’s day (12:10-26)
               a. The high priest (12:10-11)
               b. The priests (12:12-21)
               c. The Levites (12:22-26)
     B. The dedication of the wall of Jerusalem (12:27-47)
          1. The preparation of the people (12:27-31)
          2. The procession of the choirs (12:32-42)
          3. The praise of the people (12:43)
          4. The provision for the Temple personnel (12:44-47)

A CLOSER LOOK

1. According to verse 18 of chapter 11, how many Levites lived in Jerusalem?
2. Why do you think the priests and Levites purified themselves and the people before the dedication of the wall?
3. When Nehemiah asked one-tenth of the people from outlying areas around Jerusalem to move within the city wall, a few people “willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.” What can we learn from their example?

CONCLUSION

The joyful praises of the people who gathered to dedicate the wall around Jerusalem were heard “even afar off.” Their worship was a testimony to others, and our joy and praises to God will impact others as well.