Nehemiah 11:13-24

Ne 11:13

And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer; (1 Chronicles 9:12)

Ne 11:14

And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.

The mighty men were able to do the work of the priest but they were also able to fight against any enemy that threatened Jerusalem.   The term “overseer” means “superintendent” which could be both religious and political.

Ne 11:15

Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; (1 Chronicles 9:14)

Ne 11:16

And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.

Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. (Ezra 10:15)

Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. (Ezra 10:23)

The outward business of the temple was the part where they secured the wood, did the collection of the one third shekel or to do any necessary repairs.  They did not partake in any of the actual ceremonies or sacrifices within the temple.

Ne 11:17

And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph; (1 Chronicles 9:15)

Mattaniah was the one who began the thanksgiving prayer.  He would have been akin to a choir director at the time of the daily sacrifice where they would have sung many songs and psalms.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16) Bakbukiah would have been the second in command of the singers.

Ne 11:18

All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.

The totality of the Levites which were in the city of Jerusalem was 284.  1 score equals 20.

Ne 11:19

Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.

And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief; (1 Chronicles 9:17) The porters were those who watched and cared for the gates and also handled incoming messages and there were 172 of them.  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (John 10:3)

Ne 11:20

And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.

The word “residue” means “remnant or rest of them.”  They checked the register to see where their specific families had lived in the past and each one went to their particular city to dwell.  When they were needed for temple or other service, then they would come into the city.

Ne 11:21

But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.

Ophel was located in the City of David section of Jerusalem and was by Hezekiah’s conduit by the wall of Manasseh. 

The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, (Ezra 2:43)

Ne 11:22

The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.

And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. (Nehemiah 12:42)

After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part. (Nehemiah 3:17)

And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph; (1 Chronicles 9:15)

The sons of Asaph were also part of those who sang during the time of the daily sacrifice and also conducted business for the house of God like the repairs or anything else that was not done by the priests.

Ne 11:23

For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. (1 Chronicles 15:16)  For their work they were to receive a portion or perhaps a salary out of the temple collections.  This may have come down from King David as a traditional command.  David appointed singers and may have commanded them to have their needs supplied.  It is doubtful that this would have been the command of the King of Persia since he would not have been familiar with the workings of the temple and the workers therein and their particular functions.

Ne 11:24

And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.