THE TEMPLE SOLOMON’S TEMPLE SOLOMON FINISHED THE TEMPLE (959 BC)? DESTROYED BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR (586 BC)? ZERUBBABEL’S TEMPLE RECONSTRUCTION UNDER CYRUS (536 BC)? BUILDING CEASES UNDER ARTAXERXES (17 YEARS)? BUILDING CONTINUES UNDER DARIUS (519 BC)? TEMPLE COMPLETED UNDER DARIUS (516 BC)? (516-458 BC)? HEROD’S TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN (20 BC)? COMPLETED 46 YEARS (JOHN 2:20) (64 AD)?

CHRONOLOGY OF BOOKS OBADIAH (605-585 BC)? EZEKIEL (593-571 BC)? DANIEL (605-530 BC)? EZRA (538-457 BC)? ZECHARIAH (520-480 BC)? ESTHER (479-478 BC)? NEHEMIAH (445-432 BC)? MALACHI (440-430 BC)?

BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY NEBUCHADNEZZAR DANIEL 1:1 (539 BC)? CYRUS EZRA 1-3 (538-537 BC)? AHASUERUS EZRA 4 (7 MONTHS) (537 BC)? DARIUS EZRA 5-6 (536-516 BC)? QUEEN ESTHER ESTHER 2-10 (479-478 BC)? ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS (465-424 BC)? EZRA 7-10 (458-457 BC)? NEHEMIAH 1-13 (445-432 BC)?

ADVERSARIES OF NEHEMIAH PEOPLE TO REMEMBER NEBUCHADNEZZAR - DESTROYED JERUSALEM (586 BC)? ARTAXERXES - KING OF PERSIA 465-425 BC? LONGIMANUS - SON OF XERXES NEHEMIAH - COMFORTED OF YAHWEH SON OF HACHALIAH - BROTHER OF HANANI 445-433 BC? ADVERSARIES OF NEHEMIAH SANBALLAT THE HORONITE - GOVERNOR OF SAMARIA TOBIAH THE AMMONITE - JOINT GOVERNOR WITH SANBALLAT GESHEM THE ARAB - CHIEF OF THE ARABS IN SAMARIA ELIASHIB THE HIGH PRIEST EZRA THE PRIEST - THE SCRIBE

OUTLINE NEHEMIAH CHAPTER TWELVE LIST OF THOSE WHO CAME WITH ZERUBBABEL: V. 1-7 FACTS ABOUT THE LEVITES: V. 8-21 LEVITES IN THE DAYS OF ELIASHIB: V. 22-26 DEDICATION OF THE WALL AND ITS CEREMONIES: V. 27-43 OFFICERS APPOINTED: V. 44-47

READ: NEHEMIAH 12:1-7 1 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

WHEN WAS THE PRIESTHOOD ESTABLISHED? READ: NEHEMIAH 12:1-7 1 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, WHO WERE THESE PRIESTS? WHEN WAS THE PRIESTHOOD ESTABLISHED? READ: 1 CHRONICLES 24:1-4

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:1-7 WHEN WAS THE PRIESTHOOD ESTABLISHED? READ: 1 CHRONICLES 24:1-4 1 These are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests. 3 Then David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to the schedule of their service. 4 There were more leaders found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar, and thus they were divided. Among the sons of Eleazar were sixteen heads of their fathers' houses, and eight heads of their fathers' houses among the sons of Ithamar. (NKJ) (24 FAMILIES LISTED - 1 CHRONICLES 24:7-18)

WHAT PRIESTS CAME UP WITH ZERUBBABEL? READ: NEHEMIAH 12:1-7 1 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, WHAT PRIESTS CAME UP WITH ZERUBBABEL? READ: EZRA 2:36-39 36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three; 37 The sons of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two; 38 The sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven; 39 The sons of Harim, one thousand and seventeen. FOUR FAMILIES?

WHAT PRIESTS CAME UP WITH ZERUBBABEL? READ: NEHEMIAH 12:1-7 1 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, WHAT PRIESTS CAME UP WITH ZERUBBABEL? READ: NEHEMIAH 7:39-42 39 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three; 40 the sons of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two; 41 the sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven; 42 the sons of Harim, one thousand and seventeen. FOUR FAMILIES?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:1-7 1 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their brethren in the days of Jeshua. 22 HEADS OF THE FAMILIES?

READ: NEHEMIAH 12:8-11 8 Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who led the thanksgiving psalms, he and his brethren. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, stood across from them in their duties. 10 Jeshua begot Joiakim, Joiakim begot Eliashib, Eliashib begot Joiada, 11 Joiada begot Jonathan, and Jonathan begot Jaddua.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:8-11 8 Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who led the thanksgiving psalms, he and his brethren. WHO CAME UP WITH ZERRUBABEL? SIX FAMILIES? HOW MANY WERE STILL IN JERUSALEM? READ: NEHEMIAH 7:43 43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy-four. (NKJ) (HODEVAH BEING JUDAH) THREE FAMILIES?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:8-11 8 Moreover the Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who led the thanksgiving psalms, he and his brethren. WHAT IS SAID ABOUT MATTANIAH? READ: NEHEMIAH 11:17 17 Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer, and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:8-11 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, stood across from them in their duties. WHAT DID BAKBUKIAH AND UNNI DO? WHAT DOES IT MEAN ‘STOOD ACROSS FROM THEM’? READ: 2 CHRONICLES 7:6 6 The priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the LORD, which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, For His mercy endures forever, whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:8-11 10 Jeshua begot Joiakim, Joiakim begot Eliashib, Eliashib begot Joiada, 11 Joiada begot Jonathan, and Jonathan begot Jaddua. WHAT IS THIS ‘GENEALOGY’? DESCENDENTS OF AARON? SIX GENERATIONS OF HIGH PRIESTS? (538-333BC)?

READ: NEHEMIAH 12:12-21 12 In the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of the fathers' houses were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 Of Melichu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 Of Abijah, Zichri; the son of Minjamin; of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 Of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethaneal.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:12-21 WHO WERE THE HEADS OF THESE FATHERS? 12 In the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of the fathers' houses were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 of Melichu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 of Abijah, Zichri,….; of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah, Nethaneal.

READ: NEHEMIAH 12:22-24 22 During the reign of Darius the Persian, a record was also kept of the Levites and priests who had been heads of their fathers' houses in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua. 23 The sons of Levi, the heads of the fathers' houses until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib, were written in the book of the chronicles. 24 And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers across from them, to praise and give thanks, group alternating with group, according to the command of David the man of God.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:22-24 22 During the reign of Darius the Persian, a record was also kept of the Levites and priests who had been heads of their fathers' houses in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua. 23 The sons of Levi, the heads of the fathers' houses until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib, were written in the book of the chronicles. WHO IS DARIUS THE PERSIAN? DARIUS CODOMANNUS (336-331BC)? WHO WERE ELIASHIB, JOIADA, JOHANAN, JADDUA? HIGH PRIESTS? WHERE WAS THE RECORD KEPT?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:22-24 24 And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers across from them, to praise and give thanks, group alternating with group, according to the command of David the man of God. WHO WERE THESE MEN? READ: NEHEMIAH 8:7 NEHEMIAH 9:4 WHAT WERE THEY DOING?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:22-24 WHO WERE THESE MEN? READ: NEHEMIAH 8:7 7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. READ: NEHEMIAH 9:4 4 Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the LORD their God. (NKJ) WHAT WERE THEY DOING?

READ: NEHEMIAH 12:25-27 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storerooms of the gates. 26 These lived in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. 27 Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:25-27 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storerooms of the gates. WHO WERE THE GATEKEEPERS? 26 These lived in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. WHEN DID ALL THESE PEOPLE LIVE? NOTICE: NEHEMIAH IS THE GOVERNOR

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:25-27 27 Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. WHY DID THEY SEEK THE LEVITES? WHAT WERE THE LEVITES TO DO?

READ: NEHEMIAH 12:28-30 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem. 30 Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:28-30 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 From the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem. WHAT DID THE SONS OF THE SINGERS DO? WHERE DID THEY COME FROM? WHERE HAD THEY BUILT THEIR VILLAGES?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:28-30 30 Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall. WHAT DID THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES DO? READ: 2 CHRONICLES 29:15 15 They gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. (NKJ)

READ: NEHEMIAH 12:31-36 31 So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate. 32 After them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, 33 And Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 And some of the priests' sons with trumpets-- Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneal, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe went before them.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:31-36 31 So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate. WHO IS ‘I’? EZRA? OR NEHEMIAH? SEE: NEHEMIAH 12:36 WHERE DID HE TAKE THE LEADERS OF JUDAH? WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE CHOIRS? WHERE DID THEY GO?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:31-36 32 After them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, 33 And Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 And some of the priests' sons with trumpets-- Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneal, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe went before them. WHO IS THE LEADER OF THIS PROCESSION?

READ: NEHEMIAH 12:37-39 37 By the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went up the stairs of the City of David, on the stairway of the wall, beyond the house of David, as far as the Water Gate eastward. 38 The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad Wall, 39 and above the Gate of Ephraim, above the Old Gate, above the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate; and they stopped by the Gate of the Prison.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:37-39 37 By the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went up the stairs of the City of David, on the stairway of the wall, beyond the house of David, as far as the Water Gate eastward. WHERE DID EZRA LEAD THEM?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:37-39 38 The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad Wall, 39 Above the Gate of Ephraim, above the Old Gate, above the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate; and they stopped by the Gate of the Prison. WHICH WAY DID THE OTHER CHOIR GO? WHO WAS BEHIND THEM? WHAT PARTS OF THE WALL DID THEY PASS? WHERE DID THEY STOP?

READ: NEHEMIAH 12:40-43 40 So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, likewise I and the half of the rulers with me; 41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Minjamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loudly with Jezrahiah the director. 43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:40-43 40 So the two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, likewise I and the half of the rulers with me; 41 And the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Minjamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 Also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loudly with Jezrahiah the director. WHERE DID THE TWO CHOIRS STAND? WHO STOOD WITH THEM? WHAT DID THE PRIESTS HAVE? WHO DIRECTED THE SINGERS?

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:40-43 43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. The women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off. WHAT DID THE PEOPLE DO? HOW GREAT WAS THEIR REJOICING?

READ: NEHEMIAH 12:44-45 44 And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered. 45 Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, according to the command of David and Solomon his son.

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:44-45 44 And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered. 45 Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, according to the command of David and Solomon his son. WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THIS SAME TIME? WHAT DID THEY BRING INTO THE STOREHOUSE? WHAT DID THE SINGERS AND GATEKEEPERS DO?

READ: NEHEMIAH 12:46-47 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated holy things for the Levites, and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron. (NKJ)

QUESTIONS: NEHEMIAH 12:46-47 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated holy things for the Levites, and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron. (NKJ) WHAT WAS THIS A PATTERN OF? WHAT DID ALL ISRAEL DO? WHAT DID THE LEVITES DO IN RETURN?