Nehemiah

1These are the words of Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah. It was the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year. I was living in the strong walled city of Susa.

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

NoteChislev was a month in the Jewish year. It came in late fall, near our December. The twentieth year means the twentieth year of the king of Persia's rule. Susa was one of that king's big cities. It sat far from Jerusalem, many hundreds of miles away.

2Hanani, one of my own family, came with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who were left after the enemy carried our people away. I also asked about the city of Jerusalem.

That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

NoteYears before this, a strong army took the Jewish people away from their land. They had to live in a faraway country. Some of them had come back home by now. Nehemiah wants to know how those people are doing.

3They told me, "The people left there are in great trouble. Others shame them and make fun of them. The wall around Jerusalem is broken down. Its gates have been burned with fire."

And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

NoteA province was one part of the king's huge land, a little like a state. Cities back then had thick stone walls around them. Big gates let people in and out. A broken wall meant anyone could walk in and hurt the people inside.

4When I heard this, I sat down and cried. I was sad for many days. I went without food, and I prayed to the God of heaven.

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

NoteGoing without food on purpose is called fasting. People did it when they were very sad. It helped them think about God and nothing else.

5I said, "LORD, God of heaven, You are great and awesome. You keep Your promise and Your love. You keep it for those who love You and obey Your commands."

And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

NoteThe King James says God is "terrible" here. That does not mean bad. It means so great and strong that people feel wonder. The promise God made is called a covenant. A covenant is a strong promise that is never broken.

6"Please listen closely and look at me. Hear the prayer I pray to You day and night. I pray for Your servants, the people of Israel. I tell You the sins we have done against You. My family and I have sinned too."

Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.

NoteA servant is someone who works for a master. Nehemiah calls himself God's servant to show he obeys God. To confess means to tell God the wrong things you have done.

7"We have acted very badly toward You. We have not kept the commands, the rules, or the laws You gave Your servant Moses."

We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

NoteMoses was a leader of these people long, long ago. God gave Moses rules for everyone to live by. Commands, rules, and laws all mean those same teachings.

8"Please remember what You told Your servant Moses. You said, 'If you turn away from me, I will scatter you among other nations.'"

Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

NoteTo scatter means to spread things far apart. Think of seeds tossed all over the ground. God warned the people this would happen if they left him.

9"'But if you come back to me and obey my commands, things will change. Even if you are pushed to the farthest place under the sky, I will gather you. I will bring you back to the place I chose for my name.'"

But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

NoteThe place God chose for his name was the city of Jerusalem. God's special house, called the temple, was built there.

10"These people are Your servants. They belong to You. You set them free by Your great power and Your strong hand."

Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

NoteLong ago these people were slaves in a land called Egypt. God brought them out and made them his own. That is what "redeemed" means here.

11"Lord, please listen to my prayer. Listen to the prayers of Your servants who are glad to honor You. Help me do well today. Make this man kind to me." At that time I was the king's cupbearer.

O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.

NoteA cupbearer carried the king's cup of wine to him. He tasted it first to make sure no one had put poison in it. The king trusted him and let him stand close. "This man" means the king, and Nehemiah wants to ask him for help.

1All the people came together in the open square by the Water Gate. They asked Ezra to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses. Ezra was a scribe, a man who studied and copied God's law. The LORD had given this law to Israel.

And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

NoteThe Water Gate was one of the doorways in the wall around Jerusalem. In the King James Bible, LORD in big letters stands for God's own name. The Book of the Law of Moses held the rules God gave his people long before this day.

2It was the first day of the seventh month. Ezra the priest brought the law out to the crowd. Men and women were there, and everyone old enough to understand.

And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

NoteA priest was a man who led people in worship at God's house. The seventh month came in the fall. It was a month with special feast days in it.

3He read it out loud from early morning until noon. He faced the square by the Water Gate. The men, the women, and all who could understand were there. Everyone listened closely to the Book of the Law.

And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

NoteThat means Ezra read out loud for about six hours. The people stood and listened the whole time.

4Ezra stood on a tall wooden platform built just for this. On his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. On his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

NoteA platform is a raised floor, a bit like a small stage. Ezra stood up on it so everyone could see and hear him.

5Ezra opened the book where everyone could see it. He was standing up higher than the crowd. When he opened it, all the people stood up.

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

NoteThis book was a scroll, a long strip of writing rolled up. People unrolled it to read instead of turning pages. Standing up showed that the people cared about God's words.

6Ezra praised the LORD, the great God. All the people lifted up their hands and said, "Amen, Amen!" Then they bowed down low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

NoteAmen means "yes, that is true." People said it to agree with a prayer. Lifting your hands and bowing low were normal ways to pray back then.

7Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah helped too. These men were Levites, workers who helped at God's house. They taught the people the law while the people stood in their places.

Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

8So they read from the Book of the Law of God clearly. They explained what it meant. They helped the people understand what was being read.

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

NoteThe law was written in an older way of speaking. Many people needed help to know what the words meant.

9Nehemiah was the governor, the leader in charge of the land. He and Ezra the priest and the teaching Levites spoke to everyone. They said, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not be sad and do not cry." They said this because all the people were crying as they heard the law.

And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

NoteHoly means set apart as special for God. A holy day was a day for God, not an ordinary day.

10Then Nehemiah said, "Go on your way. Eat good food and drink something sweet. Send some food to people who have nothing ready. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad. The joy of the LORD is your strength."

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

NoteAt a feast, people sent plates of food to neighbors who had none. That way everyone could join in the happy day.

11So the Levites calmed all the people down. They said, "Be quiet now. This day is holy. Do not be sad."

So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.

12So all the people went off to eat and drink. They sent food to others, and they were very glad. They were glad because now they understood the words they had heard.

And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

1Here are the men who put their seal on the paper. First was Nehemiah the governor, the leader of the land. He was the son of Hachaliah. Next was Zidkijah.

Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,

NoteTo seal a paper, you pressed your own mark into soft wax. It worked like signing your name today.

2Then Seraiah, Azariah, and Jeremiah.

Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

3Then Pashur, Amariah, and Malchijah.

Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,

4Then Hattush, Shebaniah, and Malluch.

Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

5Then Harim, Meremoth, and Obadiah.

Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

6Then Daniel, Ginnethon, and Baruch.

Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

7Then Meshullam, Abijah, and Mijamin.

Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

8Then Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. All these men were priests. Priests led the worship at God's house.

Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.

NoteGod's house means the temple in Jerusalem. It was a big building where people came to worship God.

9Next came the Levites. They were the men who helped the priests. Their names were Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the family of Henadad, and Kadmiel.

And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;

NoteThe Levites all came from one big family, the family of Levi. Their job was helping at God's house.

10With them were their fellow workers. They were Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, and Hanan.

And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11Then Micha, Rehob, and Hashabiah.

Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12Then Zaccur, Sherebiah, and Shebaniah.

Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13Then Hodijah, Bani, and Beninu.

Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.

14Next came the leaders of the people. They were Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, and Bani.

The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,

15Then Bunni, Azgad, and Bebai.

Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16Then Adonijah, Bigvai, and Adin.

Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

17Then Ater, Hizkijah, and Azzur.

Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,

18Then Hodijah, Hashum, and Bezai.

Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,

19Then Hariph, Anathoth, and Nebai.

Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

20Then Magpiash, Meshullam, and Hezir.

Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

21Then Meshezabeel, Zadok, and Jaddua.

Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,

22Then Pelatiah, Hanan, and Anaiah.

Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

23Then Hoshea, Hananiah, and Hashub.

Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,

24Then Hallohesh, Pileha, and Shobek.

Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,

25Then Rehum, Hashabnah, and Maaseiah.

Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

26Then Ahijah, Hanan, and Anan.

And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,

27Then Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

28The rest of the people joined in too. This meant the priests and the Levites who helped them. It meant the gatekeepers who guarded the doors. It meant the singers and the temple servants. It meant everyone who had left the ways of the people around them to follow God's law. Their wives came, and their sons and daughters who were old enough to understand.

And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;

NoteTemple servants did the heavy jobs at God's house. They carried water and wood for the priests.

29They all stood with their leaders and made a strong promise. They asked God to punish them if they broke it. They promised to live by God's law. God had given that law through Moses, his servant. They promised to obey all the LORD's rules and commands with care.

They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

NoteMoses lived long before this. He led the people out of Egypt and gave them God's law.

30They promised not to let their daughters marry the people around them. They also promised not to take those people's daughters for their sons.

And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:

31Sometimes the people around them brought goods or food to sell. If they did that on the Sabbath, the rest day, no one would buy. That was true on any holy day too. Every seventh year they would let the fields rest. In that year they would also cancel every debt owed to them.

And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

NoteThe Sabbath was the seventh day of every week. People rested that day and did no work.

32They made a rule for themselves about money. Each year every person would give a small silver coin for the work at God's house.

Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;

NoteA shekel was a small lump of silver used as money. People weighed silver to pay for things.

33The money paid for the special bread set out before God. It paid for the daily grain gifts and the daily burnt gifts. It paid for the gifts on the Sabbath days, the new moon days, and the feast days. It paid for the holy gifts and the gifts that covered the people's sin. It paid for all the work at God's house.

For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

NoteThe special bread was twelve loaves on a table in God's house. Fresh loaves were set out each week. A burnt gift was an animal burned up for God on a stone table. A new moon day started a new month, when the moon was a thin sliver.

34The priests, the Levites, and the people drew lots to decide something. Each family learned which time of year to bring firewood. They brought it to God's house every year. The wood was burned on the altar of the LORD their God. That is what the law said to do.

And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:

NoteDrawing lots was like drawing straws or rolling marked stones. It picked an answer without anyone arguing. The altar was a big stone table where gifts were burned for God.

35They also promised to bring the first crops from their fields. They would bring the first fruit from every kind of tree. They would do this every year at the LORD's house.

And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:

NoteFirst crops means the very first food picked each year. People gave that part to God before keeping any.

36They promised to bring their first sons to God's house too. They promised to bring the first young animals from their herds and flocks. The law said to do this. They would give them to the priests who served at God's house.

Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:

NoteIn their law, the first son in a family belonged to God. Parents brought him to God's house and paid the priests a small price. Then the boy went home with them.

37They promised to bring the first of their dough and their other gifts. They would bring fruit from every kind of tree, and new wine and oil. All of it went to the priests, into the storerooms at God's house. A tenth of what their fields grew went to the Levites. The Levites would collect it in every town where the people farmed.

And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

NoteDough is soft mixed flour and water, before it is baked into bread. A tenth means one part out of every ten. If you had ten baskets of grain, one basket went to the Levites.

38A priest from Aaron's family would go with the Levites. He was there when the Levites collected that tenth part. Then the Levites brought a tenth of what they got to God's house. It went into the storerooms where the treasure was kept.

And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

NoteAaron was Moses' brother and the first priest. All the priests came from his family.

39The people of Israel and the Levites would bring their gifts there. They brought grain, new wine, and oil to those storerooms. That is where the holy dishes and tools were kept. The serving priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stayed there too. The people said, "We will not neglect the house of our God."

For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.

NoteThe holy dishes were bowls, cups, and tools used only at God's house. Neglect means to stop taking care of something.

27The people were ready to give the new wall to God. So they looked for the Levites in all their towns. They brought them to Jerusalem for a glad celebration. There were thank-you songs and singing. They played cymbals, harps, and lyres.

And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

NoteThe wall around Jerusalem had been broken down for years. Nehemiah and the people built it up again. Now they held a glad party to give the wall to God. Cymbals are round metal plates you clang together. A lyre is a small harp with strings.

28The singers came together from the land around Jerusalem. Some came from the villages of Netophathi.

And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;

NoteNetophathi was a small village near Jerusalem. Singers lived there and in other towns nearby.

29Others came from Beth Gilgal and the fields of Geba and Azmaveth. The singers had built villages for themselves near Jerusalem.

Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.

30The priests and Levites made themselves clean, the way God's law said. Then they made the people clean too. They also made the gates and the wall clean.

And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

NoteBeing clean here does not mean washing off dirt. God's law had special washings and gifts to do first. They showed people were ready to come near God.

31Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall. I chose two big choirs to sing thank-you songs. One choir walked right along the wall, toward the Dung Gate.

Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:

NoteThe Dung Gate was where trash and animal waste were carried out. Each gate in the wall had its own name.

32Hoshaiah walked behind them. So did half the leaders of Judah.

And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,

33Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam went too.

And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,

34So did Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah.

Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,

35Some sons of the priests came with trumpets. One was Zechariah, son of Jonathan. Jonathan was the son of Shemaiah, whose father was Mattaniah. Mattaniah's father was Michaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph.

And certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets; namely, 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:

NoteThese trumpets were long horns made of silver. Priests blew them at happy times and holy days.

36His fellow workers came too. They were Shemaiah, Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, Judah, and Hanani. They carried the music instruments David had chosen. Ezra the scribe walked in front of them.

And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.

37At the Fountain Gate they went straight up the steps. These steps led into the City of David and up to the wall. They passed above David's house and reached the Water Gate on the east.

And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.

NoteThe City of David was the oldest part of Jerusalem. King David had lived there long before.

38The second choir walked the other way along the wall. I followed them with half the people. We went past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall.

And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;

NoteThis tower was named for the ovens near it. People baked bread in those ovens.

39We went above the Ephraim Gate, the Old Gate, and the Fish Gate. We passed the Tower of Hananeel and the Tower of the Hundred. We kept going to the Sheep Gate. Then we stopped at the Gate of the Guard.

And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.

NoteSheep were brought into the city through the Sheep Gate. Many of them were gifts for God's house.

40The two thank-you choirs stood in God's house. I stood there too. So did half the leaders who were with me.

So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:

NoteGod's house was the temple in Jerusalem. It was the special place where people came to worship.

41The priests with trumpets were there. They were Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah.

And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;

42Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer were there too. The singers sang out loud. Jezrahiah was their leader.

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.

43That day they gave many animals to God as gifts. The people were full of joy, because God had made them glad. The women and children were happy too. People far away could hear the happy sounds of Jerusalem.

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.

NotePeople brought animals as gifts to God. This was one way of saying thank you and sorry. It was a normal part of worship then.

44That same day, men were chosen to care for the storerooms. These rooms held gifts, first crops, and tithes. A tithe was one part out of ten that people gave to God. The gifts came in from the fields around the towns. God's law said these gifts belonged to the priests and Levites. The people of Judah were glad for the priests and Levites who served.

And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

NoteFirst crops means the very first food picked from a field. People gave that part to God before keeping any.

45The singers and gatekeepers did the work God gave them. They also did the work of keeping things clean and holy. King David and his son Solomon had planned it this way.

And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.

NoteSolomon was David's son and became king after him. He built the first temple in Jerusalem.

46Long before, when David and Asaph lived, there were leaders for the singers. There were also songs to praise and thank God.

For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.

NoteAsaph was a music leader when David was king. He wrote songs that people sang to God.

47In the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel gave food to the singers and gatekeepers. They gave a share every day. They also set apart gifts for the Levites. The Levites then set apart gifts for the family of Aaron.

And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.

NoteAaron was Moses' brother and the very first priest. All the priests came from his family.