Nehemiah 12:1-26

Priests and Levites 1These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

2Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,

3Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

4Iddo, Ginnethon, Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 16); most Hebrew manuscripts Ginnethoi Abijah,

5Mijamin, A variant of Miniamin Moadiah, Bilgah,

6Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,

7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua. 8The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving.

9Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services. 10Joshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada,

11Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.

12In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families: of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah; of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;

13of Ezra’s, Meshullam; of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;

14of Malluk’s, Jonathan; of Shekaniah’s, Very many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also verse 3); most Hebrew manuscripts Shebaniah’s Joseph;

15of Harim’s, Adna; of Meremoth’s, Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 3); Hebrew Meraioth’s Helkai;

16of Iddo’s, Zechariah; of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;

17of Abijah’s, Zikri; of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;

18of Bilgah’s, Shammua; of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;

19of Joiarib’s, Mattenai; of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;

20of Sallu’s, Kallai; of Amok’s, Eber;

21of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel. 22The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals.

24And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God. 25Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates.

26They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.