Nehemiah 11:17

“And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, etc.] Zabdi is called Zichri in (<130915>1 Chronicles 9:15) was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: he was the precentor, or led the song at the time of the daily sacrifice, in which prayer was also made, as in many of the songs, hymns, and psalms of David: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren; he was the next singer, or deputy to Mattaniah; perhaps the same that is called Bakbakkar, (<130915>1 Chronicles 9:15) and Abda the son of Shammua; called Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, (<130916>1 Chronicles 9:16) the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun: one of the three principal singers.”

“the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer--that is, the leader of the choir which chanted the public praise at the time of the morning and evening sacrifice. That service was always accompanied by some appropriate psalm, the sacred music being selected and guided by the person named.”

“See the margin reference notes. Both accounts appear to be extracts from a public official register which Nehemiah caused to be made of his census. The census itself seems to have been confined to the dwellers at Jerusalem. The subjoined table exhibits the differences between the accounts of the entire population of Jerusalem as given in Nehemiah and in Chronicles: 1 Chron Nehemiah Tribes of Judah Of Pharez 468 Of Zerah 690 Tribe of Benjamin 956 928 Tribe of Levi Priests 1760 1192 Levites 284 Porters 212 172 According to Nehemiah’s numbers, supplemented from Chronicles, the entire adult male population of the city was 3,734, which would give a total population of 14,936. According to…”

“To begin - In the publick and solemn prayers and praises, which were constantly joined with the morning and evening sacrifice, at which the singers were present, and praised God with a psalm or hymn which, this man began. Nehemiah 11:21”

“11:17 a descendant of Asaph: David had chosen Asaph and his sons to provide music for the Temple worship (1 Chr 25:1-8). Asaph’s descendants took up this role again when the new Temple was built.”

“Zabdi: In the parallel passage, instead of Zichri, many manuscripts have Zabdi, as here. he is also called Zaccur. Neh 10:12; Ch1 9:15, Zichri to begin: Neh 12:8, Neh 12:31; Ch1 16:4, Ch1 16:41, Ch1 25:1-6 thanksgiving: Phi 4:6; Th1 5:17, Th1 5:18 Bakbukiah: Neh 12:9, Neh 12:25 Nehemiah 11:18”