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Nehemiah 12:23

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Nehemiah 12:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The sons of Levi, heads of fathers` [houses], were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The sons of Levi, heads of fathers` [houses], were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.
Nehemiah 12:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Nehemiah 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
21of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
22As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of fathers` [houses]; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian.
23The sons of Levi, heads of fathers` [houses], were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.
24And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch next to watch.
25Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the watch at the store-houses of the gates.
26These were 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.
← Nehemiah 12:22Nehemiah 12:24 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, etc.] Some think this refers to (<130914>1 Chronicles 9:14), etc. until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib; from whence Dr. Lightfoot f77 concludes, that the Chronicles were written by Ezra in the times of this Johanan.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The sons of Levi . . . were written in the book of the chronicles--that is, the public registers in which the genealogies were kept with great regularity and exactness.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“These verses interrupt the account of the church officers in the time of Joiakim, resumed in Nehemiah 12:24. They appear to be an addition to the original text, made about the time of Alexander the Great, when the Books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah would seem to have first taken their existing shape. The same writer who introduced these verses, probably also added Nehemiah 12:11 to the original text. Darius the Persian - Probably Darius Codomannus (336-331 B.C.), the antagonist of Alexander the Great. See the introduction of the Book of Nehemiah. This passage shows that the practice of keeping a record of public events in state archives was continued after the return from the captivity,…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the book: 1Chr. 9:14-44 Nehemiah 12:24”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification