And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
This verse belongs to the great thanksgiving day kept for the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem restored under Nehemiah after the return from the Babylonian captivity. Before the processions the priests and the Levites purified themselves and purified the people, so that all were purified and prepared. Hoshaiah led half of the princes of Judah in one of two great processions on the wall.
The two processions of princes, priests, singers, and people went up on the wall at opposite points and marched around on top of the wall until they met at both ends and became one continuous procession around the whole city. The united procession then stood still to give thanks with loud singing under Jezrahiah as overseer. The dedication was kept with gladness, with thanksgiving and singing with cymbals, psalteries, and harps.
Great sacrifices were offered that day and all rejoiced, including wives and children, because God had made them rejoice with great joy, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even far away. Sacrifices and offerings are almost inseparably connected with thanksgiving, and material giving is its really practical feature, and this example at Jerusalem makes an excellent basis for a Thanksgiving program.
This verse belongs to the great thanksgiving day kept for the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem restored under Nehemiah after the return from the Babylonian captivity. Before the processions the priests and the Levites purified themselves and purified the people, so that all were purified and prepared. Hoshaiah led half of the princes of Judah in one of two great processions on the wall.
The two processions of princes, priests, singers, and people went up on the wall at opposite points and marched around on top of the wall until they met at both ends and became one continuous procession around the whole city. The united procession then stood still to give thanks with loud singing under Jezrahiah as overseer. The dedication was kept with gladness, with thanksgiving and singing with cymbals, psalteries, and harps.
Great sacrifices were offered that day and all rejoiced, including wives and children, because God had made them rejoice with great joy, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even far away. Sacrifices and offerings are almost inseparably connected with thanksgiving, and material giving is its really practical feature, and this example at Jerusalem makes an excellent basis for a Thanksgiving program.