The verse stands in the record of a great thanksgiving day at Jerusalem for the dedication of the wall restored under Nehemiah's direction after the return from the Babylonian captivity. It names Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam as members of one of the two great companies of princes, priests, singers, and people formed for the dedication, which went up upon the wall at opposite points and marched upon the top of the wall until the two companies met and joined into one continuous procession encircling the whole city, then stood still together to give thanks. Before that march the priests and the Levites purified themselves and purified the people. That cleansing was extended also to the gates and to the wall itself.
The dedication itself was kept with gladness, with thanksgiving and with singing to the sound of cymbals, psalteries, and harps. When the companies had united, they gave thanks with loud singing under the direction of Jezrahiah. That same day great sacrifices were offered, and there was great rejoicing because God had made them rejoice with great joy, with wives and children also rejoicing, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
Sacrifices and offerings are almost inseparably connected with thanksgiving, and material giving is the really practical feature of Thanksgiving, so that the example of the people at Jerusalem furnishes an excellent basis for a Thanksgiving program.
The verse stands in the record of a great thanksgiving day at Jerusalem for the dedication of the wall restored under Nehemiah's direction after the return from the Babylonian captivity. It names Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam as members of one of the two great companies of princes, priests, singers, and people formed for the dedication, which went up upon the wall at opposite points and marched upon the top of the wall until the two companies met and joined into one continuous procession encircling the whole city, then stood still together to give thanks. Before that march the priests and the Levites purified themselves and purified the people. That cleansing was extended also to the gates and to the wall itself.
The dedication itself was kept with gladness, with thanksgiving and with singing to the sound of cymbals, psalteries, and harps. When the companies had united, they gave thanks with loud singing under the direction of Jezrahiah. That same day great sacrifices were offered, and there was great rejoicing because God had made them rejoice with great joy, with wives and children also rejoicing, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
Sacrifices and offerings are almost inseparably connected with thanksgiving, and material giving is the really practical feature of Thanksgiving, so that the example of the people at Jerusalem furnishes an excellent basis for a Thanksgiving program.