This verse belongs to the account of a great thanksgiving day at Jerusalem for dedicating the walls restored under Nehemiah after the return from Babylonian captivity. The four names in it — Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah — are members of one of the two great dedication processions made up of princes, priests, singers, and people. After purification and preparation the two processions went up onto the wall at opposite points and marched on top of it until they joined at both ends into one continuous procession around the whole city. Then they stood still together to give thanks while the singers sang loudly under Jezrahiah their overseer.
The dedication was kept with gladness, thanksgiving, singing and instruments, with purification of the priests, the Levites and the people. Great sacrifices were offered that day, and all rejoiced because God had made them rejoice with great joy. That joy was shared by wives and children, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. Sacrifices, offerings and material giving are inseparably connected with thanksgiving, so the account provides a pattern for a Thanksgiving program.
This verse belongs to the account of a great thanksgiving day at Jerusalem for dedicating the walls restored under Nehemiah after the return from Babylonian captivity. The four names in it — Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah — are members of one of the two great dedication processions made up of princes, priests, singers, and people. After purification and preparation the two processions went up onto the wall at opposite points and marched on top of it until they joined at both ends into one continuous procession around the whole city. Then they stood still together to give thanks while the singers sang loudly under Jezrahiah their overseer.
The dedication was kept with gladness, thanksgiving, singing and instruments, with purification of the priests, the Levites and the people. Great sacrifices were offered that day, and all rejoiced because God had made them rejoice with great joy. That joy was shared by wives and children, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. Sacrifices, offerings and material giving are inseparably connected with thanksgiving, so the account provides a pattern for a Thanksgiving program.