Nehemiah 12:42
And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
This verse belongs to the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem restored under Nehemiah after the return from the Babylonian captivity. It falls in the Nehemiah 11-13 section covering about 446-408, the last reform on his return to Jerusalem. The book is written by Nehemiah, a governor appointed of the Lord and given the burden of restoring Jerusalem. The account tells who Nehemiah is and the work he did, always working with the highest good of Jerusalem in mind, impatient toward the people for slackness in doing the work of God and indignant toward those sinning against God by uniting with the heathen peoples, even bringing them into the very temple itself. It records the ups and downs, battles and conflicts, defeats and victories of the Jews at Jerusalem under the last reformation, in which adversaries put forth every effort to hinder the work but God carries it on to glorious success, and it is typical of God's work in other ages, especially in the last days.
The dedication came after all had been purified and prepared, when the priests and Levites purified themselves and purified the people. Two great processions of princes, priests, singers and people went up on the wall at opposite points and marched on top of the wall until they joined at both ends into one continuous procession around the whole city, then stood still to give thanks. It was kept with gladness, with thanksgiving, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries and harps. The loud singing of the singers under Jezrahiah their overseer was part of that glad thanksgiving.
That same day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. The wives also and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. Sacrifices and offerings are almost inseparably connected with thanksgiving in Scripture, and material giving is the really practical feature of thanksgiving. The example at Jerusalem therefore makes an excellent basis for a Thanksgiving program at the time of the national Thanksgiving.