The Wall of Jerusalem Is Dedicated

When the time came to dedicate Jerusalem’s wall, the Levites were called in from the places where they lived. Singers gathered from around Jerusalem and from nearby villages. The dedication was marked by gladness, thanksgiving, singing, and music. Before the celebration began, the priests and Levites purified themselves, and they also purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

Nehemiah brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and arranged two large thanksgiving processions. One company went to the right along the wall toward the dung gate, with leaders, priests, trumpets, and musicians. Ezra the scribe went before them. They passed the spring gate and went up by the stairs of David’s city, along the ascent of the wall toward the water gate.

The second thanksgiving company went along the wall to meet the first, and Nehemiah followed with half of the people. They passed the tower of the furnaces, the wide wall, the gate of Ephraim, the old gate, the fish gate, the tower of Hananel, the tower of Hammeah, and the sheep gate. Then both companies stood together in God’s house.

There the priests stood with trumpets, and the singers sang loudly under their overseer. Great sacrifices were offered that day, and the people rejoiced greatly, because God had made them rejoice. Women and children rejoiced too. The sound of Jerusalem’s joy carried far away.

That same day, men were appointed over the rooms for the treasures, the offerings, the first fruits, and the tithes, so the portions required by the law could be gathered for the priests and Levites. The singers and gatekeepers carried out their duties according to the commands handed down from earlier days, and the people kept giving them their portions. The wall’s dedication was joined with faithful worship and practical care for God’s servants.