Page 98 - Principles of Leadership - Nehemiah

9
Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah— he and his relatives were in charge of the praise songs. Bakbukiah,
Unni, and their relatives [stood] opposite them in the services. Jeshua fathered Joiakim, Joiakim fathered
10
12
11
Eliashib, Eliashib fathered Joiada, Joiada fathered Jonathan, and Jonathan fathered Jaddua. In the days
of Joiakim, the leaders of the priestly families were:
Meraiah of Seraiah,
Hananiah of Jeremiah,
13 Meshullam of Ezra,
Jehohanan of Amariah,
14 Jonathan of Malluchi,
Joseph of Shebaniah,
15 Adna of Harim,
Helkai of Meraioth,
16 Zechariah of Iddo,
Meshullam of Ginnethon,
17 Zichri of Abijah,
Piltai of Moadiah, of Miniamin,
18 Shammua of Bilgah,
Jehonathan of Shemaiah,
19 Mattenai of Joiarib,
Uzzi of Jedaiah,
20 Kallai of Sallai,
Eber of Amok,
21 Hashabiah of Hilkiah,
and Nethanel of Jedaiah.
22 In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the leaders of the families of the Levites and priests
were recorded while Darius the Persian ruled. Levi’s descendants, the leaders of families, were recorded in
23
24
the Book of the Historical Records during the days of Johanan son of Eliashib. The leaders of the Levites—
Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their relatives opposite them—gave praise and
thanks, division by division, as David the man of God had prescribed. [This included] Mattaniah, Bakbukiah,
25
and Obadiah. Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates.
26 These [served] in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the
governor and Ezra the priest and scribe.

Some have suggested that this genealogical record further emphasized the need to keep the genealogical
record pure and not to intermarry with the surrounding community, which probably outnumbered Israel at this
time in history. It also suggests the fragile nature of Israel and that there was a need for gatekeepers, just as
gatekeepers are needed in the church today. The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, who
19
guarded the gates: These sacred spaces needed to be protected. The task of setting apart a sacred space, a
place of His own choosing, is emphasized. This will only be accomplished by the willingness of this faith
community to resettle in Jerusalem. Israel is a long way from the final expansion and complete restoration of
Jehovah’s promises, but this is the start of the prophets' now but not yet promises. This eschatological promise
of territorial expansion will also take on a whole new meaning in the New Testament. (see Acts 1:8, Isaiah 40,
54:2-3)

“The returnees live in a now-and-not-yet, as anticipated by Isaiah the prophet during the period between the
coming of Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1; see also Ezra 1:1) and the coming of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 52:13-
53:12 and illustrated with the following chart.” 214 They now realize the fulfillment of His promises and
recapturing the song they had lost while in Babylon. (See Psalm 137:1-6)

96