Nehemiah 12:44-47--Service at the Temple

Nehemiah 12:44-47
English Standard Version

Service at the Temple
44 On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. 45 And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

On the same day as the dedication to the wall, men were appointed over the storehouses that would keep the tithes and offerings, the firstfruits, and the regular contributions of people as they brought them to the Levites and the priests as the Law required.  Some of these storehouses were in the cities where the Levites and priests lived, others were at the Temple proper.  Through these storehouses and the gifts people gave out of their abundance, the Levites, the priests, the poor and their families were all taken care of.  Also, by storing up like this, everyone had enough during the Sabbath year of rest.

Though not specifically mentioned here, cities of refuge would also be set up at this time, as they would be located in some of the cities where the Levites and priests lived and it would be part of their ministry to provide a place of refuge and sanctuary for those that who had committed involuntary manslaughter, and needed to be kept safe until their case could be heard.  However, even if they were found not guilty of murder, the price of an innocent life was so high that the man who accidently killed another man would still have to live in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest--the high priest would take the man's guilt upon himself at the time of his death, much like how Jesus died in our place.

Ministers from the Levites were also appointed to be singers and musicians who would lead the people in worship while the other priests and Levites were making sacrifices to the LORD for the purification of the people.  These Levites would the lead the people to sing, "His steadfast love endures forever."  All these priests and Levites depended on the faithfulness of the people in giving their tithes and offerings so that they could eat, for the Levites and priests did not have their own fields, flocks, or herds.  They depended completely on the LORD and the LORD's people for their needs to be met.  Nehemiah had made sure that all of the men in the LORD's service were taken care of by giving them his portion as governor, and apparently Zerubbabel before him had done the same thing, but now they were supplied by the portion of the regular offerings that was holy and reserved for the priests and the Levites, as the people were now obeying the Law of the LORD, and because of their obedience, the whole community was being blessed.

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