More Places of the Sons of the Singers - Nehemiah 12:29

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi”, and in chapter twelve and verse twenty-nine of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared about more of the places from which the sons of the singers were called where we read,

Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth:

for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.

The verse reads, “Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth:” Nehemiah began with the words, “also from the house of Gilgal” which means “even so and indeed separate and apart from the habitation, abode and dwelling place belonging to Gilgal whose name means a wheel or rolling”, “and out of the fields of Geba” or “and from the cultivated lands or grounds belonging to Geba or Gaba or Gibeah whose name means hill and was a city in Benjamin, modern 'Jeba', which stands on the top of a steep terraced hill, six miles or ten kilometers north east of Jerusalem and three miles or five kilometers from Gibea” “and Azmaveth” which means “and strong unto death”. Nehemiah shared how the “sons of the singers” also came from the dwelling place belonging to “Gilgal” and from the cultivated plains of “Geba and Azmaveth”.

The verse goes on to say, “for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “for the singers” or “because, since and on account that the ones who made music with their voices” “had builded them villages” which means “established, constructed and set up them, the singers, towns and settled abodes” “round about Jerusalem” or “surrounding or circumjacent to Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. Nehemiah said the people who made music with their voices established themselves within towns and settled abodes that were circumjacent to the city of “Jerusalem”.

When we consider Nehemiah's words in this verse, we discover that the “singers” and their “sons” were in close proximity to “Jerusalem” which caused them to be more easily assembled when there were services or special occasions to be carried out in the temple. Worship of God is to be important to everyone, and because He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins and raised Him from the grave three days later, He invites us not only to receive Him as “Savior and Lord”, but also to be forgiven of our sins and granted everlasting life with Him in Heaven where we shall gather to give Him praise for all eternity. (See Revelation 7:9-10) 

Next time Nehemiah shares how, “the priests and the Levites purified themselves”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".