Nehemiah 12:47

Neh 12:47. They sanctified holy things unto the Levites — They set apart the first-fruits and tithes from their own share, and devoted them to the use of the Levites. And so did the Levites by the tithe of tithes. Thus they all conscientiously paid their dues, and did not profane those things which God had sanctified, nor take them unto their own common use. When what is contributed for the support of religion is given with an eye to God, it is sanctified, and will cause the blessing to rest upon the house, and all that is therein.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12:47 From the time of the first returnees to Jerusalem in the days of Zerubbabel in 538 BC (Ezra 3:1) until the time of Nehemiah around 445 BC, Israelites brought food for those working at the Temple. Most of the Levites lived in cities around the country; they collected the tithe and brought a tenth of what they received to the Temple in Jerusalem to support its ministry (see Neh 10:38-39).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

That is, the tenth part of the tithes.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

all Israel . . . sanctified holy things unto the Levites,--&c. The people, selecting the tithes and first-fruits, devoted them to the use of the Levites, to whom they belonged by appointment of the law. The Levites acted in the same way with the tithes due from them to the priests. Thus all classes of the people displayed a conscientious fidelity in paying the dues to the temple and the servants of God who were appointed to minister in it.

Next: Nehemiah Chapter 13

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 47. All Israel - gave the portions of the singers] The singers and the porters were supported by the people at large; and each of these had their portions served out to them daily.

And they sanctified - unto the Levites] The things which were provided for sacred uses were delivered by the people to the Levites, and the Levites presented them to the priests.

The children of Aaron.] This may refer principally to the tithes which the people brought to the Levites; the tithe or tenth of which the Levites gave to the priests. The presenting these tithes is termed sanctifying them; that is, dedicating them to those sacred or ecclesiastical uses for which they were designed: this is a very general meaning of the word sanctify in Scripture.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(47) The Levites.—Between the people and the priests came the Levites, who received the tithe and gave the priests their “tithe of the tithe” (Num_18:26).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

47. in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah] The mention of Nehemiah in the 3rd person along with Zerubbabel is an almost convincing proof that the sentence was not from the hand of Nehemiah; but that it was written (probably by the Chronicler) at a considerable interval of time since Nehemiah’s death. The two men are here mentioned as the two heroes of their generation, under whom Israel was loyal to their Temple.

gave … sanctified] The participles in the Heb. show the continuous habit.

every day his portion] R.V. as every day required. In Neh_11:23, we are told a daily provision for the singers was one of the commands of the Persian king: but there was also doubtless a regular daily payment on their behalf made by the people.

sanctified holy things unto the Levites] R.V. sanctified for the Levites. ‘They sanctified,’ i.e. all Israel (not ‘the singers and the porters’) set apart for the use of those who served God. The word ‘sanctify’ is therefore equivalent to ‘devote’ or dedicate in this connexion: cf. Lev_27:14; Lev_27:16 sqq. ‘sanctify a house … a field;’ 1Ch_26:27 ‘Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of the Lord.’ There is no idea of a succession of ritual acts of consecration.

the children of Aaron] This expression only occurs in our books here and Neh_10:38. In neither passage have we the words of Nehemiah himself but of the Compiler, who was probably also the Chronicler, with whom the term is a favourite one for ‘the priesthood,’ e.g. 2Ch_13:9-10; 2Ch_31:19; 2Ch_35:14.

The sanctifying of Israel for the Levites consisted in the payment of the tithes to the house of Levi; the sanctifying on the part of the Levites for the priests, in the payment of ‘the tithe of the tithes’ (see Neh_10:38) in accordance with Num_18:26.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The intention is to compare the religious activity and strictness of Nehemiah’s time with that which had prevailed under Zerubbabel, as described by Ezra Ezr 6:16, Ezr 6:22. It is implied that the intermediate period had been a time of laxity.

They sanctified holy things ... - i. e, “the people paid their tithes regularly to the Levites, and the Levites paid the tithe of the tithes to the priests.”

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

They sanctified holy things, i.e. they sequestered or set apart the first-fruits and tithes from their own share, and devoted them to the use of the Levites, to whom they belonged. And so did the Levites by the tithe of the tithes. Thus they all conscientiously paid their dues to God, or his assigns, and did not profane, those things which God had sanctified, nor take them to their own common use, as divers ungodly or covetous persons had formerly used to do when they had opportunity.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

47. Gave the portions — The tithes and other contributions necessary for the support of the singers and porters.

They sanctified holy things unto the Levites — They set apart, as things consecrated to holy uses, the portions designed for the Levites. Instead of holy things it is better simply to substitute them, referring to the portions just named.

And the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron — The Levites were required to give a tithe of the tithes (compare Neh_10:38) to the priests, here called sons of Aaron. So of all the tithes committed to them they set apart a tenth for the priests. “Ye also shall offer a heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes,” etc. See the law in Num_18:26-29.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

In the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah. i.e. "In the days of Nehemiah, no less than in those of Zerubbabel." Gave the portions. Paid their tithes, and other dues, regularly, so that the portions were forthcoming. Every day his portion. Compare Neh_11:23. They sanctified holy things unto the Levites. They, i.e. the people, "set apart" for the Levites all that the law required; and the Levites set apart for the priests their due share tithe of the tithe". (Num_18:26)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Sanctified - They set apart the first-fruits and tithes from their own share, and devoted them to the use of the Levites. And so did the Levites by the tithe of the tithes. Thus they all conscientiously paid their dues, and did not profane those things which God had sanctified, nor take them into their own common use. When what is contributed for the support of religion, is given with an eye to God, it is sanctified, and will cause the blessing to rest upon the house, and all that is therein.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

the portions Heb. מְנָיוֹת, like מָנוֹת.

and they consecrated [them] for the Levites And they would give the tithe to the Levites, who would take the tithe from the tithe and give it to the priests.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.