A review of the Levites who returned to Jerusalem
In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families: of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah; of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;
13 of Ezra’s, Meshullam; of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;
14 of Malluch’s, Jonathan; of Shecaniah’s, Joseph;
15 of Harim’s, Adna; of Meremoth’s, Helkai;
16 of Iddo’s, Zechariah; of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;
17 of Abijah’s, Zicri; of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;
18 of Bilgah’s, Shammua; of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;
19 of Joiarib’s, Mattenai; of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;
20 of Sallu’s, Kallai; of Amok’s, Eber;
21 of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.
22 The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.
25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest and scribe.
The fourth list (verses 12-21) summarizes the leadership of the priestly families at the time of Joiakim, just before the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah. This arrangement probably continued pretty much unchanged during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. There are only 20 names in this list, as compared with 22 at the time of Zerubbabel (verses 1-7). This indicates that the number of priestly families fluctuated somewhat from one generation to the next.
The concluding paragraph (verses 22-26) gives us some interesting information about one of the sources of the lists in Nehemiah. Important genealogical information about the priests and Levites was gathered into record books for future use. Apparently this took place during the reign of Darius II (423–404 B.C.), shortly after the last events described in Nehemiah. Nehemiah probably used such a record book as a source for his lists.
Nehemiah’s catalog of priests demonstrates the preservation of the line of priests. Piecing together the various scriptural lists, we can trace the priesthood, which began with Aaron, over a thousand year period, roughly 140–400 B.C. This shows how carefully God preserved his chosen nation and its institutions. The priesthood was to reach its greatest glory in Christ. He would offer the supreme sacrifice—his spotless life for the sins of the world.