Nehemiah 12:31~47 Two Group of Choir

I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. one was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,

and his associates--Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani--with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession. At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east. The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people--past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped. The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials,

as well as the priests--Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets- and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away. At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the singers and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon.

For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.   예루살렘 성전에서 있었던 Antiphonal singing의 흔적이 여기서 나타난다. 찬양하는 방법 주된 3가지는 Respossorial, Anthiphonal, Direct 세 가지가 있었다. Responsory는 지금도 예배 초반부에 시편 교송의 형태로 남아 있고 Direct는 회중 찬송하는 방법에 남아있지만 Antiphon은 특별히 기획하지 않으면 교회 찬양에서 찾아보기 어렵다.  지금도 대형 찬양대는 Antiphon을 해 볼만도 하고 르네상스나 그 이전 시대의 곡들도 아직 많이 있는 것 같던데. 느헤미야는 성벽을 재건하고 Asaph의 자손들과 레위인들을 두 그룹으로 나누어서 악기들도 가지고  성벽 위에 올라가 찬양을 준비한다.  그리고 찬양을 했더니 아래와 같았다. And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away. 포로에서 귀환해서 어려운 시기이지만 찬양하는 사람들을 위해서 다윗 시대에 했던 것처럼 all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers.   For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.