Priests and Levites
1These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
3Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4Iddo, Ginnethon,12:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 16); most Hebrew manuscripts Ginnethoi Abijah,
5Mijamin,12:5 A variant of Miniamin Moadiah, Bilgah,
6Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah.
These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua.
8The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services.
10Joshua was the father of Joiakim,
Joiakim the father of Eliashib,
Eliashib the father of Joiada,
11Joiada the father of Jonathan,
and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.
12In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families:
of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah;
of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;
13of Ezra’s, Meshullam;
of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;
14of Malluk’s, Jonathan;
of Shekaniah’s,12:14 Very many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also verse 3); most Hebrew manuscripts Shebaniah’s Joseph;
15of Harim’s, Adna;
of Meremoth’s,12:15 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 3); Hebrew Meraioth’s Helkai;
16of Iddo’s, Zechariah;
of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;
17of Abijah’s, Zikri;
of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;
18of Bilgah’s, Shammua;
of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;
19of Joiarib’s, Mattenai;
of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;
20of Sallu’s, Kallai;
of Amok’s, Eber;
21of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah;
of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.
22The 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. 23The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24And 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.
25Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.
Dedication of the wall of Jerusalem
27At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem – from the villages of the Netophathites, 29from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.
31I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of12:31 Or go alongside the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of12:31 Or proceed alongside the wall to the right, towards the Dung Gate. 32Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35as 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 Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36and his associates – Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani – with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.
38The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of12:38 Or them alongside the wall, together with half the people – past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah12:39 Or Old 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.
40The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41as well as the priests – Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets – 42and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43And 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.
44At 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. 45They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 46For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.
Bakabona n’Abaleevi
112:1 a Nek 10:1-8 b 1By 3:19 c Ezr 2:2 d Ezr 2:2Bano be bakabona n’Abaleevi abaakomawo ne Zerubbaberi mutabani wa Seyalutyeri ne Yesuwa:
Seraya, ne Yeremiya, ne Ezera,12:1 Ezera oyo si ye Ezera kabona eyavanga mu lunyiriri lwa Seraya, eyali amanyi Amateeka (Ezr 7:1-5).
2ne Amaliya, ne Malluki, ne Kattusi,
3ne Sekaniya, ne Lekumu, ne Meremoosi,
412:4 a Zek 1:1 b Luk 1:5ne Iddo, ne Ginnesoyi, ne Abiya,
5ne Miyamini, ne Maadiya, ne Biruga,
612:6 1By 24:7ne Semaaya, ne Yoyalibu, ne Yedaya,
7ne Sallu, ne Amoki, ne Kirukiya ne Yedaya.
Abo be baali abakulembeze ba bakabona ne baganda baabwe mu biro bya Yesuwa.
812:8 Nek 11:17Abaleevi baali: Yesuwa, ne Binnuyi, ne Kadumyeri, ne Serebiya, ne Yuda ne Mattaniya awamu ne baganda be, abaakulemberanga ennyimba ez’okwebaza mu kusinza. 9Bakubukiya ne Unni ne baganda baabwe bo, baayimiriranga nga baboolekedde mu biseera eby’okusinza.
1012:10 Ezr 10:24Yesuwa yali kitaawe wa Yoyakimu,
ate Yoyakimu nga ye kitaawe wa Eriyasibu,
ne Eriyasibu nga ye kitaawe wa Yoyaada,
11Yoyaada nga ye kitaawe wa Yonasaani,
ate Yonasaani nga ye kitaawe wa Yadduwa.
12Mu biro bya Yoyakimu, bano be baali abakulu b’ennyumba za bakabona:
eya Seraya, yali Meraya;
eya Yeremiya, yali Kananiya;
13eya Ezera, yali Mesullamu,
eya Amaliya, yali Yekokanani;
14eya Malluki, yali Yonasaani;
eya Sebaniya, yali Yusufu;
15eya Kalimu, yali Aduna;
eya Merayoosi, yali Kerukayi;
1612:16 nny 4eya Iddo, yali Zekkaliya;
eya Ginnesoni, yali Mesullamu;
17eya Abiya, yali Zikuli;
eya Miniyamini ne Mowadiya, yali Pirutayi;
18eya Biruga, yali Sammuwa;
eya Semaaya, yali Yekonasaani;
19eya Yoyalibu, yali Mattenayi;
eya Yedaya, yali Uzzi;
20eya Sallayi, yali Kallayi;
eya Amoki, yali Eberi;
21eya Kirukiya, yali Kasabiya;
n’eya Yedaya, yali Nesaneeri.
22Abakulu b’ennyumba z’Abaleevi abaakola mu biro bya Eriyasibu, ne Yoyada, ne Yokanaani ne Yadduwa, awamu ne bakabona, baawandiikibwa mu mirembe gya Daliyo Omuperusi. 23Abakulu b’enju abaava mu bazzukulu ba Leevi okutuuka ku mulembe gwa Yokanaani mutabani wa Eriyasibu, ne bawandiikibwa mu bitabo eby’ebyafaayo. 2412:24 Ezr 2:40Abakulembeze b’Abaleevi baali: Kasabiya, ne Serebiya, ne Yesuwa mutabani wa Kadumyeri, n’abaabayambangako nga baboolekedde, nga batendereza era nga beebaza, ng’ekibinja ekimu kiddamu ekirala kye biyimba, nga Dawudi omusajja wa Katonda bwe yalagira.
25Mattaniya, ne Bakubukiya, ne Obadiya, ne Mesullamu, ne Talumoni, ne Akkubu be baakuumanga amawanika g’oku miryango. 26Baaweerereza mu biro bya Yoyakimu mutabani wa Yesuwa, mutabani wa Yozadaki, ne mu biro bya Nekkemiya owessaza, ne Ezera kabona era omuwandiisi.
Okutukuza Bbugwe wa Yerusaalemi
2712:27 a Ma 20:5 b 2Sa 6:5 c 1By 15:16, 28; 25:6; Zab 92:3Awo okutukuza kwa bbugwe wa Yerusaalemi bwe kwatuuka, ne banoonya Abaleevi okuva gye baabeeranga, ne baleetebwa e Yerusaalemi okujaguza nga bwe bayimba n’okukuba ebitaasa n’entongooli n’ennanga. 2812:28 1By 2:54; 9:16Abayimbi nabo ne bajja okuva mu bitundu ebyetoolodde Yerusaalemi, nga bava mu byalo by’Abanetofa, 29n’okuva mu Besugirugaali, n’okuva mu bitundu by’e Geba n’e Azumavesi; abayimbi baali beefunidde ebyalo okwetooloola Yerusaalemi. 3012:30 Kuv 19:10; Yob 1:5Bakabona n’Abaleevi bwe baamala okwetukuza olw’emikolo egyo, ne balyoka batukuza abantu, n’emiryango ne bbugwe.
3112:31 Nek 2:13Ne ndyoka ntwala abakulembeze ba Yuda waggulu ku bbugwe, ne ndagira n’ebibinja bibiri eby’abayimbi okwebaza. Ekimu kyalaga waggulu wa bbugwe ku mukono ogwa ddyo, n’ekirala ne kiraga ku Mulyango gw’Obusa. 32Kosaaya ne kimu kyakubiri eky’abakulembeze ba Yuda ne babagoberera, 33nga bali wamu ne Azaliya, ne Ezera, ne Mesullamu, 3412:34 Ezr 1:5ne Yuda, ne Benyamini, ne Semaaya, ne Yeremiya, 3512:35 Ezr 3:10ne bakabona abamu nga bakutte amakondeere, ne Zekkaliya mutabani wa Yonasaani, muzzukulu wa Semaaya, muzzukulu wa Mikaaya, muzzukulu wa Zakkuli, muzzukulu wa Asafu; 3612:36 a 1By 15:16 b 2By 8:14 c Ezr 7:6ne banne abaamuyambangako nga be bano: Semaaya, ne Azuleeri, ne Miralayi, ne Giralayi, ne Maayi, ne Nesaneeri, ne Yuda, ne Kanani, nga balina ebivuga ebyalagirwa Dawudi omusajja wa Katonda, era Ezera omuwandiisi, ye yabakulemberangamu. 3712:37 a Nek 2:14; 3:15 b Nek 3:26Bwe baatuuka ku Mulyango gw’Oluzzi, ne bambuka amadaala g’Ekibuga kya Dawudi okutuukira ddala ku bbugwe; ne bayita ku lubiri lwa Dawudi ne batuuka ku Mulyango ogw’Amazzi, oguli ku luuyi olw’ebuvanjuba.
3812:38 a Nek 3:11 b Nek 3:8Ekibinja ekyokubiri eky’abayimbi, ne kiraga ku luuyi olwolekedde luli bali gye baali balaze. Nze ne kimu kyakubiri eky’abantu ne tubagoberera okutuukira ddala waggulu ku bbugwe, ne tuyita ku Munaala gw’Ebikoomi ne tutuuka ku Bbugwe Omugazi, 3912:39 a 2Bk 14:13; Nek 8:16 b Nek 3:6 c 2By 33:14; Nek 3:3 d Nek 3:1 e Nek 3:1 f Nek 3:1ne ku Mulyango gwa Efulayimu, ne ku Mulyango gwa Yesana, ne ku Mulyango gw’Ebyennyanja, n’okutuuka ku Munaala gwa Kananeri, ne ku Munaala gw’Ekikumi, n’okutuukira ddala ku Mulyango gw’Endiga, ne tuyimirira ku Mulyango gw’Abambowa.
40Ebibinja byombi eby’abayimbi ne batuula mu bifo byabwe mu nnyumba ya Katonda; nange ne kimu kyakubiri eky’abakulembeze ne tutuula, 41awamu ne bakabona bano: Eriyakimu, ne Maaseya, ne Miniyamini, ne Mikaaya, ne Eriwenayi, ne Zekkaliya, ne Kananiya nga balina amakondeere; 42Maaseya, ne Semaaya, ne Eriyazaali, ne Uzzi, ne Yekokanani, ne Malukiya, ne Eramu, ne Ezera nabo baaliwo. Abayimbi ne bayimba, Yekulakiya nga ye mukulu waabwe. 43Ku lunaku olwo, ne bawaayo ssaddaaka nnyingi nnyo nnyini, nga batendereza kubanga Katonda yali abawadde essanyu lingi nnyo nnyini. Abakazi n’abaana nabo ne basanyukira wamu nabo, era okujaguza okwo mu Yerusaalemi ne kuwulirwa mu bifo eby’ewala.
4412:44 a Nek 13:4, 13 b Lv 27:30 c Ma 18:8Mu kiseera ekyo, abantu ne balondebwa okulabiriranga amawanika omwaterekebwanga ebyaleetebwanga, nga mwe muli ebibala ebibereberye, ne kimu kya kkumi, nga bireetebwa okuva mu bibanja ebyetoolodde ebibuga, nga bwe kyalagibwa mu Mateeka, ne biweebwa bakabona n’Abaleevi. Yuda baali basanyufu olw’obuweereza bwa bakabona awamu n’obw’Abaleevi. 4512:45 a 1By 25:1; 2By 8:14 b 1By 6:31; 23:5Bakabona n’Abaleevi ne bakwata embaga ya Katonda waabwe era ne bagitukuza, n’abayimbi awamu n’abakuumi ba wankaaki nabo ne bakola bwe batyo, ng’ekiragiro kya Dawudi ne Sulemaani mutabani we bwe kyali. 4612:46 a 2By 35:15 b 2By 29:27; Zab 137:4Mu biro eby’edda, mu biseera bya Dawudi ne Asafu, waabangawo abakulu b’abayimbi, ate nga waliwo n’ennyimba ezaayimbibwanga okutendereza Katonda. 4712:47 Kbl 18:21; Ma 18:8Noolwekyo mu biro bya Zerubbaberi ne mu biro bya Nekkemiya, Isirayiri kyeyava ewaayo ebibinja by’abayimbi n’abakuumi ba wankaaki. Ne balonda n’ekibinja ky’Abaleevi abalala, n’Abaleevi nabo ne balondayo ekibinja ekyava mu bazzukulu ba Alooni.
