Nehemiah 12:31 - Then I brought up the princes of Judah on the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in procession. One went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate;

Generated Verse: Nehemiah 12:31

What does "Nehemiah 12:31" mean?


This verse, Nehemiah 12:31, describes a significant event during the dedication of the rebuilt wall of Jerusalem. Let's break down its meaning:

"Then I brought up the princes of Judah on the wall...": This indicates that Nehemiah, the governor, organized a procession of the leaders ("princes") of Judah to walk along the newly constructed wall. The purpose was likely to symbolically claim and dedicate the wall to God. The wall itself was important for defense and security of the city.

"...and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in procession.": Nehemiah divided the participants into two large groups ("companies") who would express their gratitude ("gave thanks") to God. They then proceeded in a formal, ceremonial march ("went in procession"). The thanksgiving would involve prayers, songs, and possibly instrumental music.

"One went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate;": One of the two groups began their procession to the right (presumably from a designated starting point) and continued along the wall in the direction of the "Dung Gate." The Dung Gate was a gate in the city wall. This gate's name may come from its function as a place to discard waste or its proximity to dung heaps outside the city.

In essence, the verse describes a religious ceremony where the leaders of Judah, divided into two large groups, paraded along the newly rebuilt wall, offering thanks to God and dedicating the wall. One of the groups went towards the Dung Gate.

Significance:

Dedication: The procession was a public act of dedication, consecrating the rebuilt wall and the city to God's protection.
Thanksgiving: It was a time of expressing gratitude for God's help in completing the challenging task of rebuilding the wall despite opposition.
Symbolic Claim: By walking along the wall, the leaders symbolically asserted their control and ownership of the city and its defenses.
Unity: The event brought together the people of Judah in a shared celebration and demonstration of unity.

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