Occupy
Jerusalem had about 3,000 inhabitants. That’s fairly sparse for it’s size…they rebuilt on top of the old walls, so the city footprint was about the same as before the exile. I’m guessing the city could hold about 10,000 at capacity (just a guess). Today Jerusalem boasts 900,000 people and is 48 square miles! The “old city” was about 1 kilometer square (3/4 mile). New York City has a population of around 27,000 people per square mile, and is the United States most densely populated city….so, it isn’t too far off to imagine Old Jerusalem having about half that many residents when at capacity.
Nehemiah refers to the people who chose to relocate to Jerusalem as “outstanding men” several times. I hadn’t thought too much about it, but I suppose he was right. If you lived in Jerusalem you were practically painting a target on your back…and signing up for a lot of extra work. God bless the folks who willingly shouldered such a heavy burden, just to see their country begin to re-establish it’s identity. If everyone had lived on their own in the country it wouldn’t have happened.
I wonder what it was like to live in the “valley of the Craftsmen”? (11:35)
There was a group of priests whose specific job was to sing songs of thanksgiving, or lead the people in being thankful.(12:8-9)
12:17 says “there was also a leader of the family of Miniamin”. Every other family’s leader is mentioned by name..and this poor guy is the only one who isn’t. It would be enough to give you a complex, wouldn’t it? He must have been one of those people who are easy to overlook. I always feel bad when I realize that someone who is contributing sacrificially has been overlooked. I kind of feel bad for this guy today.
12:24 tells us that there were two sets of priests facing each other during worship. They are mentioned above, but here their job is identified…they praise, while the other group thanks. So, during the formal worship service there would be a time of praising and thanking God…sort of an “ebb and flow” effect.
12:29: wouldn’t it be something to live in a city that was primarily the singers from the temple?
12:31: When you think of the wall around Jerusalem, envision something as wide as the great wall of China…it was at least 15 feet wide, stone on both sides and filled with dirt and rock in between. The wall was a foreboding presence, effectively stopping anyone who wanted to enter the city uninvited. Even from a distance the wall would let you know that there was a rule of law, and expectations for behavior on the inside. After all, why have a wall if “anything goes”? There should be some “walls” in our lives. We should build some structures that say “this type of behavior, or activity isn’t welcome here..you must stay outside”. In a day when the popular slogans are to “break down walls” I am gently reminding the Christian that a protective wall around our heart and life is not a bad thing.
I learn a very good lesson beginning in 12:27 and going to the end of the chapter: You will notice that the wall is completed in record time, people are celebrating and praising God, and earlier they signed a covenant to keep themselves pure, discharge foreign wives, abstain from buying and selling on Sunday, etc. But within a few verses (several years) things have changed. The priest has rented out rooms in temple to one of Israel’s enemies, and some of the priests have intermarried, as well as many lay people. In addition, they have begun buying and selling on Sunday again! This is a real reflection of the human condition. What is wrong with us? Within just a few years, the people who were so devoted and “on fire” had reversed course and returned to their old habits. We need a constant reminder to stay close to the Lord, or we begin to drift.
How frustrating!
Faithfully,
PR