For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a royal command for the singers day by day.
Parallel translations
- WEB For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.
- KJV For it was the king’s commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.
- BSB For there was a command from the king concerning the singers, an ordinance regulating their daily activities.
- NKJV For it was the king’s command concerning them that a certain portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day.
- NLT Their daily responsibilities were carried out according to the terms of a royal command.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A royal command provided a daily allowance for the singers. The Persian king supported the worship of God in Jerusalem.
Overview
The 'king' here likely refers to the Persian ruler, whose decree secured regular provision for the temple singers (compare Ezra 6:8-10; 7:20-24). That a pagan monarch funded Israel's worship displays God's sovereignty over the nations to provide for his people. He moves even foreign rulers to accomplish his purposes for his church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Ezra 6:8–9Moreover I make a decree what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered.
- Ezra 7:20–24Whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s treasure house.
- 1 Chr 9:33These are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the rooms and were free from other service; for they were employed in their work day and night.
- Neh 12:47All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, as every day required; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.
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Christ at the center
The rebuilt walls and renewed covenant community foreshadow the greater builder who gathers and secures a people for God, the one who declares 'I will build my church.'
How Nehemiah 11:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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