Nehemiah 11:23
◄  Nehemiah 11:23  ►
New International Version (©2011)
The musicians were under the king's orders, which regulated their daily activity.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Their daily responsibilities were carried out according to the terms of a royal command.

English Standard Version (©2001)
For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, as every day required.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the song leaders day by day.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
There was, in fact, a command of the king regarding them, and an ordinance regulating the singers' daily tasks.

International Standard Version (©2012)
They were subject to the commands of the king, who provided for the singers daily.

NET Bible (©2006)
For they were under royal orders which determined their activity day by day.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
They were under orders from the king, orders that determined which duties they should perform day by day.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, as required every day.

American King James Version
For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.

American Standard Version
For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the king's commandment was concerning them, and an order among the singing men day by day.

Darby Bible Translation
For it was the king's commandment concerning them, and there was a settled portion for the singers, due for each day.

English Revised Version
For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.

Webster's Bible Translation
For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.

World English Bible
For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.

Young's Literal Translation
for the command of the king is upon them, and support is for the singers, a matter of a day in its day.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:1-36 The distribution of the people. - In all ages, men have preferred their own ease and advantage to the public good. Even the professors of religion too commonly seek their own, and not the things of Christ. Few have had such attachment to holy things and holy places, as to renounce pleasure for their sake. Yet surely, our souls should delight to dwell where holy persons and opportunities of spiritual improvement most abound. If we have not this love to the city of our God, and to every thing that assists our communion with the Saviour, how shall we be willing to depart hence; to be absent from the body, that we may be present with the Lord? To the carnal-minded, the perfect holiness of the New Jerusalem would be still harder to bear than the holiness of God's church on earth. Let us seek first the favour of God, and his glory; let us study to be patient, contented, and useful in our several stations, and wait, with cheerful hope, for admission into the holy city of God.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - For it was the king's commandment concerning them. Artaxerxes, it appears, had assigned a certain stipend from the royal revenue for the support of such Levites as were singers, and this stipend had to be paid to them day by day. It is suggested as the grounds for this special favour -

1. That the Levites engaged in the choral service were regarded as those especially who prayed "for the life of the king and of his sons" (Ezra 6:10); and,

2. That the singing Levites who returned from Babylon, being so few in number (128), had to be constantly on duty in the temple, and so needed a regular daily stipend. The nexus of this verse with the preceding one imp!ice that the payment in question was an important part of the internal business of the house committed to Uzzi.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For it was the king's commandment concerning them,.... Either of King David as some, see Nehemiah 12:24 or rather of the king of Persia:

that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day; he settled a daily salary for them, to be paid out of his treasury; having perhaps a peculiar respect for such sort of men, being a lover of music, by means of which they had a settled habitation in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 11:23 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Residents outside Jerusalem
…22The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God. 23For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. 24And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. …

2 Kings 25:30 Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived.
Ezra 6:8 Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop.
Ezra 7:20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.
Nehemiah 12:47 So 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.