Nehemiah 11:22
The ouerseer also of the Leuites at Ierusalem, was Uzzi the sonne of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the sonne of Mattaniah, the sonne of Micha: Of the sonnes of Asaph, the singers were ouer the businesse of the house of God. Nehemiah 11:22 (KJV)
The 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. Nehemiah 11:22 (KJV)
Nehemiah 11 records the people who settled in Jerusalem after the city was rebuilt and repopulated. The chapter concentrates on how the inhabitants were distributed among the various sections of the city, and it notes that Nehemiah, as governor, oversaw this process to ensure that Jerusalem was properly inhabited.
Verse 22 introduces Uzzi as the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem. The Levites were a tribe set apart for religious duties and service in the tabernacle and later the temple, responsible for a range of tasks related to the worship and administration of the house of God.
Uzzi’s lineage is given in detail: he was the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. The mention of his ancestry underscores the significance of his role and his legitimacy as a leader among the Levites, providing a genealogical connection that emphasizes the continuity and heritage of the Levitical priesthood.
The latter part of the verse mentions the “sons of Asaph.” Asaph was a prominent Levite appointed by King David to be the chief musician in the house of God (1 Chronicles 6:39). The sons of Asaph, identified as singers, were entrusted with the business of the house of God. Their specific responsibility was to lead musical worship and ensure that the conduct of praise in the temple followed the prescribed order.
Thus, the passage highlights both the administrative oversight of the Levites by Uzzi and the dedicated musical ministry of the sons of Asaph, together illustrating the organized and hereditary nature of worship service in post‑exilic Jerusalem.
