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.

Nehemiah 12:47

Last time we saw how the priests, Levites, and gatekeepers looked narrowly on their duties, and the musicians kept watch over Temple worship. Today we see portions given to all Temple workers by the people.

First thing Nehemiah reminds us is who is overseeing all the people: Himself and Zerubbabel. Then how all Israel contributed portions for the workers in Yahweh’s house, specifically for the musicians and gatekeepers. Contributed is nathan meaning “give, to commit, entrust, set, wholly, yield.”

Anything that stir in your heart? “Wholly” beside “yield” gets me every time. It’s like Jesus seeing through all my defenses going, “What are you holding back because you’re afraid to trust Me with it?”

And you?

So all Israel was giving, wholly yielding portions for the musicians and gatekeepers, likely with hearts of gratitude as they kept watch over the worship in song of Yahweh. Portion here is just like last time: menath, meaning allotment. Which is good news, yes? We’re not expected to wholly yield what isn’t in our control to give. Probably because we’d spend all our time whining that we can’t do XYZ and He’s patiently prodding our hearts for what we know He’s asking us to do. And all for communal good.

But what’s interesting is the English word portion is used again in the Hebrew as “a portion for each day.” And here the root word is dabar – speech, word, account, act, advice, affair, because of, book, business. It’s almost a specific version of allotment. Portion of what? Well, pretty much everything. What we do, say, how we work and advise others. All the affairs of our lives. Our daily lives, a portion for each day.

Once again a sigh of relief, no? I don’t have to carry yesterday’s stuff into the present. Neither do I need to make it my business to fuss over tomorrow.

So, put together, and for the sake of community, I wholly yield what He’s asking me and carry only today’s portion. And we can breathe again.

For the final sentence in English, the word portion is used two more times, but it is a completely different word in the Hebrew than the first two. The literal translation is “and they consecrated holy things.” Consecrated is qadash – to be set apart, keep or make holy, manifest holiness, sanctify, dedicate; and it is the denominative verb of qodesh – to be set apart, sacred.

We’ve talked before about denominative verbs on here, and how they mean “from the noun or adjective.” So to blanket the landscape with snow, the verb of blanketing comes from the noun blanket. And here, the verb for to set apart (qadash) comes from the word for holy (qodesh). So the people of Israel qadash the qodesh. Setting apart as sacred in order to dedicate as holy for the Levites.

There’s something different than business as usual when dealing with God’s house, the place where Yahweh set apart to meet with people, accept their sacrifices, receive their worship. And, friends, we are now that Temple. The place in which He dwells. We are to qadash – be set apart as holy.

If we really absorbed that, how would it change our dealings with others? Our desire to be right, first, catered to? How would we live out our call to take up our crosses and follow Him to those He dearly loves if we made it our business to manifest holiness as part of our daily portion? If I’ve ever been talking to myself while asking others, it’s now.

Our final section points out the order of consecration: the people consecrate as holy a portion for the Levites. And the Levites, in turn, consecrate a portion (qadash again) for the sons of Aaron, the priests.

This part is touching to me. The verb here seems more sacred than simply dividing it up and going, “Here you go” to the sons of Aaron. To those making sacrifices on behalf of the people. Their role was essential in Temple, in leading God’s people, and the portion given to them was to be set apart as sacred.

It is not lost on me that in my morning reading I’m in Jeremiah, and today there was a specific call to the shepherds to lead the people well. The exile was coming if God’s people did not repent, and chapter 23 specifically calls out those leading the sheep. If we are in any position to give spiritual guidance to those He loves, may we have a sober understanding of how seriously He takes that leading. The consequences of disobedience are sky high.

Fortunately, in this same chapter, the Righteous Branch is foreshadowed. Who will “reign as king and deal wisely…and the name by which He will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.'” (Jeremiah 23:5b – 6) Remember this name? Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness.

None of us, in any position, can be perfectly set apart as holy. Only the Righteous Branch could accomplish that. May we lean into His sanctifying work each day, and wholly yield on behalf of others.