12. In the days of Joiakim, these men were the leaders of the families of priests: The leader of Seraiah’s family was Meraiah. The leader of Jeremiah’s family was Hananiah.
13. The leader of Ezra’s family was Meshullam. The leader of Amariah’s family was Jehohanan.
14. The leader of Malluch’s family was Jonathan. The leader of Shecaniah’s family was Joseph.
15. The leader of Harim’s family was Adna. The leader of Meremoth’s family was Helkai.
16. The leader of Iddo’s family was Zechariah. The leader of Ginnethon’s family was Meshullam.
17. The leader of Abijah’s family was Zicri. The leader of Miniamin and Maadiah’s families was Piltai.
18. The leader of Bilgah’s family was Shammua. The leader of Shemaiah’s family was Jehonathan.
19. The leader of Joiarib’s family was Mattenai. The leader of Jedaiah’s family was Uzzi.
20. The leader of Sallu’s family was Kallai. The leader of Amok’s family was Eber.
21. The leader of Hilkiah’s family was Hashabiah. The leader of Jedaiah’s family was Nethanel.
22. The names of the leaders of the families of the Levites and the priests in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were written down during the rule of Darius the Persian king.
23. The family leaders among the descendants of the Levites and up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were written in the history book.
24. And these were the leaders of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, and their brothers. Their brothers stood across from them to sing praise and honor to God. One group answered the other group. That is what was commanded by David the man of God.
25. The gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms next to the gates were Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub.
26. They served in the days of Joiakim. Joiakim was the son of Jeshua, who was the son of Jozadak. And the gatekeepers also served in the days of Nehemiah the governor and in the days of Ezra the priest and teacher.
27. The people dedicated the wall of Jerusalem. They brought all the Levites to Jerusalem. The Levites came from the towns they lived in. They came to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. They came to sing songs of praise and thanks to God. They played their cymbals, harps, and lyres.
28-29. And all the singers also came to Jerusalem. They came from the towns all around Jerusalem. They came from the town of Netophah, from Beth Gilgal, Geba, and Azmaveth. The singers had built small towns for themselves in the area around Jerusalem.
30. So the priests and Levites made themselves pure in a ceremony. Then they also made the people, the gates, and the wall of Jerusalem pure in a ceremony.
31. I told the leaders of Judah to go up and stand on top of the wall. I also chose two large singing groups to give thanks to God. One group was to start going up on top of the wall on the right side, toward the Ash Pile Gate.