Nehemiah 12:1

Nehemiah 12:1 says, Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,  Matthew Henry says that we are given a record of some of the priests and Levites who were there to help in the work, though the reason why this was done is not totally clear.  He said it may have been to acknowledge them for their good works, but I believe it was done because God said for it to be done.  We may never be acknowledged by men for the good works we do for God, but we should do them simply because He calls us to do them.  We may never totally understand everything the Bible tells us or even why it includes certain things, but we either believe it is the inspired word of God, or it is of no real value to us.  He also points out that the Jeremiah and Ezra mentioned here were not the prophet and scribe that we know of in the Bible.  The next several verses are just a listing of some of these priests and Levites. 

Verse two adds, Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 

Verse three continues, Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,   

Verse four states, Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,   

Verse five adds, Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 

Verse six continues, Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 

Verse seven concludes, Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.  These first mentioned were said to be the chief priests and the next few verses were the Levites.  I don’t believe that the priests were superior to the Levites spiritually, but they just had different responsibilities in doing God’s work, just as preachers and teachers are not morally superior to any other Christian today. 

Verse eight says, Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. 

Verse nine adds, Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.

Verse ten continues, And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,  

Verse eleven concludes, And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.  Matthew Henry says these last two verse were the succession of the high priests.