“And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.”
My Notes
What Does Nehemiah 11:17 Mean?
"And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun." Mattaniah is identified as the worship leader who "begins the thanksgiving" — the one who initiates the communal praise. His genealogy traces back to Asaph, David's chief musician and psalm-writer. The worship leadership is hereditary: the grandson of Asaph carries on Asaph's ministry of thanksgiving.
The phrase "principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer" (rosh hatchillah yodeh latfillah) identifies a specific liturgical role: someone has to start the thanksgiving. Someone leads the first note, the first phrase, the first expression of gratitude. The community's worship requires a designated initiator.
The mention of Jeduthun (through Abda's lineage) connects to another of David's worship leaders (1 Chronicles 25:1-3). The post-exilic worship music is led by descendants of the same families David appointed centuries earlier. The worship leadership persists through exile and return.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Could you be the one who begins the thanksgiving — the person willing to go first in worship?
- 2.What does Asaph's family leading worship across centuries teach about generational calling?
- 3.Why is beginning the thanksgiving the hardest and most important part of communal worship?
- 4.What ministry in your family's history persisted through disruption — and are you carrying it forward?
Devotional
Someone has to begin the thanksgiving. That's Mattaniah's job: he's the one who starts it. The principal — the one who opens the worship, who initiates the gratitude, who sings the first note that everyone else follows. The community needs someone willing to go first.
His lineage traces to Asaph — David's chief musician, the writer of psalms that Jesus would later quote. The worship DNA runs through the family. Generations after Asaph wrote his psalms, his descendants are still leading the thanksgiving. The ministry passed from grandfather to grandson to great-grandson, surviving exile and return. The worship family's calling outlasted the Temple's destruction.
The 'begin the thanksgiving' is the hardest part of worship: the starting. Every choir knows that the first note is the most vulnerable. The room is silent. The expectation is heavy. And someone has to open their mouth and begin. Mattaniah is the one who does. His role isn't to be the best singer. It's to be the first one.
Bakbukiah is 'the second among his brethren' — supporting the worship leader. And Abda traces to Jeduthun, another of David's worship leaders. The worship team is staffed by descendants of the original worship families. The ministry that started under David continues under Nehemiah. The exile interrupted the Temple. It didn't interrupt the families who led its worship.
Who begins the thanksgiving in your community — and could it be you?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi, the son of Bani,.... He was the supervisor of them, that looked…
See the margin reference notes. Both accounts appear to be extracts from a public official register which Nehemiah…
The principal to begin the thanksgiving - The precentor, pitcher of the tune, or master-singer.
Jerusalem is called here the holy city (Neh 11:1), because there the temple was, and that was the place God had chosen…
Micha R.V. Mica.
was the principal R.V. who was the chief. The expression -the chief to begin the thanksgiving in…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture