There was a command from the king concerning them: The command from the king could refer either to the regulations of King David regarding the singers (see Neh 12.24) or to the provisions made by the Persian king for worship in the Temple (see Ezra 6.1-12). The statement in the following verse that “Pethahiah … was at the king’s hand” obviously refers to the Persian king. It is likely that the reference is to the same king in both this verse and the next verse.

And a settled provision for the singers: This refers to the daily portions for their needs (see Neh 12.47). And renders the Hebrew connective conjunction and should be understood as introducing the content of the command, so the phrase could be translated as “even a fixed ration [or, allowance] for the singers.” The Hebrew word translated in Revised Standard Version as provision can also mean “arrangement” and is the basis for the Good News Translation translation. The same Hebrew word occurs in Neh 9.38, where it is translated as “a firm covenant,” meaning a firm mental resolve. Revised English Bible interprets it here to mean “obligatory duty,” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates it as “a stipulation,” while New Jerusalem Bible says “regulations.” The clear statement in Neh 12.47 about giving daily provisions to the singers makes Revised Standard Version the preferred interpretation to follow here.

As every day required: The Hebrew says literally “matter of day in its day.” It is clear that this means “day by day” or “on a daily basis,” but it is not clear what it refers to. Revised Standard Version has it refer to the provisions for the singers each day, which is the preferred interpretation. Good News Translation understands it to mean that their activity was regulated “each day” (similarly New International Version, New Living Translation); New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “daily duties,” while Jerusalem Bible says “attendance day by day.”

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .