The singers are also included in the list of Levites. Mattaniah, a descendant of Asaph (see Ezra 2.41), was the leader to begin the thanksgiving in prayer. The precise meaning of the Hebrew text here is difficult to determine. One Septuagint manuscript and the Vulgate have “praise” instead of begin and read “the leader of the praise songs.” New Jerusalem Bible follows this reading: “Mattaniah … who led the praises and intoned the thanksgiving associated with the prayer.” Some consider this as perhaps being a technical term for the precentor. This is the one who intones and takes the lead in liturgical music (see Bible en français courant, Revised English Bible). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives this variant text only a C rating. It is best to follow the Hebrew text as in the Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. Good News Translation renders the meaning in contemporary English expression.

The first Hebrew word in the phrase, thanksgiving in prayer, is a verb that means “to give thanks” or “to praise,” while the second is a noun meaning specifically “prayer” or “entreaty.” The concepts of giving thanks and of praising are closely related, but in many cultures they are expressed as distinct concepts. Because the topic here is the role of the singers, the element of singing or of the choir should not be overlooked in translation (see also the comments on Neh 12.8). Contemporary English Version translates “Mattaniah led the temple choir in the prayer of praise.”

Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren: This expression may be understood in three different ways. He could have been second among all his Levite peers as Revised Standard Version implies. New Revised Standard Version and New International Version say he was “second among his associates,” while Jerusalem Bible says he was “second in rank among his kinsmen” (similarly Revised English Bible). Alternatively, he may have been the one who served as Mattaniah’s assistant (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant) and who could substitute for him. New Jerusalem Bible refers to him as Mattaniah’s “junior colleague.” Finally, and most probably, he could have been the leader of the second choir that sang antiphonally (see Ezra 3.11; Neh 12.9). It could thus be translated “Bakbukiah was the second leader of the singers,” that is, he was the leader of the second antiphonal choir.

Abda was a descendant of Jeduthun, a musician in the time of David (see 1 Chr 25.3).

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 .