Nehemiah10
New American Standard
1Now on the sealed document were the names of: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,
2Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.
9And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, and Kadmiel;
10also their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
14The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
27Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.
28Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding,
29are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to comply with all the commandments of God our Lord, and His ordinances and statutes;
30and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.
31As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day; and we will forgo the crops of the seventh year and every debt.
32We also imposed on ourselves the obligation to contribute yearly a third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:
33for the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, for the appointed times, for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.
34Likewise we cast lots for the supply of wood among the priests, the Levites, and the people so that they could bring it to the house of our God, according to our fathers’ households, at set times annually, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law;
35and so that they could bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of the Lord annually,
36and bring to the house of our God the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks as it is written in the Law, for the priests who are ministering in the house of our God.
37We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine, and the oil to the priests at the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all the rural towns.
38And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.
39For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the chambers; the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers, and the singers are there. So we will not neglect the house of our God.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Nehemiah 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The covenant, Those who signed it. (1–31). Their engagement to sacred rites. (32–39).
vv1-31
Conversion is separating from the course and custom of this world, devoting ourselves to the conduct directed by the word of God. When we bind ourselves to do the commandments of God, it is to do all his commandments, and to look to him as the Lord, and our Lord.
vv32-39
Having covenanted against the sins of which they had been guilty, they obliged themselves to observe the duties they had neglected. We must not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well. Let not any people expect the blessing of God, unless they keep up public worship. It is likely to go well with our houses, when care is taken that the work of God's house goes on well. When every one helps, and every one gives, though but little, toward a good work, the whole will come to be a large sum. We must do what we can in works of piety and charity; and whatever state we are placed in, cheerfully perform our duty to God, which will be the surest way to ease and liberty. As the ordinances of God are the appointed means of support to our souls, the believer will not grudge the expense; yet most people leave their souls to starve.
Key Words
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
חָתַם: to close up; especially to seal
נְחֶמְיָה: Nechemjah, the name of three Israelites
תִּרְשָׁתָא: Tirshatha, the title of a Persian deputy or governor
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
חֲכַלְיָה: Chakaljah, an Israelite
צִדְקִיָּה: Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites
שְׂרָיָה: Serajah, the name of nine Israelites
עֲזַרְיָה: Azarjah, the name of nineteen Israelites
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
Cross References
Nehemiah 10Direct connection to the sealing of the covenant mentioned in the immediately preceding verse.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The Mosaic command to let the land rest and lie still every seventh year.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The law concerning the release and remission of debts every seventh year.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The legal basis for the sanctuary tax, which the covenant adjusts to a third-shekel.
Supported by JFB
The commandment for the Levites to offer up a tenth of their tithes to the priests.
Supported by JFB
The law prohibiting intermarriage with the people of the land.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Nehemiah's subsequent enforcement of this very covenant pledge against Sabbath trading.
Supported by JFB
The commandment to bring the best of the firstfruits of oil, wine, and wheat.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The foundational command to dedicate the firstborn of both man and beast.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The tragic neglect and forsaking of God's house that Nehemiah had to address later.
Supported by JFB
The pattern of separating from the peoples of the lands for God's law.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The practice of entering into an oath and a curse to keep God's covenant.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The specific prescription for the preparation of the shewbread.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The laws concerning the continual burnt offering and daily meat offerings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The temple tax paid by Jesus, demonstrating the continuation of this custom.
Supported by Matthew Poole