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Nehemiah 10

Nehemiah10

New American Standard

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1 Now on the sealed document were the names of: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,

2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,

4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

8 Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.

9 And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, and Kadmiel;

10 also their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13 Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

14 The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,

27 Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

28 Now 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,

29 are 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;

30 and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.

31 As 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.

32 We also imposed on ourselves the obligation to contribute yearly a third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:

33 for 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.

34 Likewise 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;

35 and 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,

36 and 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.

37 We 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.

38 And 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.

39 For 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.

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Nehemiah 10

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Nehemiah 10. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

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.

Cross References

Nehemiah 10
v1Nehemiah 9:38thematic

Direct connection to the sealing of the covenant mentioned in the immediately preceding verse.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v31Exodus 23:10-11thematic

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

v32Exodus 30:11-16thematic

The legal basis for the sanctuary tax, which the covenant adjusts to a third-shekel.

Supported by JFB

v38Numbers 18:26-28thematic

The commandment for the Levites to offer up a tenth of their tithes to the priests.

Supported by JFB

v30Exodus 34:16thematic

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

v35Numbers 18:12thematic

The commandment to bring the best of the firstfruits of oil, wine, and wheat.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v36Exodus 13:2thematic

The foundational command to dedicate the firstborn of both man and beast.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v39Nehemiah 13:11thematic

The tragic neglect and forsaking of God's house that Nehemiah had to address later.

Supported by JFB

v28Ezra 9:1thematic

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

v33Leviticus 24:5thematic

The specific prescription for the preparation of the shewbread.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v33Numbers 28:1thematic

The laws concerning the continual burnt offering and daily meat offerings.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v32Matthew 17:24-27thematic

The temple tax paid by Jesus, demonstrating the continuation of this custom.

Supported by Matthew Poole