Nehemiah 10NKJV
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Nehemiah10

New King James Version

1Now those who placed their seal on the document were: 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.

9The Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, and Kadmiel.

10Their brethren: Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13Hodijah, Bani, and Beninu.

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

15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

17Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

18Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,

19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

21Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

26Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,

27Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

28Now the rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, 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, everyone who had knowledge and understanding—

29these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes:

30We would not give our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;

31if the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and we would forego the seventh year’s produce and the exacting of every debt.

32Also we made ordinances for ourselves, to exact from ourselves yearly one-third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:

33for the showbread, for the regular grain offering, for the regular burnt offering of the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the set feasts; for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.

34We cast lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for bringing the wood offering into the house of our God, according to our fathers’ houses, at the appointed times year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God as it is written in the Law.

35And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the Lord;

36to bring the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks, to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God;

37to bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities.

38And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse.

39For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine and the oil, to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are, where the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers are; and we will not neglect the house of our God.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Nehemiah 10.

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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