(The Lord speaking is red text)
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
Magpi'ash, Meshulam, Hezir,
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
Magpiash{H4047}, Meshullam{H4918}, Hezir{H2387},
Nehemiah 10:20 is a verse that captures a significant moment in the history of the Jewish people following their return from exile in Babylon. The verse is part of a larger section where the people of Israel, under the leadership of Nehemiah, enter into a covenant to follow the Law of God. The specific verse lists three individuals—Magpiash, Meshullam, and Hezir—who are among the leaders of the people who agree to this covenant. These names represent some of the families who had returned to Jerusalem and were committing to adhere to the Torah, which included provisions for supporting the temple, observing Sabbaths and festivals, and maintaining the purity of the community.
The historical context of this verse is set during the Persian period, after King Cyrus had allowed the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland. Nehemiah, who was a cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes I, was granted permission to go to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls. After successfully completing this task despite opposition, Nehemiah turned his attention to the spiritual and moral restoration of the people.
In Nehemiah 10, we see the culmination of this restoration effort as the people, represented by their leaders and families, pledge to uphold the stipulations of the covenant. This included a commitment to not intermarry with the surrounding peoples, to observe the Sabbath and the sabbatical year for the land, to contribute to the support of the priests and Levites, and to bring the first fruits and tithes to the Temple.
Nehemiah 10:20 reflects the communal and individual responsibility the people of Israel took upon themselves to live according to God's laws. It underscores themes of covenant faithfulness, communal solidarity, and religious devotion. The inclusion of specific names like Magpiash, Meshullam, and Hezir serves to emphasize the personal commitment required by each member of the community to uphold the covenant and to play their part in the religious and civic life of post-exilic Jerusalem.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)