English · ASV

Nehemiah 10

Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

Signatories of the Covenant 1–27

1
Now those that sealed were: 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, Shemaiah; these were the priests. ​
9
And the Levites: namely, Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10
and their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11
Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13
Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.
14
The chiefs 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, Nobai,
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
and Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
27
Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

The Community Joins the Oath 28–29

28
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one that had knowledge, and understanding; ​
29
they clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into 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 Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes; ​

Vows Regarding Social and Economic Life 30–31

30
and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons; ​
31
and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt. ​

Vows Regarding Temple Support and Offerings 32–39

32
Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God; ​
33
for the showbread, and for the continual meal-offering, and for the continual burnt-offering, for the sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin-offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
34
And we cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood-offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers’ houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn upon the altar of Jehovah our God, as it is written in the law; ​
35
and to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees, year by year, unto the house of Jehovah;
36
also the first-born of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God;
37
and that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our heave-offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. ​
38
And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure-house. ​
39
For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the heave-offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Nehemiah 10

Verse 1

those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha — The sealing carries out 9:38: 'we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.' Chatham is to seal. Tirshatha is the title of the governor, found only five times (Ezra 2:63; Neh 7:65, 70; 8:9; 10:1); 8:9 says 'Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha'. He heads the list.

Verse 8

these were the priests — Seven groups of three names make twenty-one priests in vv.2–8, from Seraiah to Shemaiah. Several recur among the priestly heads of 12:5–6 (Miamin, Bilgah, Shemaiah). The Levites follow in vv.9–13 and 'the chief of the people' in vv.14–27.

Verse 28

every one having knowledge, and having understanding — After the heads (vv.1–27) come 'the rest of the people', down to the Nethinims, 'the given ones'; Ezra 8:20 says David and the princes appointed them 'for the service of the Levites'. The qualification matches 8:2, where the law was read to 'all that could hear with understanding'. They had 'separated themselves' (cf. 9:2).

Verse 29

entered into a curse, and into an oath — The words (alah and shebuah) are those of Num 5:21, 'a curse and an oath', and of Dan 9:11, 'the curse… and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God'. 'Entered into' is the idiom of Deut 29:12, 'enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath'. They bind themselves to what the law already threatens.

Verse 30

nor take their daughters for our sons — The vow keeps Deut 7:3, 'thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son'. Moses gave the reason in 7:4: 'they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods'. Ezra 9:1–2 records the same breach with the peoples of the lands.

Verse 31

the exaction of every debt — Two commands of the law are pledged. First, no buying of the people of the land's 'ware' (maqqachah) or 'victuals' (sheber, grain) on the sabbath, and Neh 13:15–22 shows the test of it. Second, the seventh year: 'Every creditor… shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour… because it is called the LORD'S release' (Deut 15:2; Ex 23:10–11).

Verse 32

the third part of a shekel — The law set 'half a shekel' as 'the offering of the LORD' (Ex 30:13), 'for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation' (Ex 30:16). This is a yearly charge of a third, for 'the service of the house of our God'; avodah, service, is the word of both verses. The amount is set by ordinance (mitsvah, a command).

Verse 34

the wood offering — Qorban, offering, is the word of Lev 1:2 and the sacrifices; here the offering is wood. Lev 6:12–13 requires the altar fire to burn constantly, the priest to 'burn wood on it every morning', so wood had to be supplied. Lots (goral) assign the families 'at times appointed year by year'; 13:31 repeats 'the wood offering, at times appointed'.

Verse 37

the firstfruits of our dough — Num 15:20 orders 'a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering'. The firstfruits and offerings go to the priests' chambers; 'the tithes of our ground' go to the Levites, to whom the LORD gave 'all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance' (Num 18:21). The Levites collect 'in all the cities of our tillage'.

Verse 38

the tithe of the tithes — The Levites give a tenth of what they receive. Num 18:26 gives the rule, 'ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe', and v.28 says it goes 'to Aaron the priest'. So 'the priest the son of Aaron' is with the Levites at the tithing, and the tithe is brought to the chambers, 'the treasure house' (otsar).

Verse 39

we will not forsake the house of our God — Azab, to forsake, is the word Nehemiah later uses in 13:11, 'Why is the house of God forsaken?', when he found that 'the portions of the Levites had not been given them' and the Levites and singers had fled 'every one to his field' (13:10). The pledge closes the covenant, and 13:10–11 shows it tested.