Nehemiah 10
Nehemiah 10 depicts a scene in which, after the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem is completed, God’s people renew their covenant before Him. The people who, in the earlier chapters (Chapters 8–9), confirmed the importance of the covenant through the reading of the Law, repentance, and a reaffirmation now sign the practical “covenant pledge.” In the first part of the chapter (verses 1–27), lists of the leaders, Levites, and priests who participate in the pledge are mentioned; in the following section (verses 28–39), the specific principles of life they promised—namely, keeping the Law, observing the Sabbath and appointed festivals, establishing proper relationships with foreigners, carrying out temple worship and sacrifices, and putting into practice acts of mercy and giving—are discussed in detail.
1verseNow those who sealed were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,
2verseSeraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3versePashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4verseHattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5verseHarim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6verseDaniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7verseMeshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8verseMaaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.
9verseThe Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10verseand their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11verseMica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12verseZaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13verseHodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
14verseThe chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15verseBunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16verseAdonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17verseAter, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18verseHodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19verseHariph, Anathoth, Nobai,
20verseMagpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21verseMeshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22versePelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23verseHoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24verseHallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25verseRehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26verseAhiah, Hanan, Anan,
27verseMalluch, Harim, and Baanah.
28verseThe 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—everyone who had knowledge and understanding—
29versejoined with their brothers, 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 the LORD our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;
30verseand that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;
31verseand if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year crops and the exaction of every debt.
32verseAlso we made ordinances for ourselves, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:
33versefor the show bread, for the continual meal offering, for the continual burnt offering, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
34verseWe, the priests, the Levites, and the people, cast lots 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 on the LORD our God’s altar, as it is written in the law;
35verseand to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all fruit of all kinds of trees, year by year, to the LORD’s house;
36versealso the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God;
37verseand that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, our wave offerings, the fruit of all kinds of trees, and the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground to the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all our farming villages.
38verseThe priest, the descendent of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes. The Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms, into the treasure house.
39verseFor the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the wave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the rooms where the vessels of the sanctuary are, and the priests who minister, with the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not forsake the house of our God.
The Flow and Meaning of the Whole Chapter
This chapter emphasizes the importance of communal decisions. The Jerusalem community turns away from past failures (disobedience to the Law, idolatry) and renews itself, dedicating its lives in order to restore its relationship with God. Not only leaders from every quarter, but also ordinary people—even children and women—join together in signing the “covenant.” This shows that a decision of faith expands beyond the individual and becomes part of the life of the whole community. In addition, by mentioning specific items for practice, it reminds us that faith should not remain only in abstract principles, but should lead to real changes in everyday life.
Points to Ponder
- Just as the Israelites who took part in the covenant did, let’s think about how our confession of faith can connect to our community.
- In our relationship with God, we can decide on a “personal pledge” that we will put into practice in our lives.
- When faith leads to concrete changes in life, let’s look forward to what spiritual fruit will appear in our community and in daily life.
Apply It to Me
- Before God, what life principles are you deciding to keep? Set a specific commitment you can put into practice.
- In the community (family, faith community, friends, etc.), what practices can you share your faith through and make promises about together?