Bible Commentaries
Nehemiah 10

Introduction

Nehemiah Chapter 10

This chapter is devoted to those who made covenant with God.

Nehemiah 10:1 "Now those that sealed [were], Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,"

Nehemiah was the civil leader {Tirshatha}. Zidkijah, here, was, probably, speaking of Zadok. It appears, this Zadok was Nehemiah’s secretary. "Sealed", in this verse, means make a mark.

Nehemiah 10:2 "Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,"

Nehemiah 10:3 "Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,"

Nehemiah 10:4 "Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,"

Nehemiah 10:5 "Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,"

Nehemiah 10:6 "Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,"

Nehemiah 10:7 "Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,"

Nehemiah 10:8 "Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these [were] the priests."

These verses listed the heads of the priestly houses. It was important that they signed this covenant, because they actually were the leaders of the people in spiritual things. Seraiah was mentioned first, because he was the head of high priestly family.

Nehemiah 10:9 "And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;" Nehemiah 10:10 "And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,"

Nehemiah 10:11 "Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah," Nehemiah 10:12 "Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,"

Nehemiah 10:13 "Hodijah, Bani, Beninu."

Beginning with Nehemiah 10:9, we see a list of the heads of the houses of the Levites, who were not priests. All priests had to be of the Levitical tribe, and they, also, had to be descended from Aaron. The Levites, other than the priests, did things like singing and keeping the doors. They were in service to the LORD, but in a different capacity than the priests. Binnui had taken the place of Kadmiel. Jeshua, Binnui, and Kadmiel were the three who were the chief of the families of the Levites at that time.

Nehemiah 10:14 "The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,"

Nehemiah 10:15 "Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,"

Nehemiah 10:16 "Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,"

Nehemiah 10:17 "Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,"

Nehemiah 10:18 "Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,"

Nehemiah 10:19 "Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,"

Nehemiah 10:20 "Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,"

Nehemiah 10:21 "Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,"

Nehemiah 10:22 "Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,"

Nehemiah 10:23 "Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,"

Nehemiah 10:24 "Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,"

Nehemiah 10:25 "Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,"

Nehemiah 10:26 "And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,"

Nehemiah 10:27 "Malluch, Harim, Baanah."

These lists of names in the verses above were showing the chief of each family that signed the covenant. The chief of each family signed for the entire family. Just because a member of the family did not specifically sign, did not eliminate them from keeping the covenant. They, in a sense, signed when their chief signed for them.

Nehemiah 10:28 "And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;"

This seems a little unusual to separate these out, but they were not really separated. The people, in verse 28 above, each had a chief, of their family who signed the covenant for them. The priests, here, are sons and grandsons of the head of each priestly family. The head of the family signed for them. This is saying, that these people, in verse 28, had all been signed for by the heads of their families which were listed individually in the verses through 27.

Nehemiah 10:29 "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 the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;"

This is saying, they verbally agreed to live by the covenant agreement the heads of their families signed for them. They had heard the agreement read aloud, and they agreed to the conditions of the covenant. They were saying they accepted the mark their leader had made as a binding agreement on them. They were aware there would be curses, if they did not keep the commandments of the LORD. They, also, knew they would be blessed, if they kept the commandments.

Nehemiah 10:30 "And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:"

One of the very serious promises they made was not to intermarry with the heathens around them. They were to marry only other Hebrews.

Nehemiah 10:31 "And [if] the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, [that] we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and [that] we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt."

This was saying, they would keep the sabbath holy. They would not buy or sell, on the sabbath, or on any holy day. It was, also, saying they would keep the sabbatical year holy. They would let the land lie in rest on the seventh year. This spoke of the jubilee at the end of the seventh seven years, as well. Every debt would be canceled at that time, as the Levitical law prescribed.

Nehemiah 10:32 "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;"

This was a special voluntary tax that all of the people imposed upon themselves to take care of the service in the temple. The 1/6 of an ounce was a very small amount, but even the poor had to pay this once a year.

Nehemiah 10:33 "For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy [things], and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and [for] all the work of the house of our God."

The shewbread was very important. It symbolized the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. This small amount of money they would bring in would not be enough to pay for animals for the burnt offerings, but it was symbolic that all of the people should support the temple, regardless of how poor they were. This way they would feel they were a part of it. All of these offerings and feasts were to be practiced again. They were going back to the letter of the law. The showbread was 12 small loaves each week. The continual meat offering was flour and oil mingled together. It was offered twice a day. The offering of the sabbath was two lambs with meat and drink offerings. On new moons, the offerings were two bullocks, one ram, seven lambs accompanied with the meat and drink offerings. The set feasts were Passover, Pentecost {Feast of Weeks} and Tabernacles. The sin offering was for Day of Atonement. Each of these feasts had specific offerings mentioned in the book of Numbers.

Nehemiah 10:34 "And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring [it] into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as [it is] written in the law:"

Someone had to provide the wood to burn the offerings. The families responsible for bringing in the wood at a certain time were decided by casting lots. Wood was hard to find at that time, it had to be thought of as a ministry.

Nehemiah 10:35 "And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:"

Firstfruits offerings were required of everything that was grown. It was a very good way to be sure you would have a good crop abundantly provided by God. Even this had been dropped for years. The practice was reinstated to keep the law.

Nehemiah 10:36 "Also the firstborn 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:"

The firstborn son had to be purchased back from God with a silver shekel. He belonged to God. All of the firstborn cattle, herds, and flocks must be offered on the eighth day.

Nehemiah 10:37 "And [that] we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage."

This was not limited to the fruit of the trees, but included all things that grew of nature. The first of the crop belonged to God. These offerings were for the Levites to live of. They shared with the altar. The Levites did not own land. They lived of the offerings.

Nehemiah 10:38 "And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the 104 tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house."

All of the tithes were taken to the temple and turned over to the priests. The priests allotted the offerings out between all of the Levites.

Nehemiah 10:39 "For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and 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."

This was a promise from these Israelites to take the responsibility of the support of the temple upon themselves. They turned their offerings of corn, wine, oil, and all of their other things they brought as a tithe to the temple. The temple treasury would be in the sanctuary. All of those called to the service of the LORD, whether they be priests, porters, singers or other workers would live of the offerings. There is a lesson in this for the Christian. When we become Christians, we go into covenant relationship with God. We must take responsibility for our portion of the care and upkeep of our church. We must not shirk our duty of giving our portion of money to the church we attend.

Nehemiah 10 Questions

1. Nehemiah was the _________ leader.

2. What other name was he called in Nehemiah 10:1?

3. What was another name for Zidkijah?

4. In Nehemiah 10:1, what did "sealed" mean?

5. Nehemiah 10:2-8 lists whom?

6. Why was it so important for them to sign this covenant?

7. Why was Seraiah mentioned first?

8. Who are listed in Nehemiah 10:9-13?

9. Who were the three of the chiefs of the Levitical families at that time?

10. Who were listed in Nehemiah 10:14-27?

11. Beginning in Nehemiah 10:28, who were the people mentioned?

12. Nehemiah 10:29 was saying, they verbally agreed to live by what?

13. What were they aware of?

14. They agreed not to marry the __________.

15. What times did Nehemiah 10:31 say, they would remember and observe?

16. What was one of the things that happened on jubilee?

17. What voluntary tax did they impose on themselves?

18. What were some of the things the tax would be used for, mentioned in Nehemiah 10:33?

19. What was the shewbread?

20. What was the offering for new moons?

21. How did they decide who would provide the wood?

22. The firstborn son was purchased back from God with a ________ _______.

23. What of their firstfruits were they supposed to bring to the temple?

24. Who were the tithes turned over to, to distribute?

25. What was the promise in Nehemiah 10:39 really?

26. Where was the temple treasury?

27. What lesson for the Christians do we find here?

Verses 1-27

Neh 10:1-27

Introduction

THOSE WHO SEALED THE COVENANT; TERMS OF THE COVENANT

This writer finds it impossible to believe the flat declaration of Bowman that, "Nehemiah 10:1-27 are interpolated," there being no historical evidence whatever of such a thing. The critical scholars seek to connect those verses with the Book of Ezra, but that notion is refuted absolutely by the fact that, of the families who returned (in the Book of Ezra), only fourteen of them are found in the list here of those who sealed the covenant; therefore these twenty seven verses belong exactly where they are in the Book of Nehemiah. We have already noted the defense of Y. Kaufmann who maintained that this chapter is a unit with Nehemiah 8 and Nehemiah 9, and that it belongs exactly where it is.

The last verse of Nehemiah 9 states that, "Our princes, our Levites, and our priests seal unto it" (Nehemiah 9:38); and some scholars state that the list of these appears in reverse order, but the principle difference is that in Nehemiah 10 (1) the princes are first (Nehemiah the governor), (2) then the priests, and (3) then the Levites. Thus, the principal difference is the reversal of the position of the priests and Levites, which is explained by the fact that in Nehemiah 9 the Levites are clearly the religious leaders of the confession and prayer, whereas in Nehemiah 10, where the sealing of the document takes place, the priests, who ranked higher than the Levites, naturally had preference in the order of their signing.

The actual signing of the covenant was apparently made by various groups, heads of houses, and officials, including some individuals, who affixed their seal instead of writing a signature. "The large number of such seals uncovered in recent excavations in Palestine shows that there is nothing improbable about this."

We have noted already the reluctance of the priesthood, and even the treachery of some of them; but it is not surprising that they, seeing the popularity of the covenant, and following the lead of the governor Nehemiah, readily affixed their seals to it.

Nehemiah 10:1-27

THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO SEALED

"Now those that sealed were Nehemiah, the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattasuh, Shebaniah, Malluch, Harim, Maremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests. And the Levites: namely, Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the son of Henadad, Kadmiel; and their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Micah, Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathoth, Nobai, Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, and Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim, Baanah."

"Zedekiah" (Nehemiah 10:1). The identity of this person is not known. Some have supposed him to have been the same as Zadok (but Zadok is found in Nehemiah 10:21); others have imagined that he must have been the governor’s secretary, which is as good a guess as any.

For all who wonder where the name of Ezra may be in this list, Cook’s opinion offers the solution that, "The seal of the high-priestly house of Seraiah was probably appended, either by Ezra personally, or by Eliashib, both of whom were members of that house."

E.M. Zerr:

Nehemiah 10:1-8. These men sealed or endorsed the covenant referred to in the preceding chapter. They were all of priestly families except Nehemiah the tirshatha or governor. It would seem very appropriate for him to give his name at the head of the list, being the governor appointed over the province and on behalf of the Jews. There are 3 names in the list that are fa miliar to Bible students, Jeremiah, Obadiah and Daniel. The similarity is only a coincidence and should not confuse the reader. It was not uncommon in those times for more than one man to have the same name.

Nehemiah 10:9-27. And the Levites is the beginning of this list. All priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests; none but the descendants of Aaron. So there was nothing farfetched in making two separate rolls of the names standing good for the covenant.

Verses 28-31

Neh 10:28-31

Nehemiah 10:28-31

GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE COVENANT AND TERMS THEREOF

"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; 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; and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons; 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 a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt."

In this paragraph, four provisions of the covenant are given: (1) A strict promise to abide by all the divine commandments as revealed in the Law of Moses (Nehemiah 10:29); (2) the prohibition against mixed marriages with the pagans (Nehemiah 10:30); (3) strict observance of the sabbath day (Nehemiah 10:31); and (4) the honoring of the seventh year and its requirement of forgiving all debts (Nehemiah 10:31).

"Restriction against marriage with pagans." Ezra had dealt with this problem (Ezra 9-10); but the problem persisted, and there was constant need to address it.

"Keeping the sabbaths." " Jeremiah 17:21-22, and Amos 8:5 indicate clearly that trading on the sabbath day was prohibited."

"The sabbatical year a time of release of debts."; Deuteronomy 15 required that all debts (among Israelites) be canceled, although that release did not apply to foreigners. Also, the fields were to lie fallow and remain uncultivated on the seventh year (Leviticus 25:2-7). "Such provisions would have greatly alleviated the distress in Jerusalem and all Judea (described in Nehemiah 5:1-4), but these regulations had apparently not been observed in Israel until this point."

E.M. Zerr:

Nehemiah 10:28. We should not conclude that all of the priests and general Levites were named in the first two lists. They were evidently some outstanding men who could be considered responsible persons. Others of the assembly then manifested their approval of the act. The reason they were favorable to it can be seen in the fact that already they had made great reforms in their lives. They had put from them their foreign wives and the children that were born of them. Such conduct was the main idea in the covenant proposed, so that would account for their willingness to cooperate with the endorsers of that great document.

Nehemiah 10:29. Curse and oath are named as separate acts although there is not much difference. When used in one sentence the first means an offer to receive some severe penalty if a certain agreement is not carried out. The second means that the curse was supported by the oath; it was agreed to under oath. God’s law . . . given by Moses are the terms that catch our eye again. They show that no difference can be made between what Moses wrote and what God spoke with his mouth.

Nehemiah 10:30. One of the most, if not the most important of the restrictions of the law pertained to the marriage institutions. That was not especially from the legal standpoint, but because of a desire to keep a blood line pure from Abraham to the promised seed. For that reason the marriage with foreigners was forbidden.

Nehemiah 10:31. It was agreed to observe the sabbath day according to the law of Moses, which included the stoppage of all commercial transactions. Sabbath or . . . holy day. There was no difference between the primary meaning of the two words, only that the first usually referred to the 7th day of the week. The phrase might well be worded, "sabbath or other holy days." Leave the seventh year means to let the land rest in that year. It was the violation of that law which brought upon the nation the 70 years of captivity. Execution of every debt. In Ch. 5 is an account of the oppressive treatment of the poor. The more fortunate were taking advantage of the others in the matter of lending money. They did so on condition of heavy usury, and to secure the loans they had taken from them their land. All such dealings were to be discontinued under the terms of the covenant.

Verses 32-33

Neh 10:32-33

Nehemiah 10:32-33

FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THE COVENANT

"Also we made ordinances for us to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of God; 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 God."

"Also we made ordinances for ourselves" (Nehemiah 10:33). "This was merely a revival of a charge levied by Moses upon every Israelite twenty years old and upward to pay a half shekel (Exodus 30:13)," the only difference being in their reduction of it to one third of a shekel.

This one-third of a shekel annual tax was levied against every Israelite and continued in force until the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Of course, through the years, the tax increased to the original half a shekel. Jesus Christ himself paid this tax for himself and the apostle Peter, in spite of our Lord’s being exempt from it. This he did by sending Peter to take up the fish out of the sea of Galilee with a whole shekel in its mouth (Matthew 17:24-27). By this action, the Christ endorsed and approved the ordinance mentioned here. It was God’s ordinance, despite the statement in Nehemiah 10:33 that "we made it." They only renewed an old duty.

The mention here of the showbread and of various kinds of sacrifices is only a detailed way of saying that the tax was for everything connected with the work in the house of God. For comments on the various things mentioned here, see our commentaries on the Pentateuch where all these things are first mentioned.

E.M. Zerr:

Nehemiah 10:32. The contribution stipulated here was voluntary, and in addition to the specific requirements of the law as to their income!

Nehemiah 10:33. The preceding verse mentioned the service in general, this gives the specific services. The shew- bread was the unleavened bread that must be placed on the table. It was in 12 loaves and was renewed every weakly sabbath. Continual means "regular," and applied to the meat (meal) offerings that were made in connection with other sacrifices. Continual burnt offering is a phrase referring to what is commonly called the "daily sacrifice." See Exodus 29:38-42. Of the sabbaths was referring to the doubling of the daily sacrifice on the sabbath days (Numbers 28:9). The new moon was the first of the month (1 Samuel 20:24; 1 Samuel 20:27), and was always a holy day. The set feasts referred to the three annual feasts described in Leviticus 23. This voluntary contribution was for the support of any or all of the divine services.

Verses 34-39

Neh 10:34-39

Nehemiah 10:34-39

THE WOOD-OFFERING; THE FIRST-FRUITS; AND THE TITHES

"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; 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; 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; 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. 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. 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."

This paragraph merely spells out, very briefly, the obligations which had existed from the times of Moses in the Pentateuch; and for comments on these various kinds of gifts and offerings, our writings on all of these are somewhat extensive in our commentaries on the Pentateuch. There is no need whatever to rehearse such comments here.

The only thing new here is the casting of lots to determine who would bring the wood for use in the temple, and when they would bring it. Wood was probably much more plentiful in the early years of the monarchy; but, "The times had changed. Judah had been stripped of her forests; the Temple was relatively poor, and some permanent arrangement for the supply of wood was necessary. Lots were cast to determine who would bring it, and when they would do it."

Another arrangement, which this writer does not remember from the Pentateuch is that of requiring the Levite to take the tithe in the presence of a priest. That, of course, was to prevent the Levite from cheating on the tithe of the tithe he paid to the priesthood!

E.M. Zerr:

Nehemiah 10:34. The Levites were not required to produce any materials, because they were not given an allotted portion of the land as were the others of the tribes. But this verse included the people, which accounts for the mention of the wood to be furnished After it was furnished by the people, the priests and Levites took charge of it and made the proper use in the service of the house of the Lord. Not all of the eligible men would be needed at one time, hence they cast the lots to decide the turns of service. The lot was one of the means used in Biblical times to decide questions. See Pro v. 16:33 and Hebrews 1:1.

Nehemiah 10:35. The law had required that the first of everything be devoted to the Lord. It would include the first of the fruit of trees and of the ground.

Nehemiah 10:36. Firstborn of our sons. The Lord never did require human sacri fices, but he did claim all the firstborn of their sons as his special possession (Exodus 13:2). He later exchanged them for the entire tribe of Levi (Numbers 3:12). After that the Lord required a certain offering to be made upon the birth of the first child (Numbers 18:14-32). That is what these people meant to do when they agreed to devote the firstborn of our sons. Also, they owed a certain consideration to the Lord upon the increase of their beasts. All of these things were to be placed at the disposal of the priests that minister in. the house of our God.

Nehemiah 10:37. Grain that had been made ready for dough was not to be exempt from the contribution. In addition to the first of everything, the tithe or tenth of all crops of the ground must be devoted. It was turned over to the Levites because they had no ground of their own for farming.

Nehemiah 10:38. Tithes of the tithes. The Levites had no means of productive income, so they lived on the tithes of the other tribes. They in turn were required to contribute a tithe or tenth of what had been given them by the other tribes.

Nehemiah 10:39. All of these products were to be brought to the house of the Lord; not expect the priests to come after them. Priests that minister. Not all eligible men were acting at one time. Those who were needed for the service at any given time were the ones meant by these words.