Study Desk

^[f]In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement^(bf) in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.^(bg)

Those whose seals were on the document were: Nehemiah the governor,^(a) son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,

Seraiah,^(b) Azariah, Jeremiah,

Pashhur,^(c) Amariah, Malchijah,

Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.

The Levites^(d) were: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,

and their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

The leaders of the people^(e) were: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,^(f)

Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

Hoshea, Hananiah,^(g) Hasshub,

Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,

Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with their wives, sons, and daughters, everyone who is able to understand^(h) and who has separated themselves from the surrounding peoples⁽ⁱ⁾ to obey the law of God—

join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath^[a](j) to follow the law of God given through God's servant Moses^(k) and to carefully obey all the commands, ordinances, and statutes of Yahweh our Lord.

We will not give our daughters in marriage to the surrounding peoples and will not take their daughters as wives for our sons.^(l)

When the surrounding peoples bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day.^(m) We will also leave the land uncultivated in the seventh year⁽ⁿ⁾ and will cancel every debt.^(o)

We will impose the following commands on ourselves: To give an eighth of an ounce of silver^[b] yearly for the service of the house of our God:^(p)

the bread displayed before the Lord ,^[c](q) the daily grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbath and New Moon offerings,^(r) the appointed festivals, the holy things, the sin offerings to atone for Israel,^(s) and for all the work of the house of our God.

We have cast lots^(t) among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our ancestral houses at the appointed times each year. They are to bring the wood to our God's house to burn on the altar of the Lord our God,^(u) as it is written in the law.

We will bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the Lord 's house year by year.^(v)

We will also bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as prescribed by the law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God,^(w) to the priests who serve in our God's house.

We will bring a loaf from our first batch of dough^(x) to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God. We will also bring the firstfruits of our grain offerings, of every fruit tree, and of the new wine and oil.^(y) A tenth of our land's produce belongs to the Levites, for the Levites are to collect the one-tenth offering in all our agricultural towns.^(z)

A priest of Aaronic descent must accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth,^(aa) and the Levites must take a tenth of this offering to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God.^(ab)

For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept^(ac) and where the priests who minister are, along with the gatekeepers and singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.^(ad)