Nehemiah 10: A Covenant Renewed, A Community Rebuilt
Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath–moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
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;
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;
And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:
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.
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;
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.
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:
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:
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:
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.
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 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.
Nehemiah 10 marks a pivotal moment in the post-exilic history of Israel. It showcases the people's earnest commitment to rebuilding not just the physical walls of Jerusalem, but also the spiritual foundations of their community. This chapter details the solemn covenant made between God and His people, signifying their renewed dedication to the Law and their separation from the corrupting influences of the surrounding nations. It's a powerful testament to the transformative potential of repentance and a collective turning back to God. This chapter is vital in understanding the narrative flow and the spiritual themes of the book of Nehemiah.
The Leaders' Pledge (Nehemiah 10:1-27)
The chapter opens with a list of those who formally signed and sealed the covenant. This wasn't a casual agreement, but a binding pledge before God. Nehemiah himself, holding the esteemed position of governor (Nehemiah 10:1), leads the way, followed by twenty-two priests (Nehemiah 10:2-8), seventeen Levites (Nehemiah 10:9-13), and forty-four prominent leaders (Nehemiah 10:14-27). The detailed enumeration highlights the participation of key individuals representing various sectors of Israelite society.
God orchestrated this gathering of influential figures for a crucial purpose: mutual encouragement. Imagine the potential impact – a priest bolstering a wavering Levite, or a leader uplifting a discouraged governor. By uniting these leaders, God created a network of support, providing the necessary resources to fulfill their obligations and steer their community back on course. This emphasizes the importance of fellowship and accountability in maintaining spiritual fervor and commitment.
The People's Commitment (Nehemiah 10:28-29)
While not everyone physically signed the pledge, the "rest of the people" (Nehemiah 10:28) also made a conscious decision to separate themselves from the ungodly practices of their neighbors and to obey God's law wholeheartedly. This demonstrates that true commitment is not merely a signature on a document, but a transformation of the heart. This group included gatekeepers and temple servants. The gatekeepers, constantly reminded the people of their obligation to return and rebuild the city. The temple servants, every Sabbath day, reminded the Jews to honor God and His agenda for the sake of their families.
Specific Promises (Nehemiah 10:30-39)
The people's commitment translated into specific promises, reflecting their understanding of God's commands and their desire to live in accordance with His will. These promises addressed key areas of concern for the community's spiritual and social well-being:
Avoiding Intermarriage (Nehemiah 10:30): They vowed not to intermarry with the surrounding peoples, recognizing the danger of syncretism and the potential for foreign idolatry to infiltrate their society. Solomon's tragic example served as a stark reminder of the consequences of disregarding this principle.
Observing the Sabbath and Sabbatical Years (Nehemiah 10:31): They committed to honoring God's commands regarding the Sabbath day, fallow fields, and the Year of Jubilee, demonstrating their willingness to prioritize God's rhythm of rest and provision.
Supporting the Temple (Nehemiah 10:32-39): The people recognized God's abundant blessings and pledged to use a portion of their resources to maintain and improve God's house. This included contributing financially (Nehemiah 10:32-33) and diligently bringing the firstfruits of their harvest, livestock, and other produce to the temple (Nehemiah 10:35-39). They understood the importance of prioritizing God in their giving and ensuring that the temple's storerooms were adequately equipped to fulfill God's kingdom agenda. They understood the resources that God has supplied them, and were willing to commit them to His work.
This "firstfruits mentality" is a powerful lesson for believers today. It challenges us to prioritize God in our lives, offering Him the best of what we have, rather than treating Him as an afterthought. Just as God provided the resources for the Israelites to rebuild their community, He provides us with the gifts, talents, and financial means to build up our churches and communities. The question is, will we step out in obedience and commit these resources to His work?
Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath–moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
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;
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;
And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:
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.
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;
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.
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:
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:
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:
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.
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 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.
Nehemiah 10 marks a pivotal moment in the post-exilic history of Israel. It showcases the people's earnest commitment to rebuilding not just the physical walls of Jerusalem, but also the spiritual foundations of their community. This chapter details the solemn covenant made between God and His people, signifying their renewed dedication to the Law and their separation from the corrupting influences of the surrounding nations. It's a powerful testament to the transformative potential of repentance and a collective turning back to God. This chapter is vital in understanding the narrative flow and the spiritual themes of the book of Nehemiah.
The Leaders' Pledge (Nehemiah 10:1-27)
The chapter opens with a list of those who formally signed and sealed the covenant. This wasn't a casual agreement, but a binding pledge before God. Nehemiah himself, holding the esteemed position of governor (Nehemiah 10:1), leads the way, followed by twenty-two priests (Nehemiah 10:2-8), seventeen Levites (Nehemiah 10:9-13), and forty-four prominent leaders (Nehemiah 10:14-27). The detailed enumeration highlights the participation of key individuals representing various sectors of Israelite society.
God orchestrated this gathering of influential figures for a crucial purpose: mutual encouragement. Imagine the potential impact – a priest bolstering a wavering Levite, or a leader uplifting a discouraged governor. By uniting these leaders, God created a network of support, providing the necessary resources to fulfill their obligations and steer their community back on course. This emphasizes the importance of fellowship and accountability in maintaining spiritual fervor and commitment.
The People's Commitment (Nehemiah 10:28-29)
While not everyone physically signed the pledge, the "rest of the people" (Nehemiah 10:28) also made a conscious decision to separate themselves from the ungodly practices of their neighbors and to obey God's law wholeheartedly. This demonstrates that true commitment is not merely a signature on a document, but a transformation of the heart. This group included gatekeepers and temple servants. The gatekeepers, constantly reminded the people of their obligation to return and rebuild the city. The temple servants, every Sabbath day, reminded the Jews to honor God and His agenda for the sake of their families.
Specific Promises (Nehemiah 10:30-39)
The people's commitment translated into specific promises, reflecting their understanding of God's commands and their desire to live in accordance with His will. These promises addressed key areas of concern for the community's spiritual and social well-being:
Avoiding Intermarriage (Nehemiah 10:30): They vowed not to intermarry with the surrounding peoples, recognizing the danger of syncretism and the potential for foreign idolatry to infiltrate their society. Solomon's tragic example served as a stark reminder of the consequences of disregarding this principle.
Observing the Sabbath and Sabbatical Years (Nehemiah 10:31): They committed to honoring God's commands regarding the Sabbath day, fallow fields, and the Year of Jubilee, demonstrating their willingness to prioritize God's rhythm of rest and provision.
Supporting the Temple (Nehemiah 10:32-39): The people recognized God's abundant blessings and pledged to use a portion of their resources to maintain and improve God's house. This included contributing financially (Nehemiah 10:32-33) and diligently bringing the firstfruits of their harvest, livestock, and other produce to the temple (Nehemiah 10:35-39). They understood the importance of prioritizing God in their giving and ensuring that the temple's storerooms were adequately equipped to fulfill God's kingdom agenda. They understood the resources that God has supplied them, and were willing to commit them to His work.
This "firstfruits mentality" is a powerful lesson for believers today. It challenges us to prioritize God in our lives, offering Him the best of what we have, rather than treating Him as an afterthought. Just as God provided the resources for the Israelites to rebuild their community, He provides us with the gifts, talents, and financial means to build up our churches and communities. The question is, will we step out in obedience and commit these resources to His work?