# Nehemiah 10 đź“–: The People Sign a Covenant
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
[[#Verse 01.]] On the sealed documents were the following names: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, along with Zedekiah,
[[#Verse 02.]]Â Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
[[#Verse 03.]]Â Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,
[[#Verse 04.]]Â Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
[[#Verse 05.]]Â Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
[[#Verse 06.]]Â Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
[[#Verse 07.]]Â Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
[[#Verse 08.]]Â Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.
[[#Verse 09.]] The Levites were as follows: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel.
[[#Verse 10.]] Their colleagues were as follows: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
[[#Verse 11.]]Â Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
[[#Verse 12.]]Â Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
[[#Verse 13.]]Â Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
[[#Verse 14.]] The leaders of the people were as follows: Parosh, Pahath Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
[[#Verse 15.]]Â Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
[[#Verse 16.]]Â Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
[[#Verse 17.]]Â Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
[[#Verse 18.]]Â Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
[[#Verse 19.]]Â Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
[[#Verse 20.]]Â Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
[[#Verse 21.]]Â Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
[[#Verse 22.]]Â Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
[[#Verse 23.]]Â Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
[[#Verse 24.]]Â Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
[[#Verse 25.]]Â Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
[[#Verse 26.]]Â Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
[[#Verse 27.]]Â Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.
[[#Verse 28.]] “Now the rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple attendants, and all those who have separated themselves from the neighboring peoples because of the law of God, along with their wives, their sons, and their daughters, all of whom are able to understand—Â
[[#Verse 29.]] hereby participate with their colleagues the town leaders and enter into a curse and an oath to adhere to the law of God which was given through Moses the servant of God, and to obey carefully all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, along with his ordinances and his statutes.
[[#Verse 30.]] “We will not give our daughters in marriage to the neighboring peoples, and we will not take their daughters in marriage for our sons.Â
[[#Verse 31.]] We will not buy on the Sabbath or on a holy day from the neighboring peoples who bring their wares and all kinds of grain to sell on the Sabbath day. We will let the fields lie fallow every seventh year, and we will cancel every loan.
[[#Verse 32.]] We accept responsibility for fulfilling the commands to give one third of a shekel each year for the work of the temple of our God,
[[#Verse 33.]]Â for the loaves of presentation and for the regular grain offerings and regular burnt offerings, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the appointed meetings, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the temple of our God.
[[#Verse 34.]] “We—the priests, the Levites, and the people—have cast lots concerning the wood offerings, to bring them to the temple of our God according to our families at the designated times year by year to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as is written in the law.Â
[[#Verse 35.]] We also accept responsibility for bringing the firstfruits of our land and the firstfruits of every fruit tree year by year to the temple of the Lord.Â
[[#Verse 36.]]Â We also accept responsibility, as is written in the law, for bringing the firstborn of our sons and our cattle and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks to the temple of our God, to the priests who are ministering in the temple of our God.Â
[[#Verse 37.]] We will also bring the first of our coarse meal, of our contributions, of the fruit of every tree, of new wine, and of olive oil to the priests at the storerooms of the temple of our God, along with a tenth of the produce of our land to the Levites, for the Levites are the ones who collect the tithes in all the cities where we work.
[[#Verse 38.]] A priest of Aaron’s line will be with the Levites when the Levites collect the tithes, and the Levites will bring up a tenth of the tithes to the temple of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.
[[#Verse 39.]] The Israelites and the Levites will bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil to the storerooms where the utensils of the sanctuary are kept, and where the priests who minister stay, along with the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the temple of our God.”
[[#Verse 38.]] A priest of Aaron’s line will be with the Levites when the Levites collect the tithes, and the Levites will bring up a tenth of the tithes to the temple of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.Â
[[#Verse 39.]] The Israelites and the Levites will bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil to the storerooms where the utensils of the sanctuary are kept, and where the priests who minister stay, along with the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the temple of our God.”
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
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###### Verse 35.
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###### Verse 37.
###### Verse 38.
###### Verse 39.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Nehemiah the governor is the first name on the list of those who sealed the agreement (10:1).
2. The list includes priests, Levites, and leaders of the people (10:1-27).
3. The covenant addressed three areas that later caused trouble: intermarriage, the Sabbath, and support for the temple (Nehemiah 13).
4. They committed to give a third of a shekel each year for the temple service (10:32), while Exodus 30:13 had required a half shekel at the census.
5. They cast lots to decide which families would bring wood for the altar at set times (10:34), because the altar fire was never to go out (Leviticus 6:12-13).
6. Leaving the land unplanted and canceling debts in the seventh year follows Exodus 23:10-11 and Deuteronomy 15:1-2 (10:31).
7. Firstborn sons and animals were to be brought to the house of God (10:36), as the Law required (Exodus 13:2, 12-13).
8. The Levites were to bring a tenth of the tithes they received to the temple storerooms (10:38), as in Numbers 18:26.
9. Many names on the list match family names in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7.
10. The people bound themselves with a curse and an oath (10:29), a serious form of commitment in the ancient world.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the mediator of a better covenant. The people bound themselves with an oath to obey God's Law (10:29), but Jesus brings a new covenant in which God writes His law on our hearts (Hebrews 8:6-10).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. The people made specific promises about marriage, the Sabbath, debts, and giving (10:30-39). Why is it helpful to make our commitments specific?
2. Whole families, including those old enough to understand, joined in the commitment (10:28). How can your household commit together to follow God?
3. They promised not to neglect the house of their God (10:39). What would it look like for you to make that promise today?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 29: The people take an oath to walk in God's law and obey His commands.
- đź“– verse 31: They commit not to buy goods on the Sabbath or holy days and to keep the seventh year.
- đź“– verse 39: They promise not to neglect the house of their God.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Hebrews 08#Verse 06.|Hebrews 8:6-10]] - Jesus mediates a better covenant.
- đź”— [[Jeremiah 31#Verse 31.|Jeremiah 31:31-34]] - God promises a new covenant written on the heart.
- đź”— [[Joshua 24#Verse 24.|Joshua 24:24-25]] - Israel renews its covenant with the Lord.
- đź”— [[Malachi 03#Verse 08.|Malachi 3:8-10]] - Bring the full tithe into the storehouse.
- đź”— [[Nehemiah 13#Verse 10.|Nehemiah 13:10-11]] - The people later neglect the house of God.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Nehemiah 10 - SOAP|Do It Together]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes