Nehemiah 10

1 Now these [who signed the covenant, the ones in agreement] were the ones who sealed [to close or lock, authenticating] the document: Nehemiah [I, leader] the governor [ruler, person in charge], son of Hacaliah [descendant of Hacaliah], and also [in addition to, along with] Zedekiah [a leader, one in authority], word study 2 Seraiah [a leader, prince], Azariah [helped by God], Jeremiah [exalted by God, appointed by Jehovah], word study 3 Pashhur [Pashur, a priestly name], Amariah [a leader of the people], Malchijah [Malkijah, a servant of Jehovah], word study 4 Hattush [Huttush], Shebaniah, Malluch [Malchiah, my king is Jehovah], word study 5 Harim [Harem, or Merimuth’s companion], Meremoth [a priest], Obadiah [a servant of the Lord, or one who worships God], word study 6 Daniel [a leader, judge], Ginnethon [a gardener, overseer], Baruch [blessed, praised], word study 7 Meshullam [the friend, one who is blessed], Abijah [my father is the Lord, father of many], Mijamin [from the right hand, favored one], word study 8 Maaziah [a common name among Israelites], Bilgai, and Shemaiah [meaning heard by God]. These [men of God] were the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators between God and people]. word study 9 The Levites [ministers, priests]: Jeshua [having God’s salvation] son of Azaniah [hearing from God], Binnui [my son is my building] of the sons [descendants] of Henadad [favor of God], Kadmiel [before God, standing], word study 10 and their associates [brethren, other Levites]: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, word study 11 Mica [Micha, a variant spelling], Rehob, Hashabiah [a Levite and priest], word study 12 Zaccur [meaning who is like God], Sherebiah, Shebaniah [a name possibly related to Hashabiah, meaning Jehovah has considered], word study 13 Hodiah [Hodijah, a name signifying praise], Bani [a name meaning son of my sorrow], and Beninu [son of my pain, or Beninu]. word study 14 And the leaders [chiefs, heads] of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani [built, a descendant of Judah], word study 15 Bunni [a chief leader], Azgad [a family head], Bebai [a descendant of Bebai], word study 16 Adonijah [a name meaning ‘my Lord is Jehovah’], Bigvai [Bebai, a leader of the returning exiles], Adin [a family leader, possibly ’noble’ or ’exalted’], word study 17 Ater [or Adonijah], Hezekiah [Hizkijah, a leader], Azzur [a chief or noble], word study 18 Hodiah [Hodijah, a variant name], Hashum [possibly related to riches], Bezai [meaning unknown, possibly a descendant of Bebai], word study 19 Hariph [or Nobai], Anathoth, Nebai, word study 20 Magpiash [a leader of the people], Meshullam [one who is governed by peace], Hezir [a member of the priestly family], word study 21 Meshezabel [Meshezabeel, moth-killer], Zadok [priestly leader], Jaddua [Jeddua, known by God], word study 22 Pelatiah [a leader of the people], Hanan [gracious, merciful], Anaiah [answered by God, or God has answered], word study 23 Hoshea [Osee, a savior], Hananiah [Hanan, gracious gift], Hasshub [Hashub, considered, esteemed], word study 24 Hallohesh [or Hallohesh, a common name], Pilha [or Pileha, possibly a variant], Shobek [a name of several Israelites, including a Merarite Levite chief], word study 25 Rehum [the merciful], Hashabnah [thought by Jehovah], Maaseiah [work of Jehovah], word study 26 Ahijah [and Ahiah], Hanan, Anan, word study 27 Malluch [a leader, chief], Harim [exalted, lofty], and Baanah [in the Lord’s grace, son of affliction]. word study 28 “The rest of the people [including all who had dedicated themselves]—the priests [who served as mediators], Levites [assistant priests], gatekeepers [temple guards], singers [worship leaders], temple servants [attendants], and all who had separated themselves [from the world] from the people of the land to obey [follow, keep] the Law of God [divine instruction]—along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand [have knowledge, discernment], word study 29 hereby join [unite, come together] with their noble [prominent, esteemed] brothers and commit [pledge, dedicate] themselves with a sworn [solemn, binding] oath to follow [obey, walk in] the Law [instruction, teachings] of God [Elohim, the supreme God] given through His servant [messenger] Moses and to carefully [diligently, faithfully] obey [keep, fulfill] all the commandments [laws, decrees], ordinances [regulations, statutes], and statutes [precepts, rules] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] our Lord [Master, Sovereign]. word study 30 We will not give [bestow, allow] our daughters in marriage [to be wed, united] to the people [nations, Gentiles] of the land [the earth, territory], and we will not take [receive, accept] their daughters for our sons [male children, descendants]. word study 31 When the people [inhabitants, natives] of the land [earth, territory] bring merchandise [wares, goods] or any kind of grain [food, provisions] to sell on the Sabbath day [day of rest, holy day], we will not buy [acquire, purchase] from them on a Sabbath [day of rest] or holy day [set apart day]. Every seventh year [year of release, sabbatical year] we will let the fields [land, earth] lie fallow [unplanted, unused], and will cancel [forgive, release] every debt [obligation, liability]. word study 32 We also place ourselves under the obligation [to make a vow, to pledge ourselves] to contribute a third [one-third, a significant portion] of a shekel [a unit of currency, a measure of value] yearly [every year, annually] for the service [the ministry, the worship] of the house [the temple, the place of worship] of our God [the Lord, the Almighty]: word study 33 for the showbread [holy bread, sacred offering], for the regular grain offerings [continual meal offering] and burnt offerings [daily sacrifices], for the Sabbath offerings [rest day sacrifices], for the New Moons [lunar renewals] and appointed feasts [set festivals], for the holy offerings [sanctified gifts], for the sin offerings [atonement sacrifices] to make atonement [reconciliation, forgiveness] for Israel, and for all the duties [work, service] of the house [temple, dwelling place] of our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]. word study 34 We have cast lots [by the decision of the Lord] among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation [offering, gift] of wood by our families at the appointed times [set times, yearly] each year. They are to bring it to the house [dwelling place, temple] of our God to burn [as a sacrifice, continually] on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written [recorded, commanded] in the Law [of Moses, divine instruction]. word study 35 We will also bring the firstfruits [the choicest, most excellent parts] of our land [the ground, the earth God gave us] and of every fruit tree [all manner of trees, every sort of tree] to the house [the temple, the dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] year by year [annually, every year, at the appointed time]. word study 36 And we will bring the firstborn [firstfruits, the best and choicest] of our sons and our livestock [cattle, domesticated animals], as it is written in the Law [the Torah, God’s instructions], and will bring the firstborn [firstlings, the initial offspring] of our herds and flocks to the house [the temple, a place of worship] of our God [Elohim, the supreme God], to the priests [spiritual leaders, ministers] who minister [serve, attend to the needs] in the house of our God. word study 37 Moreover, we will bring to the priests [ministers of God’s temple] at the storerooms [chambers, treasure rooms] of the house [temple, dwelling place] of our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] the firstfruits [initial offerings, best portions] of our dough [coarse-ground flour, initial produce], of our grain offerings [heave-offerings, lifted gifts], of the fruit [produce, harvest] of all our trees [every kind of tree, all manner of trees], and of our new [fresh, recently made] wine and oil [olive oil, anointing oil]. A tenth [tithe, one-tenth] of our produce [crops, harvest] belongs to the Levites [descendants of Levi, temple servants], so that they shall receive tithes [tenth parts, offerings] in all the towns [cities, villages] where we labor [work, till the land]. word study 38 A priest [of Aaron’s lineage, a descendant of the high priest] of Aaron’s line is to accompany the Levites [the tribe of Levi, descended from Jacob’s son] when they collect the tenth [a tithe, one-tenth of their income], and the Levites are to bring a tenth [a portion, one-tenth] of these tithes [contributions, offerings] to the storerooms [chambers, treasure house] of the treasury in the house [temple, dwelling place] of our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]. word study 39 For the Israelites [descendants of Jacob] and the Levites [descendants of Levi, one of Jacob’s 12 sons] are to bring the contributions [offerings, tithes] of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms [chambers, treasure house] where the articles [vessels, utensils] of the sanctuary [holy place, temple] are kept and where the ministering priests [those who serve God], the gatekeepers [porters, doorkeepers], and the singers [musicians, worship leaders] stay. Thus we will not neglect [forsake, abandon] the house [dwelling place, temple] of our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator].” word study