Nehemiah 10

Nehemiah 10:1-31

We have in this chapter, 1. The names of those that set their hands and seek to the covenant, ver. 1—27. 2. An account of those

who signified their comfort and concurrence, ver. 28, 29. 3. The covenant itself, and the articles of it, ver. 29—30.

1. NOW those that sealed were Nehemiah the Tirthatha, the son of Hachalain, and Zidkijah. 2. Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3. Pathur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4. Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5. Harim, Metometh, Obadiah, 6. Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch. 7. Methullam, Abijah, Mijamim, 8. Mazalah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests. 9. And the Levites: both Jethus the Son of Azariah, Binnuit of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; 10. And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11. Micha, Rehab, Haithabiah, 12. Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13. Hodijah, Bani, Betuau. 14. The chief of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moah, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, 15. Bunni, Aagad, Bebai, 16. Adonijah, Bagvai, Adin, 17. Ater, Hinkijah, Azara, 18. Hodijah, Hathum, Bezai, 19. Harip, Anathoth, Nebai, 20. Magpiaih, Methullam, Hezir, 21. Me-sheazabel, Zadock, Jaddua, 22. Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23. Hofnea, Hananiah, Haithub, 24. Hallo-heth, Pileha, Shobek, 25. Rehum, Haithabnah, Mazeiah, 26. And Abijah, Hanan, Anan, 27. Malluch, Harim, Baanah. 28. And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the potters, the fingers, the Nethi-nims, 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: 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: 30. And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons: 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.

As in prayer they had engaged to join themselves anew to God, we have here the persons who subscribed, and the particulars of their engagement.

1. The persons who subscribed were the chief of the fathers, with Nehemiah the governor, and the chief of the priests and Levites; the persons who by duty and office were most especially obliged to let the good example, and to aid their influence to engage the people to the service of their covenant God; and to this deed of their rulers the people expelled their solemn consent; Jews and profelytes, women and children, all who were come to years of understanding, binding their souls under an awful inspiration to abide by the engagements they had entered into. Nate, (1.) In every good work they were highest in dignity, should be the first to lead. (2.) They who teach others what is right, must commend by their practice the word they preach, and the themselves examples of all that is praise-worthy. (3.) When we give up ourselves to God, it becomes us to take heed to the simplicity and sincerity of our hearts before him, least rich engagements involve our souls in guilt.

2. The covenant they entered into, was in general, a careful observance of all God’s commands and institutions, which was before their bounden duty, and now declared to be their hearty choice: and particularly a separation of themselves from all forbidden intercourse with the heathen nations; a door at which most of their abominations had crept in: the strict observance of the Sabbath day, the great token of their peculiarity as a people set apart for God’s service; the observance of the Sabbatical year, when the ground was to rest, and the discharge of their debtors at that time freely, according to Deut. 20. Nate, (1.) A faithful heart will have respect to all God’s commandments. (2.) Peculiar guard need be placed over those temptations which we have seen to be the occasion of others falls, and proved most dangerous to ourselves. (3.) A careful observance of God’s Sabbaths is a chief means to preserve us in a constant course of fidelity in his service.

3. Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shakel, for the service of the house of our God. 33. For the shewbread, and for the continual meat-offering, and for the continual burnt-offering, of the Sabbaths, of the new moons.

moons.

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. 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 Sisters, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law: 35. And to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD: 36. 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: 37. And that we should bring the first-fruits 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 cistes of our tillage. 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 tithes of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure-house. 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.

Nehemiah 10:32-39

As the diligent and exact observance of the temple-worship would most effectually engage them to continue faithful to God, according to their vows, we have here,

1. A general contribution agreed upon of the third part of a shreel, about ten pence annually, to be employed in purchasing the necessary provision for God’s table and altar. Now, few or none are in poor, but if they have a love of God’s service, they will be able and willing to contribute their mite, for the maintenance of a gospel ministry.

2. They agreed by lot, in turn to provide the wood for God’s altar as it was needed, that there might be a regular and constant supply.

3. They engaged, according to the law, for the exact payment of their first-fruits, tythes, and redemption-money, and whatever was appointed for the maintenance of those who ministered at the altar. Out of the tythes paid the Levites, a tenth was separated for the priests maintenance, v. 38. These being deposited in the chambers of the temple, afforded a provision for those who manifested at the temple, and engaged them not to forsake the house of God, whilst their diligent ministeration there would keep the people also from forsaking it. Note, They who have lying on them the great care of men’s souls, need have no other care about a worldly provision.