1The names of those that sealed the covenant, 28which the rest of the people bound themselves to observe according to the several particulars enumerated.
1NOW those 1that sealed were, Nehemiah, the 2Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
1 Hebr. for the thing sealed or sealings. Understand those who have ratified the covenant (whereof was spoken in the end of the previous chapter) with their seals, on behalf of the entire congregation.
2 See Ezra 2 on verse 63.
23Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Compare this register with what follows, Neh. 12:1, etc.
3Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the 4priests.
4 Nehemiah (mentioned in verse 1) not being comprehended among them, who was not, according to the opinion of some, of the tribe of Levi.
9And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
14The 5chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
5 Compare Neh. 7:8, etc.; Ezra 2:3, etc.; 8:3, etc.
15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
18Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28¶And the rest of the 6people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the 7Nethinims, and all they that had 8separated 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;
6 Compare 2 Chron. 23 on verse 5; Ezra 2 on verse 70.
7 See Ezra 2 on verse 43.
8 As Neh. 9:2.
29They clave to their brethren, their 9nobles, and entered into a 10curse, 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;
9 Or, honorable, great ones, who were appointed to seal this covenant on behalf of the entire congregation. See Psalm 8 on verse 1.
10 That is, they likewise entered into this covenant, which was confirmed with an oath, and cursing of their persons, if they would perhaps transgress this covenant. See Deut. 29:12, 14, 19, and compare Joshua 24:25; 2 Kings 23:3; 2 Chron. 15:12.
30Anda that we would not 11give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:
a Exod. 34:16; Deut. 7:3.
11 Namely, give them in marriage unto the heathen.
31Andbif the people of the land bring warec or 12any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: anddthat we would leave the 13seventh year, and the 14exaction of every debt.
b Exod. 20:10; 34:21; Lev. 23:2, etc.; Deut. 5:12, 13, 14, etc.
c merchandise*
12 That is, all manner of corn, as rye, wheat, barley. See Gen. 42 on verse 1.
d Exod. 23:10; Lev. 25:2; Deut. 15:1, etc.
13 The same being a year of release, wherein God had commanded to omit the tilling of the ground, and the exacting of debts. See Exod. 23:10, 11; Lev. 25:4; Deut. 15:1, 2, etc.
14 Hebr. the burden or grievance of all hand; that is, all manner of debt, which we otherwise had power to demand, require, or exact; or, the requiring, demanding of all debt. See Deut. 15 on verse 2; Neh. 5:7, 10.
32Also we made 15ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a 16shekel for the service of the house of our God;
15 Other, commandments, which are related in the following words.
16 Understand here the shekel of the sanctuary, being as much again as the common or civil shekel, namely, about a half Rick’s dollar. This was a voluntary contribution towards the maintenance of the worship of God, set up for the present necessity. Compare 1 Chron. 26:26, 27; 2 Chron. 31:3. Of the ordinary tax which was enjoined see Exod. 30:12.
33For the 17shewbread, and for the continual 18meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths,e of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the 19holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
17 Or, the bread of disposition; that is, shewbread. See Lev. 24:6, etc.; 2 Chron. 2:4; 29:18.
18 See Exod. 29:40; Num. 28:5.
e Numbers 28; 29.
19 Which were to be consecrated for the peace offerings for the people.
34And 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 20houses 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:
20 That is, according to the families and households; to know how much wood everyone was to bring in toward the burning of the sacrifices.
35And to bring the firstfruitsf of our 21ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of 22all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:
f Exod. 23:19; Lev. 19:23.
21 That is, the fruits of the ground, as rye, wheat, barley, etc.
22 That is, all manner of.
36Also the 23firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, asgit is written in the law, and the firstlings of our 24herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:
23 Understand a certain price wherewith they were to redeem the firstborn sons, and the unclean cattle, as horses, asses, camels, etc. See Exod. 13:13; Lev. 27:11, 12, 13, 26, 27.
g Exod. 13:2; Num. 3:13; 8:17.
24 Sheep and oxen, that is, of large and small cattle.
37Andhthat we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our 25offerings, 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 tithesi of our ground unto the Levites, 26that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
h Lev. 23:17; Num. 15:19; 18:12; Deut. 18:4.
25 Or, heavings. Other, heave offerings.
i Num. 18:24, 25.
26 Other, that the same Levites might give the tithes, namely, to the high priest, whereof in the following. Hebr. the tithing. See Gen. 28:22; Deut. 14:22; 26:12.
38And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites 27take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithej of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
27 Or, give; as in the previous verse.
j Num. 18:26.
39For 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, 28where 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.
28 Or, because there are, etc.