1 NOW those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
14 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28 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;
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.
32 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;
33 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.
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 fathers, 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 firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the Lord:
36 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:
37 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.
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 tithe 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.

1Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah the Tirshatha the sonne of Hachaliah, and Zidkiiah,

2Seraiah, Azariah, Ieremiah,

3Pashur, Amariah, Malchiah,

4Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

5Harim, Merimoth, Obadiah,

6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

7Meshullam, Abiiah, Miiamin,

8Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the Priests.

9And the Leuites: both Ieshua the sonne of Azaniah, Binnui, of the sonnes of Henadad, Kadmiel;

10And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodiiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11Micah, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13Hodiiah, Bani, Beninu,

14The chiefe of the people. Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,

15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16Adoniiah, Biguai, Adin,

17Ater, Hizkiiah, Azzur,

18Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

21Meshezabeel, Zadok, Iaddua,

22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,

24Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,

25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

26And Ahiiah, Hanan, Anan,

27Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

28 And the rest of the people, the Priests, the Leuites, the Porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselues from the people of the lands, vnto the Law of God, their wiues, their sonnes, and their daughters, euery one hauing knowledge, and hauing vnderstanding.

29They claue to their brethren their nobles, and entred into a curse, and into an oath to walke in Gods law, which was giuen by Moses the seruant of God, and to obserue and doe all the commandements of the Lord our Lord, and his Iudgements, and his statutes:

30And that we would not giue our daughters vnto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sonnes.

31And 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 holyday, and that wee would leaue the seuenth yeere, and the exaction of euerie debt.

32Also we made ordinances for vs, to charge our selues yeerely, with the third part of a shekel, for the seruice of the house of our God,

33For the shew-bread, and for the continuall meate-offering, and for the continuall burnt offering, of the Sabbaths, of the new moones, for the set-feastes, and for the holy things, and for the sin-offerings, to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the worke of the house of our God.

34And we cast the lots among the priests, the Leuites, 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, yeere by yeere, to burne vpon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law:

35And to bring the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruites of all fruit of all trees, yeere by yeere, vnto the house of the Lord.

36Also the first-borne of our sonnes, and of our cattell (as it is written in the lawe) and the firstlings of our heards, and of our flockes, to bring to the house of our God, vnto the priests that minister in the house of our God:

37And that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all maner of trees, of wine and of oile, vnto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithes of our ground vnto the Leuites, that the same Leuites might haue the tithes, in all the cities of our tillage.

38And the priest the sonne of Aaron, shall be with the Leuites, when the Leuites take tithes, and the Leuites shal bring vp the tithe of the tithes vnto the house of our God, to the chambers into the treasure house.

39For the children of Israel, and the children of Leui, shall bring the offering of the corne, of the new wine, and the oyle, vnto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuarie, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers, and we will not forsake the house of our God.

I == Neh 1:1 ; 8:9

II == Neh 12:1-21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIV == Ezra 2:3-58 ; Neh 7:8-63

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVIII == Ezra 2:36-43 ; 9:1 ; 10:11-12 , 19 ; Neh 13:3

 

 

 

 

XXIX == Deut 29:12 , 14 ; 2nd Kings 23:3 ; 2nd Chr 34:31 ; Neh 5:12-13 ; Ps 119:106

 

XXX == Ex 34:16 ; Deut 7:3 ; Ezra 9:12 , 14

XXX == Ex 20:10; 23:10-11 ; Lev 23:3 ; 25:4 ; Deut 5:12 ; 15:1-2 ; Neh 5:12 ; 13:15-18

 

 

 

 

XXXIII == Lev 24:5-9 ; 2nd chr 2:4

 

 

 

 

XXXIV == Lev 6:12 ; Neh 13:31 ; Isa 40:16

 

 

 

XXXV == Ex 23:19 ; 34:26 ; Lev 19:23 ; Num 18:12 ; Deut 26:2

XXXVI == Ex 13:2 , 12-13 ; Lev 27:26-27 ; Num 18:15-16

 

XXXVII == Lev 23:17 ; 27:30 ; Num 15:19 ; 18:12-19 , 21-24 ; Deut 18:4 ; 26:2

 

 

 

XXXVIII == Num 18:26 ; 1st Chr 9:26 ; 2nd Chr 31:11

 

XXXIX == Deut 12:6 , 11 ; 2nd Chr 31:12 ; Neh 13:10-12

 

 

 

 

1 In view of all this, we are entering into a firm pact, which we are putting into writing. On the sealed document appear the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.

2 On the sealed document: His Excellency Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah.

3 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

4 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,

5 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

6 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

7 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

8 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

9 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these are the priests.

10 The Levites: Jeshua, son of Azaniah; Binnui, of the sons of Henadad; Kadmiel;

11 and their brethren Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

12 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

13 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

14 Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.

15 The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

16 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

17 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

18 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

19 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

20 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

21 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

22 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

23 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

24 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

25 Halhohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

26 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

27 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,

28 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

29 The rest of the people, priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple slaves, and all others who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands in favor of the law of God, with their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who are of the age of discretion,

30 join with their brethren who are their princes, and with the sanction of a curse take this oath to follow the law of God which was given through Moses, the servant of God, and to observe carefully all the commandments of the LORD, our LORD, his ordinances and his statutes.

31 Agreed, that we will not marry our daughters to the peoples of the land, and that we will not take their daughters for our sons.

32 When the peoples of the land bring in merchandise or any kind of grain for sale on the sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or on any other holyday. We will forgo the seventh year, as well as every kind of debt.

33 We impose these commandments on ourselves: to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God,

34 for the showbread, for the daily cereal offering, for the daily holocaust, for the sabbaths, new moons, and festivals, for the holy offerings, for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for every service of the house of our God.

35 We, priests, Levites, and people, have determined by lot concerning the procurement of wood: it is to be brought to the house of our God by each of our family houses at stated times each year, to be burnt on the altar of the LORD, our God, as the law prescribes.

36 We have agreed to bring each year to the house of the LORD the first fruits of our fields and of our fruit trees, of whatever kind;

37 also, as is prescribed in the law, to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who serve in the house of our God, the first-born of our children and our animals, including the first-born of our flocks and herds.

38 The first batch of our dough, and our offerings of the fruit of every tree, of wine and of oil, we will bring to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God. The tithe of our fields we will bring to the Levites; they, the Levites, shall take the tithe in all the cities of our service.

39 An Aaronite priest shall be with the Levites when they take the tithe, and the Levites shall bring the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the treasury.

40 For to these chambers the Israelites and Levites bring the offerings of grain, wine, and oil; there also are housed the utensils of the sanctuary, and the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.

v 1-27. Nehemiah is governor and sets the example by being first to sign. This is followed by 22 priests. Strangely Ezra does not sign, but he may be represented by being a descendent of Seraiah. The Jeremiah here is obviously many years after the Jeremiah of the book had died. Next were 18 Levites and 44 princes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 28,29. The people in general did not sign, but everyone who could understand took an oath that they would obey all the laws of the Lord, with certain things specific.

 

v 30-39. Some of the specific things were:
v 30. Avoid intermarriage with the heathen.

v 31. Keeping the Sabbath (no commerce); keeping rules of the Sabbatic year.

 

v 32,33. The half shekel at numbering and other situations was not adequate to provide all needed for showbread, sacrifices etc. The money promised from Shushan was temporary. The people volunteered to give a third of a shekel annually for temple service, funds which had previously come from wealthy kings and leaders. This temple tax was still in effect in the time of Christ, Matt. 17:24-27.

v 34. They also agreed to cast lots among the priests, Levites and people to provide wood for the continually burning altar. If they cast lots, our church is certainly on scriptural grounds in receiving a voluntary offering for fuel for our church.

v 35-37. They will bring in the first fruits of their ground and trees each year, Ex. 33:19; Deut. 26:1-3. They will bring their firstborn sons and animals according to Num. 18:15-17 and Deut. 12:6. First fruits will include of their dough, and fruit of trees to include wine and oil. There will also be freewill offerings. It is important that they bring their tithes to provide the needs of the Levites wherever they dwell.

 

 

 

v 38. The Levites in turn are to bring the tithe of the tithes they receive, to provide for the needs of the priests. (This is not as some think that the people were to pay another tithe of the tithes.)

 

v 39. This verse summarizes all the people have pledged from verses 32-38.  To make it a covenant which could not be broken, the princes, Levites and priests signed as indicated in verses 1-27.