Nehemiah 10 Study Notes: The People Seal a Covenant
Nehemiah, the priests, the Levites, and the leaders put their names to a written covenant, and everyone else swears to keep the Law given through Moses. They pledge to avoid marriage with the surrounding peoples, keep the Sabbath and the seventh year, and supply the temple with offerings and tithes.
General
True or False: The people pledged not to arrange marriages between their children and the surrounding peoples (Nehemiah 10:30).
Answer: True
This is true. The first specific promise in the covenant is that the people would neither give their daughters to the surrounding peoples as wives nor take those peoples’ daughters for their sons (10:30). This repeats a command in the Law of Moses, which gives the reason: such marriages would turn Israel’s children away from following the LORD to worship other gods (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Ezra had dealt with this same problem earlier (Ezra 9:1-2).
- Nehemiah 10:30 (BSB)“We will not give our daughters in marriage to the people of the land, and we will not take their daughters for our sons.”The first specific pledge concerns marriage with the surrounding peoples.
- Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (BSB)“Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.”The Law forbade these marriages because they would turn Israel’s children away to serve other gods.
- Ezra 9:1-2 (BSB)“After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!””Ezra had faced this same failure years earlier, when leaders reported that many had married into these peoples.
Theological
True or False: The covenant included a pledge against intermarriage with the surrounding peoples (Nehemiah 10:30).
Answer: True
This is true. The covenant’s first stipulation is that the people will neither give their daughters to the surrounding peoples nor take wives from them for their sons (10:30). The pledge restates Deuteronomy 7:3-4, where the stated rationale is religious: such unions would turn Israel’s children from the LORD to other gods. Ezra had confronted the same breach (Ezra 9:1-2).
- Nehemiah 10:30 (BSB)“We will not give our daughters in marriage to the people of the land, and we will not take their daughters for our sons.”The first specific pledge concerns marriage with the surrounding peoples.
- Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (BSB)“Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.”The Law forbade these marriages because they would turn Israel’s children away to serve other gods.
- Ezra 9:1-2 (BSB)“After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!””Ezra had faced this same failure years earlier, when leaders reported that many had married into these peoples.
General
With what promise does the people’s pledge close (Nehemiah 10:39)?
Answer: That they would not let God’s house be neglected
The last pledges concern the tithes. A tenth of the people’s produce belonged to the Levites, who were to collect it in the towns with a priest descended from Aaron present, and the Levites in turn were to pass a tenth of those tithes on to the temple storerooms (10:37-38). This follows the Law, which gave the tithes to the Levites for their service (Numbers 18:21) and required them to give a tenth of what they received (Numbers 18:26). The people would carry their grain, wine, and oil into the temple storerooms that supplied the priests, gatekeepers, and singers, and they summed up the whole covenant by promising not to neglect God’s house (10:39). Chapter 13 shows how hard that promise was to keep, when Nehemiah found the Levites unpaid and asked why God’s house had been left neglected (13:10-11).
- Nehemiah 10:37-39 (BSB)“Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God the firstfruits of our dough, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil. A tenth of our produce belongs to the Levites, so that they shall receive tithes in all the towns where we labor. A priest of Aaron’s line is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of these tithes to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God. For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.””The tithes and contributions are pledged, and the covenant closes with a promise about God’s house.
- Numbers 18:21 (BSB)“Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting.”God gave the tithes to the Levites in return for their service, the arrangement the people pledge to keep.
- Numbers 18:26 (BSB)““Speak to the Levites and tell them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you as your inheritance, you must present part of it as an offering to the LORD—a tithe of the tithe.”The Levites were to give a tenth of the tithes they received, as Nehemiah 10:38 also requires.
- Nehemiah 13:10-11 (BSB)“I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields. So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,”Later the Levites’ portions went unpaid, and Nehemiah asked why God’s house had been neglected.
Theological
What summary commitment concludes the covenant in Nehemiah 10:39?
Answer: That they would not let God’s house be neglected
The covenant’s final stipulations govern the tithe: a tenth of produce for the Levites, collected in the towns under the supervision of an Aaronic priest, with the Levites forwarding a tenth of the tithe to the temple treasury (10:37-38), in line with Numbers 18:21 and 18:26. Produce of grain, wine, and oil is to be brought to the storerooms that supply the ministering priests, gatekeepers, and singers, and the whole document closes with a pledge that God’s house will not be neglected (10:39). The pledge sets up the sobering sequel in chapter 13, where Nehemiah finds the Levites unsupported and demands to know why God’s house has been neglected (13:10-11).
- Nehemiah 10:37-39 (BSB)“Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God the firstfruits of our dough, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil. A tenth of our produce belongs to the Levites, so that they shall receive tithes in all the towns where we labor. A priest of Aaron’s line is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of these tithes to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God. For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.””The tithes and contributions are pledged, and the covenant closes with a promise about God’s house.
- Numbers 18:21 (BSB)“Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting.”God gave the tithes to the Levites in return for their service, the arrangement the people pledge to keep.
- Numbers 18:26 (BSB)““Speak to the Levites and tell them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you as your inheritance, you must present part of it as an offering to the LORD—a tithe of the tithe.”The Levites were to give a tenth of the tithes they received, as Nehemiah 10:38 also requires.
- Nehemiah 13:10-11 (BSB)“I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields. So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,”Later the Levites’ portions went unpaid, and Nehemiah asked why God’s house had been neglected.
General
According to Nehemiah 10:28-29, what did the people bind themselves by oath to do?
Answer: Follow and carefully obey everything God gave through Moses
After the leaders, the Levites, and the priests sealed a written agreement (9:38; 10:1-27), everyone else joined them. Priests and Levites, gatekeepers and singers, those who served in the temple, and everyone who had set themselves apart from the nearby peoples for the sake of God’s Law came, bringing their wives and every son and daughter old enough to understand (10:28). They joined their leaders and swore an oath to walk in the Law God gave through Moses and to keep all of the LORD’s commands, rules, and decrees (10:29). It recalls earlier days when Israel heard God’s word read and promised to obey it, as at Sinai (Exodus 24:7). Moses had told Israel to gather men, women, and children to hear the Law (Deuteronomy 31:12), and here whole households commit themselves together.
- Nehemiah 10:28-29 (BSB)““The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the people of the land to obey the Law of God—along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand, hereby join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the Law of God given through His servant Moses and to obey carefully all the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord.”The rest of the people, with their families, join their leaders in a sworn commitment to God’s Law.
- Nehemiah 9:38 (BSB)“In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.””The leaders had already put the agreement in writing and sealed it, and now the whole people join in.
- Exodus 24:7 (BSB)“Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.””At Sinai Israel heard the Book of the Covenant read and promised to obey, as the people do again here.
- Deuteronomy 31:12 (BSB)“Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law.”Moses commanded that men, women, and children be gathered to hear the Law, and whole families take part in this oath.
Theological
What did the people commit themselves to by sworn oath in Nehemiah 10:28-29?
Answer: Follow and carefully obey everything God gave through Moses
The written covenant sealed by the leaders, the Levites, and the priests (9:38; 10:1-27) is joined by the whole community: clergy, temple personnel, and everyone set apart from the nearby peoples for the sake of God’s Law, together with wives and children capable of understanding (10:28). By oath they bind themselves to walk in the Law given through Moses and to keep all the LORD’s commands, rules, and decrees (10:29). The scene is a covenant renewal in the pattern of Sinai, where the people heard the covenant book read and pledged obedience (Exodus 24:7), and it echoes the Mosaic instruction that whole families be assembled to hear the Law (Deuteronomy 31:12).
- Nehemiah 10:28-29 (BSB)““The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the people of the land to obey the Law of God—along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand, hereby join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the Law of God given through His servant Moses and to obey carefully all the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord.”The rest of the people, with their families, join their leaders in a sworn commitment to God’s Law.
- Nehemiah 9:38 (BSB)“In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.””The leaders had already put the agreement in writing and sealed it, and now the whole people join in.
- Exodus 24:7 (BSB)“Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.””At Sinai Israel heard the Book of the Covenant read and promised to obey, as the people do again here.
- Deuteronomy 31:12 (BSB)“Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and to follow carefully all the words of this law.”Moses commanded that men, women, and children be gathered to hear the Law, and whole families take part in this oath.
General
What did the people promise about the Sabbath and the seventh year (Nehemiah 10:31)?
Answer: Not to buy from traders on holy days, and to rest the land and cancel debts
The people promised that when the surrounding peoples came with goods or grain to market on the Sabbath or another holy day, they would not buy (10:31). The Sabbath command in the Law set the seventh day apart from ordinary work (Exodus 20:8-10). They also promised to keep the seventh year: leaving their fields unsown and canceling debts. The Law of Moses commanded that the land rest every seventh year so the poor could eat from it (Exodus 23:10-11), and that every seven years creditors cancel what they had lent (Deuteronomy 15:1-2). These pledges bound the community to specific commands of the Law, and chapter 13 shows Sabbath trade returning later.
- Nehemiah 10:31 (BSB)“When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields lie fallow and will cancel every debt.”The people pledge to keep the Sabbath free of trade and to keep the seventh-year release.
- Exodus 20:8-10 (BSB)“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates.”The Sabbath command forbade work on the seventh day, which the people now apply to buying and selling.
- Exodus 23:10-11 (BSB)“For six years you are to sow your land and gather its produce, but in the seventh year you must let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people may eat from the field and the wild animals may consume what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and olive grove.”The Law told Israel to let the land rest in the seventh year so the poor could eat from it.
- Deuteronomy 15:1-2 (BSB)“At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is the manner of remission: Every creditor shall cancel what he has loaned to his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD’s time of release has been proclaimed.”The Law required debts to be canceled every seven years, which the people pledge to do.
Theological
What commitments did the people make regarding the Sabbath and the seventh year (Nehemiah 10:31)?
Answer: Not to buy from traders on holy days, and to rest the land and cancel debts
The covenant applies the Sabbath command (Exodus 20:8-10) to commerce: the people will not buy goods or grain from those peoples on the Sabbath or any holy day (10:31). It also binds them to the sabbatical year, leaving the land unsown and releasing debts, as the Law prescribed for the sake of the poor (Exodus 23:10-11) and as the LORD’s release (Deuteronomy 15:1-2). The pledge binds them to specific provisions of the Mosaic law, though chapter 13 records the Sabbath commitment lapsing again.
- Nehemiah 10:31 (BSB)“When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields lie fallow and will cancel every debt.”The people pledge to keep the Sabbath free of trade and to keep the seventh-year release.
- Exodus 20:8-10 (BSB)“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates.”The Sabbath command forbade work on the seventh day, which the people now apply to buying and selling.
- Exodus 23:10-11 (BSB)“For six years you are to sow your land and gather its produce, but in the seventh year you must let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people may eat from the field and the wild animals may consume what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and olive grove.”The Law told Israel to let the land rest in the seventh year so the poor could eat from it.
- Deuteronomy 15:1-2 (BSB)“At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is the manner of remission: Every creditor shall cancel what he has loaned to his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD’s time of release has been proclaimed.”The Law required debts to be canceled every seven years, which the people pledge to do.
General
What was the purpose of the yearly contribution of money and the wood that the people pledged (Nehemiah 10:32-34)?
Answer: To keep the offerings and the altar of God’s house supplied
The people put themselves under obligation to give a one-third shekel each year to keep the worship at God’s house going: the showbread, the daily grain and burnt offerings, the offerings for Sabbaths, New Moons, and feasts, the holy offerings, and the sin offerings that atoned for Israel (10:32-33). The Law had long ago set apart money from Israel for this kind of service (Exodus 30:16). They also cast lots so that families would take turns bringing wood for the altar fire, as the Law required (10:34), since the altar fire was never to go out (Leviticus 6:12-13). They promised the firstfruits of their land and trees and the firstborn of their sons and animals as well (10:35-36; Exodus 23:19).
- Nehemiah 10:32-36 (BSB)“We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God: for the showbread, for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God. We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law. We will also bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the house of the LORD year by year. And we will bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God.”The people pledge money, wood, firstfruits, and firstborn for the worship of God’s house.
- Exodus 30:16 (BSB)“Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.””The Law had earlier required money from Israel for the work of the Tent of Meeting.
- Leviticus 6:12-13 (BSB)“The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. The fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not be extinguished.”The altar fire was to be kept burning continually with fresh wood each morning.
- Exodus 23:19 (BSB)“Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”The Law commanded Israel to bring the best of the firstfruits to the LORD’s house.
Theological
What did the annual monetary contribution and the wood offering provide for (Nehemiah 10:32-34)?
Answer: To keep the offerings and the altar of God’s house supplied
The community obligates itself to an annual one-third shekel to fund the whole sacrificial system: showbread, the regular grain and burnt offerings, Sabbath, New Moon, and festival offerings, the holy offerings, and the sin offerings that made atonement for Israel (10:32-33), in line with the earlier provision of atonement money for the sanctuary (Exodus 30:16). A rotation by lot supplies wood for the altar (10:34), so that the perpetual fire commanded in Leviticus 6:12-13 is maintained. Firstfruits and firstborn are likewise pledged according to the Law (10:35-36; Exodus 23:19). The covenant community takes responsibility for sustaining the worship God prescribed.
- Nehemiah 10:32-36 (BSB)“We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God: for the showbread, for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God. We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law. We will also bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the house of the LORD year by year. And we will bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God.”The people pledge money, wood, firstfruits, and firstborn for the worship of God’s house.
- Exodus 30:16 (BSB)“Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.””The Law had earlier required money from Israel for the work of the Tent of Meeting.
- Leviticus 6:12-13 (BSB)“The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. The fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not be extinguished.”The altar fire was to be kept burning continually with fresh wood each morning.
- Exodus 23:19 (BSB)“Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”The Law commanded Israel to bring the best of the firstfruits to the LORD’s house.