After H310 him repaired H2388 the Levites, H3881 Rehum H7348 the son H1121 of Bani. H1137 Next unto him H3027 repaired H2388 Hashabiah, H2811 the ruler H8269 of the half H2677 part H6418 of Keilah, H7084 in his part. H6418 After H310 him repaired H2388 their brethren, H251 Bavai H942 the son H1121 of Henadad, H2582 the ruler H8269 of the half H2677 part H6418 of Keilah. H7084 And next to him H3027 repaired H2388 Ezer H5829 the son H1121 of Jeshua, H3442 the ruler H8269 of Mizpah, H4709 another H8145 piece H4060 over against the going up H5927 to the armoury H5402 at the turning H4740 of the wall. After H310 him Baruch H1263 the son H1121 of Zabbai H2079 earnestly H2734 repaired H2388 the other H8145 piece, H4060 from the turning H4740 of the wall unto the door H6607 of the house H1004 of Eliashib H475 the high H1419 priest. H3548 After H310 him repaired H2388 Meremoth H4822 the son H1121 of Urijah H223 the son H1121 of Koz H6976 another H8145 piece, H4060 from the door H6607 of the house H1004 of Eliashib H475 even to the end H8503 of the house H1004 of Eliashib. H475 And after H310 him repaired H2388 the priests, H3548 the men H582 of the plain. H3603 After H310 him repaired H2388 Benjamin H1144 and Hashub H2815 over against their house. H1004 After H310 him repaired H2388 Azariah H5838 the son H1121 of Maaseiah H4641 the son H1121 of Ananiah H6055 by H681 his house. H1004 After H310 him repaired H2388 Binnui H1131 the son H1121 of Henadad H2582 another H8145 piece, H4060 from the house H1004 of Azariah H5838 unto the turning H4740 of the wall, even unto the corner. H6438 Palal H6420 the son H1121 of Uzai, H186 over against the turning H4740 of the wall, and the tower H4026 which lieth out H3318 from the king's H4428 high H5945 house, H1004 that was by the court H2691 of the prison. H4307 After H310 him Pedaiah H6305 the son H1121 of Parosh. H6551 Moreover the Nethinims H5411 dwelt H3427 in Ophel, H6077 unto the place over against the water H4325 gate H8179 toward the east, H4217 and the tower H4026 that lieth out. H3318 After H310 them the Tekoites H8621 repaired H2388 another H8145 piece, H4060 over against the great H1419 tower H4026 that lieth out, H3318 even unto the wall H2346 of Ophel. H6077 From above the horse H5483 gate H8179 repaired H2388 the priests, H3548 every one H376 over against H5048 his house. H1004 After H310 them repaired H2388 Zadok H6659 the son H1121 of Immer H564 over against his house. H1004 After H310 him repaired H2388 also Shemaiah H8098 the son H1121 of Shechaniah, H7935 the keeper H8104 of the east H4217 gate. H8179 After H310 him repaired H2388 Hananiah H2608 the son H1121 of Shelemiah, H8018 and Hanun H2586 the sixth H8345 son H1121 of Zalaph, H6764 another H8145 piece. H4060 After H310 him repaired H2388 Meshullam H4918 the son H1121 of Berechiah H1296 over against his chamber. H5393 After H310 him repaired H2388 Malchiah H4441 the goldsmith's H6885 son H1121 unto the place H1004 of the Nethinims, H5411 and of the merchants, H7402 over against the gate H8179 Miphkad, H4663 and to the going up H5944 of the corner. H6438 And between the going up H5944 of the corner H6438 unto the sheep H6629 gate H8179 repaired H2388 the goldsmiths H6884 and the merchants. H7402
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Nehemiah 10
Commentary on Nehemiah 10 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 10
Ne 10:1-27. The Names of Those Who Sealed the Covenant.
1. Nehemiah, the Tirshatha—His name was placed first in the roll on account of his high official rank, as deputy of the Persian monarch. All classes were included in the subscription; but the people were represented by their elders (Ne 10:14), as it would have been impossible for every one in the country to have been admitted to the sealing.
Ne 10:28. The Rest of the People Bound Themselves to Observe It.
Those who were not present at the sealing ratified the covenant by giving their assent, either in words or by lifting up their hands, and bound themselves, by a solemn oath, to walk in God's law, imprecating a curse upon themselves in the event of their violating it.
Ne 10:29-39. Points of the Covenant.
29-37. to observe and do all the commandments, &c.—This national covenant, besides containing a solemn pledge of obedience to the divine law generally, specified their engagement to some particular duties, which the character and exigency of the times stamped with great urgency and importance, and which may be summed up under the following heads: that they abstain from contracting matrimonial alliances with the heathen; that they would rigidly observe the sabbath; that they would let the land enjoy rest and remit debts every seventh year; that they would contribute to the maintenance of the temple service, the necessary expenses of which had formerly been defrayed out of the treasury of the temple (1Ch 26:20), and when it was drained, given out from the king's privy purse (2Ch 31:3); and that they would make an orderly payment of the priests' dues. A minute and particular enumeration of the first-fruits was made, that all might be made fully aware of their obligations, and that none might excuse themselves on pretext of ignorance from withholding taxes which the poverty of many, and the irreligion of others, had made them exceedingly prone to evade.
32. the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God—The law required every individual above twenty years of age to pay half a shekel to the sanctuary. But in consequence of the general poverty of the people, occasioned by war and captivity, this tribute was reduced to a third part of a shekel.
34. we cast the lots … for the wood offering—The carrying of the wood had formerly been the work of the Nethinims. But few of them having returned, the duty was assigned as stated in the text. The practice afterwards rose into great importance, and Josephus speaks [The Wars of the Jews, 2.17, sect. 6] of the Xylophoria, or certain stated and solemn times at which the people brought up wood to the temple.
38. the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes—This was a prudential arrangement. The presence of a dignified priest would ensure the peaceful delivery of the tithes; at least his superintendence and influence would tend to prevent the commission of any wrong in the transaction, by the people deceiving the Levites, or the Levites defrauding the priests.
the tithe of the tithes—The Levites, having received a tenth of all land produce, were required to give a tenth of this to the priests. The Levites were charged with the additional obligation to carry the tithes when received, and deposit them in the temple stores, for the use of the priests.
39. and we will not forsake the house of our God—This solemn pledge was repeated at the close of the covenant as an expression of the intense zeal by which the people at this time were animated for the glory and the worship of God. Under the pungent feelings of sorrow and repentance for their national sins, of which apostasy from the service of the true God was the chief, and under the yet fresh and painful remembrance of their protracted captivity, they vowed, and (feeling the impulse of ardent devotion as well as of gratitude for their restoration) flattered themselves they would never forget their vow, to be the Lord's.