35 And to bring H935 the firstfruits H1061 of our ground, H127 and the firstfruits H1061 of all fruit H6529 of all trees, H6086 year H8141 by year, H8141 unto the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068
And when ye shall come H935 into the land, H776 and shall have planted H5193 all manner of trees H6086 for food, H3978 then ye shall count H6188 the fruit H6529 thereof as uncircumcised: H6188 H6190 three H7969 years H8141 shall it be as uncircumcised H6189 unto you: it shall not be eaten H398 of. But in the fourth H7243 year H8141 all the fruit H6529 thereof shall be holy H6944 to praise H1974 the LORD H3068 withal. And in the fifth H2549 year H8141 shall ye eat H398 of the fruit H6529 thereof, that it may yield H3254 unto you the increase H8393 thereof: I am the LORD H3068 your God. H430 Ye shall not eat H398 any thing with the blood: H1818 neither shall ye use enchantment, H5172 nor observe times. H6049
He appointed also the king's H4428 portion H4521 of his substance H7399 for the burnt offerings, H5930 to wit, for the morning H1242 and evening H6153 burnt offerings, H5930 and the burnt offerings H5930 for the sabbaths, H7676 and for the new moons, H2320 and for the set feasts, H4150 as it is written H3789 in the law H8451 of the LORD. H3068 Moreover he commanded H559 the people H5971 that dwelt H3427 in Jerusalem H3389 to give H5414 the portion H4521 of the priests H3548 and the Levites, H3881 that they might be encouraged H2388 in the law H8451 of the LORD. H3068 And as soon as the commandment H1697 came abroad, H6555 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 brought H935 in abundance H7235 the firstfruits H7225 of corn, H1715 wine, H8492 and oil, H3323 and honey, H1706 and of all the increase H8393 of the field; H7704 and the tithe H4643 of all things brought H935 they in abundantly. H7230 And concerning the children H1121 of Israel H3478 and Judah, H3063 that dwelt H3427 in the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 they also brought in H935 the tithe H4643 of oxen H1241 and sheep, H6629 and the tithe H4643 of holy things H6944 which were consecrated H6942 unto the LORD H3068 their God, H430 and laid H5414 them by heaps. H6194 H6194 In the third H7992 month H2320 they began H2490 to lay the foundation H3245 of the heaps, H6194 and finished H3615 them in the seventh H7637 month. H2320 And when Hezekiah H3169 and the princes H8269 came H935 and saw H7200 the heaps, H6194 they blessed H1288 the LORD, H3068 and his people H5971 Israel. H3478 Then Hezekiah H3169 questioned H1875 with the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 concerning the heaps. H6194 And Azariah H5838 the chief H7218 priest H3548 of the house H1004 of Zadok H6659 answered H559 him, and said, H559 Since the people began H2490 to bring H935 the offerings H8641 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 we have had enough H7646 to eat, H398 and have left H3498 plenty: H7230 for the LORD H3068 hath blessed H1288 his people; H5971 and that which is left H3498 is this great store. H1995
Will a man H120 rob H6906 God? H430 Yet ye have robbed H6906 me. But ye say, H559 Wherein have we robbed H6906 thee? In tithes H4643 and offerings. H8641 Ye are cursed H779 with a curse: H3994 for ye have robbed H6906 me, even this whole nation. H1471 Bring H935 ye all the tithes H4643 into the storehouse, H214 that there may be meat H2964 in mine house, H1004 and prove H974 me now herewith, H2063 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 if I will not open H6605 you the windows H699 of heaven, H8064 and pour you out H7324 a blessing, H1293 that there shall not be room enough H1767 to receive it. And I will rebuke H1605 the devourer H398 for your sakes, and he shall not destroy H7843 the fruits H6529 of your ground; H127 neither shall your vine H1612 cast her fruit H7921 before the time in the field, H7704 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635 And all nations H1471 shall call you blessed: H833 for ye shall be a delightsome H2656 land, H776 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
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.