Y2 u 1-. The chief. Nehemiah the Governor.
v -1-8. The priests.
v 9-13. The Levites.
u 14-27. The chiefs of the people.
(This chapter is parallel with the last chapter of Ezra [10:1-44]. Consequently all beyond it is supplementary [chronologically]. See 9:1)
404. B.C.
Nehemiah 10)
1 Now those that sealed were (these are stated by the Taludial writings, and the unanimous voice of tradition to have formed "The Great Synagogue". It consisted at first 120 members, but was afterward reduced to 70. It represented the 5 divisions of the nation: [1] the chief priests; [2] the chief Levites; [3] the chiefs of the people; [4] the representatives of the city; [5] the doctors of the law. Its work was by solemn oath : [1] not to intermarry with the heathen; [2] to keep the sabbath; [3] to keep the sabbatical year; [4] to pay annually 1/3 of a shekel to the temple; [5] to supply wood for the altar; [6] to pay the priestly dues; [7] to collect and preserve the canonical scriptures. The Great Synagogue lasted 110 years: from Nehemiah to Simon the Just, when, having completed its work, it became known as the Sanhedrim) of the N.T., the supreme council of the Jewish nation; which rejected the kingdom, and crucified the King [Messiah. It was mixed with Kenites [the sons of Cain, the son of Satan]), Nehemiah, the Tirshatha (see Ezra 2:43), 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 heads of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, 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, (see Ezra 2:43)
and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God (see Ex. 17:14), their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;
29 They clove to their brethren, their nobles,
Y3 w -29,30. The People. Marriages.
x 31. The sabbath.
x 32-37. The Temple.
w 38,39. The Priests, &c. Service.
and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God (the 1st of 4 occurrences of this expression in the Hebrew Bible. See Dan. 9:11. 1 Chron. 6:49; 2 Chron. 24:9), and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD (Yehovah) our Lord (Adonai - our sovereign Lord), and His judgments and His statutes; (See Det. 4:1)
30 And that we would not give our daughters to the people of the land, not take their daughters for our sons:
31 And if the people of the land bring wares or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell (this observation of the sabbath ensured the reading of God's Word, and the multiplication of copies), that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave (i.e. forgo the produce of the 7th year) the seventh year (Ex. 23:10,11. Lev. 25:2,7), and the exaction of every debt. (Cp. 5:10,11, and Deut. 15:2; especially in the year of release)
x C1 32. Money. C2 33,34. Provisions. C3 35-39. First-fruits and tithes.
32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel (1 shekel = 2/5 oz. U.S.) for the service of the house of our God;
33 For the show-bread, and for the continual meal (or gift) 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 (see 1 Kings 12:17), and for all the work of the house of our God (Elohim).
34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering (not prescribed by the law. Josephus calls it Xylophory, or wood-bearing. A feast kept on the 22nd of Ab, and at other times), 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: (See Ex. 17:14)
35 And to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to 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 first-lings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, to the priests that minister in the house of our God:
37 And that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our heave offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of new wine and of oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground to 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 to the house of our God, to the chambers, attached to the treasure house.
39 For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, to the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not fail to provide the house of our God.