(35) And to bring.—Following “we made ordinances” (Nehemiah 10:32). The various firstfruits are specified according to the Mosaic law, which made this expression of natural piety an obligation; and the minuteness of the specification implies that neglect had crept in. read more
(36) The firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle.—Similarly collocated in Numbers 16:15-16; but there the cattle are defined as “unclean beasts,” thus distinguished from “the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks.” The latter were to be brought to “the priests that minister” for sacrifice; the former were, with the sons, to be redeemed by money, according to the priests’ valuation. read more
(37) To the chambers of the house of our God.—To the store-chambers, minutely described as they were of old in 1 Kings 6:0, Hezekiah appears to have added formerly a treasure-house for the tithes, referred to in the next verse (2 Chronicles 31:11).In all the cities of our tillage.—Agricultural towns, so called here with reference to the fruits of the earth, which were deposited first in certain selected places. read more
THE COVENANTNehemiah 10:1-39THE tenth chapter of Nehemiah introduces us to one of the most vital crises in the History of Israel. It shows us how the secret cult of the priests of Jehovah became a popular religion. The process was brought to a focus in the public reading of The Law; it was completed in the acceptance of The Law which the sealing of the covenant ratified. This event may be compared with the earlier scene, when the law book discovered in the temple by Hilkiah was accepted and... read more
CHAPTER 10 1. Those who sealed the covenant (Nehemiah 10:1-27 ) 2. The obligations of the covenant (Nehemiah 10:28-39 ) Nehemiah 10:1-27 . The last verse of the preceding chapter mentions a covenant. “And yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal unto it.” In this chapter we find the names of the heads of the different houses who sealed the covenant, which means they put their signature to it. According to talmudical... read more
10:36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as [it is] {h} 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:(h) This rehearsal shows that there was no part or ceremony in the Law, to which they did not bind themselves by covenant. read more
10:37 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 {i} tillage.(i) Wherever we laboured or worked, there the tithes were due to the Lord both by the law, and according to the oath and covenant that we made. read more
THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO SEALED (vv. 1-27) Nehemiah is first mentioned as having endorsed the covenant, then 22 priests listed along with him (vv. 1-8). Then 17 Levites are listed (vv. 9-13), followed by 44 leaders of the people (vv. 14-27). We may wonder if some of them did not have doubts about their ability to keep the covenant, or of the likelihood that they would. No doubt they wanted to express their desire to obey the Lord at least. The Lord did not say at this time what He thought of... read more
INTERNAL REGULATIONS A NEW GENEALOGICAL RECORD (Nehemiah 7:0 ) The need for this assignment of duty to the two men named (Nehemiah 7:2 ), is not apparent unless Nehemiah contemplated a return to Persia. Later it will be seen that such return took place, but whether at this time or not, is not clear. To “fear God above many,” as Hananiah did, is a great commendation. It was customary to open the gates of a city at sunrise, but to do so in this case before the inhabitants were well awake and... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Nehemiah 10:28-39
(28-39) The points of the covenant. read more