Nehemiah 10:1-39 - Exposition

1. The prohibition of intermarriage with the neighbouring idolatrous nations (verse 30);

2. The command to hallow the sabbath;

3. The law concerning the sabbatical year (verse 31);

4. The law of firstfruits (verses 35-37);

5. The obligation to pay tithes to the sacerdotal order (verses 37, 38).

Finally, they undertook certain new obligations, not expressly contained in the law, but perhaps regarded as flowing from it by way of natural consequence, or else as desirable modes of carrying out its provisions.

These were three in number, viz.—

1. The entire abolition of the custom which had grown up of lending money to their brethren upon pledge (see Nehemiah 5:3-13 );

2. The support of the temple service by an annual tax upon each adult male, which was fixed for the present at the rate of one-third part of a shekel (verse. 32); and,

3. The supply of the wood requisite for keeping the fire alight upon the great altar, and for consuming the various offerings (verse 34).

It is-remarkable that these two latter regulations became permanent national institutions, maintaining themselves into Roman times, when we find them still continuing (see Matthew 17:24 ; Joseph; 'Bell. Jud.,' Matthew 2:17 , § 6).