Neemias 10
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Neemias 10:28-31
10:28 This mentions several groups that served in the temple. ▣ "all those who had knowledge and understanding" See note at Neh. 8:2. This seems to refer to the children. 10:29 "a curse and an oath to walk in God's law" This is a covenant renewal service much like Jos. 8:30-35 and 24:1ff. These renewal ceremonies were based on the covenant blessings and cursings summarized in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. Obedience and disobedience had consequences in this life and the next! The term "walk" is a biblical metaphor for lifestyle faith. God's word/teachings are a path for His people to follow (e.g., Ps. 119:105; Pro. 6:23). ▣ "the commandments. . .ordinances. . .statutes" The revelation of God to God is characterized by several terms. Notice the list and parallelism of Ps. 19:7-9. Special Topic: Terms for God's Revelation "God our Lord" NKJV, NRSV, TEV "the Lord our Lord" "Yahweh our Lord" The first term is YHWH, the covenant name for God (cf. Gen. 2:4). The second is Adon, which meant husband, owner, master, or lord. Special Topic: Names for Deity, C. 10:30 "and that we will not give our daughters to the people of the land or take their daughters for our sons" This does not refer to racial exclusion, but religious exclusion (cf. Exod. 34:12-16; Ezra 9:10; Neh. 13:23-28). This was a major issue in restored Judah. 10:31 "As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell" The indigenous habitants of the Persian province who were supposedly "YHWHistic" were violating the Sabbath requirements. This is one example of the problems of trying to work with or associate with the inhabitants who were in the land when the returnees arrived. Special Topic: Sabbath (OT) ▣ "and we will forgo the crops the seventh year" This is a second feature of Mosaic law which was a means of acknowledging YHWH's ownership of the land and His care and concern for the needy (cf. Exod. 23:10-11; Lev. 25:4-7,20-22). ▣ "and the exaction of every debt" This is a third element related to Moses' law. All debts were cancelled on the seventh year (cf. Deut. 15:1-2; 31:10), which was called the Sabbath year. They were serious about reinstating the Mosaic law in its fullness. YHWH had a special care and concern for the poor and powerless.
Neemias 10:32-33
10:32 "to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God" In Exod. 30:11-16, it is a half of a shekel given to the tabernacle, but it is not given annually. Exactly what the fee paid for is delineated in Neh. 10:33. In the pre-exilic period, the king supported the cost of the temple, but in the post-exilic community the cost was shared among the people. 10:33 "the showbread" See Exod. 25:23-30. Special Topic: Show Bread of the Presence ▣ "the continual grain offering" See Num. 28:1-8. ▣ "the continual burnt offering" See Exod. 29:38-42; Num. 28:1-.8 ▣ "the sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times" See Num. 28:9-10,11-15; 29:39-40. Special Topic: Feasts of Israel ▣ "for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel" See Lev. 4:1-5:13 and Num. 15:23-29. Special Topic: Atonement
Neemias 10:34-39
10:34 "we cast lots for the supply of wood" The casting of lots was a mechanical way (like the Urim and Thummim) to discern God's will. In this case the lots help divide the responsibility for wood for the burnt offerings among the returnees. Each family was responsible for a period of time. This later turns into a feast (cf. Josephus, Wars 17.6) Special Topic: Urim and Thummim 10:35 "the first fruits" Giving God the first ripened fruit was a way to show God's ownership of the entire harvest. These offerings helped support the priests. See Exod. 22:29; 23:19; 34:26; Deut. 26:1-11; and Ezek. 44:30. 10:36 "the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle" this was a way to show God's ownership of all things. See Exodus 13. Special Topic: Firstborn 10:37 "we will also bring the first of our dough" See Lev. 23:17. ▣ "and the tithe of our ground to the Levites" See Lev. 27:30. Special Topic: Thithing in the Mosaic Legislation 10:38 "The priest. . .shall be with the Levites" This was one of the checks and balances procedures installed to insure the taxation system. ▣ "the tenth of the tithes" The Levites were required to tithe to the priests (cf. Num. 18:26). In the OT there were many Levites so the priests got all they needed from their tithe, but in these days there were few Levites. The priests, however, did not want to alter the Mosaic regulations. There is some confusion about exactly how the tithing system in Israel worked. From Deut. 14:22-29 individuals brought a tithe to the central sanctuary for two years the third year the tithe was paid locally to benefit the poor every seventh year the fields lay fallow so there was no tithe of produce In this passage (Neh. 10:32-39), all non-produce items were brought to the priests in Jerusalem, but the produce was brought to the Levites in the local towns, who then tithed that to Jerusalem. The special offerings like "the first fruits" or "first born" were also taken to Jerusalem. Special Topic: Tithing in the Mosaic Legislation 10:39 "new wine" See Special Topic: Biblical Attitudes Toward Alcohol and Alcoholism. ▣ "Thus we will not neglect the house of our God" All of the provisions mentioned in Neh. 10:34-39 were to equip the temple and its personnel for its regular duties.