Nehemiah 10
1 And over them that sealed were Neemias the Artasastha, son of Achalia, and Zedekias,
(This is a list/These are the names) of those who signed the agreement: I, Nehemiah, the governor; and also Zedekiah.
2 the son of Araea, and Azaria, and Jeremia,
The priests who signed it were: Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Phasur, Amaria, Melchia,
Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,
4 Attus, Sebani, Maluch,
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 Iram, Meramoth, Abdia,
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Gannathon, Baruch,
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Mesulam, Abia, Miamin,
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 Maazia, Belgai, Samaia; these [were] priests.
Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah.
9 And the Levites; Jesus the son of Azania, Banaiu of the sons of Enadad, Cadmiel
The [other] descendants of Levi who signed it were: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui from the clan of Henadad, Kadmiel,
10 and his brethren, Sabania, Oduia, Calitan, Phelia, Anan,
Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Micha, Roob, Asebias,
Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zacchor, Sarabia, Sebania,
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Odum, the sons of Banuae.
Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
14 The heads of the people; Phoros, Phaath Moab, Elam, Zathuia,
The Israeli leaders who signed it were: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15 the sons of Bani, Asgad, Bebai,
Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adania, Bagoi, Hedin
Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Ezekia, Azur,
Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18 Oduia, Esam, Besi,
Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Ariph, Anathoth, Nobai,
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Megaphes, Mesullam, Ezir,
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Mesozebel, Saduc, Jeddua,
Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Phaltia, Anan, Anaea,
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Osee, Anania, Asub,
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24 Aloes, Phalai, Sobec,
Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25 Reum, Essabana, Maasia,
Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 and Aia, Aenan, Enam,
Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Maluch, Eram, Baana.
Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.
28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nathinim, and every one who drew off from the nations of the land to the law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, every one who had knowledge and understanding,
Then the rest of the people also made a solemn agreement. The people who did it included priests, temple gatekeepers, singers, and temple workers. They also included all the men from other countries who had separated themselves from the other foreigners living in Israel. These men, along with their wives, their sons and daughters who were old enough to understand [what they were doing, were people who wanted to obey God’s laws].
29 were urgent with their brethren, and bound them under a curse, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in the law of God, which was given by the hand of Moses, the servant of God; to keep and to do all the commandments of the Lord, and his judgments, and his ordinances;
They all joined with their leaders in making this solemn agreement. They agreed to obey all the laws that God had given to Moses. They agreed to obey everything that Yahweh our God had commanded, and all his regulations and instructions. [And this is what they promised to do: ]
30 and that we will not, [they said, ]give our daughters to the people of the land, nor will we take their daughters to our sons.
“We will not allow our daughters to marry people who live in this land [who do not worship Yahweh], and we will not allow our sons to marry them.
31 And [as for] the people of the land who bring wares and all [manner of] merchandise to sell on the sabbath-day, we [will] not buy of them on the sabbath or on the holy day: and we will leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
“If people from other countries who live in this land bring us grain or other things to sell to us on Sabbath days or any other sacred day, we will not buy anything from them. And in every seventh year, we will not plant any crops, and we will (cancel all debts/declare that people will no longer have to pay back what they owe us).
32 And we will impose ordinances upon ourselves, to levy on ourselves the third part of a didrachm yearly for the service of the house of our God;
“We also promise that every year we will pay (one-eighth of an ounce/4 grams) of silver for the work of taking care of the temple.
33 the show bread, and the continual meat-offering, and for the continual whole burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moon, for the feast, and for the holy things, and the sin-offerings, to make atonement for Israel, and for the works of the house of our God.
With that money they can buy these things: The sacred bread [that is placed before God], the grain that is burned [on the altar] each day, the lambs that were completely burned [on the altar], the sacred offerings for the Sabbath days and for celebrating each new moon and other festivals that God told us to celebrate, and other offerings that are dedicated to God, the animals to be sacrificed to atone for the sins of the Israeli people, and anything else that is needed for the work of taking care of the temple.
34 And we cast lots for the office of wood-bearing, [we] the priests, and the Levites, and the people, to bring [wood] into the house of our God, according to the house of our families, at certain set times, year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law:
“Each year the priests, the [other] descendants of Levi who help the priests, and the rest of us will (cast lots/throw marked stones) to determine [for that year] which clans will provide wood to burn on the altar the sacrifices that are offered to Yahweh our God, in order to do what was written in the laws [God gave to Moses].
35 and to bring the first fruits of our land, and the first fruits of the fruit of every tree, year by year, into the house of the Lord:
“We promise that each year each family will take to the temple an offering from the first grain that we harvest and from the first fruit that grows on our trees [that year].
36 the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, for the priests that minister in the house of our God.
“Also, we will take to the priests at the temple our firstborn sons and dedicate them to God. And we will also bring firstborn calves and lambs and baby goats [to be offered as sacrifices]. That is what is written in God’s laws [that we must do].
37 And the first fruits of our corn, and the fruit of every tree, of wine, and of oil, will we bring to the priests to the treasury of the house of God; and a tithe of our land to the Levites: for the Levites themselves shall receive tithes in all the cities of the land we cultivate.
“We will also take to the priests at the temple the flour made from the first grain [that we harvest each year], and our other offerings of wine, [olive] oil, and fruit. We will also take to the descendants of Levi [who help the priests] the tithes/10% of [the crops that we grow on] our land, because they are the ones who collect the tithes in all the villages where we work/live.
38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites in the tithe of the Levite: and the Levites shall bring up the tenth part of [their] tithe to the house of our God, into the treasuries of the house of God.
The priests who are descendants of Aaron will be with the [other] descendants of Levi and supervise them when they collect the tithes. Then the descendants of Levi must take 10% of the things that people bring and put them in the storerooms in the temple.
39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring into the treasuries the first fruits of the corn, and wine, and oil; and there [are] the holy vessels, and the priests, and the ministers, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
The descendants of Levi and [some of] the other Israeli people must take 10% of the offerings of grain, wine, and [olive] oil to the storerooms where the various utensils that are used in the temple are kept. That is the place where the priests who are serving at that time, the temple guards, and those who sing in the temple choir live. [We promise that] we will not neglect [taking care of the temple of our God].”
