Nehemiah 10
1 And over those sealed [are] Nehemiah the Tirshatha, son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
(This is a list/These are the names) of those who signed the agreement: I, Nehemiah, the governor; and also Zedekiah.
2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
The priests who signed it were: Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,
Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,
4 Huttush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these [are] the priests.
Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah.
9 And the Levites: both Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
The [other] descendants of Levi who signed it were: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui from the clan of Henadad, Kadmiel,
10 and their brothers: Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
14 Heads of the people: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
The Israeli leaders who signed it were: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 and Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.
28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and everyone who has been separated from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every knowing intelligent one,
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 are laying hold on their brothers, their majestic ones, and coming into an execration and an oath, to walk in the Law of God, that was given by the hand of Moses, servant of God, and to observe and to do all the commands of YHWH our Lord, and His judgments, and His statutes;
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 do not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, and we do not 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 the peoples of the land who are bringing in the wares and any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we do not receive of them on the Sabbath, and on a holy day, and we leave the seventh year, and usury on every hand.
“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 have appointed for ourselves commands, to put on ourselves the third of a shekel in a year, 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 for bread of the arrangement, and the continual present, and the continual burnt-offering of the Sabbaths, of the new moons, for appointed times, and for holy things, and for sin-offerings, to make atonement for Israel, even all the work 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 have caused the lots to fall for the offering of wood, [among] the priests, the Levites, and the people, to bring into the house of our God, by the house of our fathers, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of our God YHWH, 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 in the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of YHWH,
“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 and the firstlings of our sons, and of our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and the firstlings of our herds and our flocks, to bring into the house of our God, to the priests who are ministering 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 beginning of our dough, and our raised-offerings, and the fruit of every tree, of new wine, and of oil, we bring to the priests, into the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites; and they—the Levites—have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage;
“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, son of Aaron, has been with the Levites in the tithing of the Levites, and the Levites bring up the tithe of the tithe to the house of our God to the chambers, to the treasure-house;
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 they bring to the chambers—the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi—the raised-offering of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, and there [are] vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests, those ministering, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and we do 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].”
