Nehemiah 10
1 (This is a list/These are the names) of those who signed the agreement: I, Nehemiah, the governor; and also Zedekiah.
And the subscribers were Nehemias, Athersatha the son of Hachelai, and Sedecias,
2 The priests who signed it were: Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
Saraias, Azarias, Jeremias,
3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,
Pheshur, Amarias, Melchias,
4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
Hattus, Sebenia, Melluch,
5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
Harem, Merimuth, Obdias,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
Daniel, Genthon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
Mosollam, Abia, Miamin,
8 Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah.
Maazia, Belgia, Semeia: these were priests.
9 The [other] descendants of Levi who signed it were: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui from the clan of Henadad, Kadmiel,
And the Levites, Josue the son of Azanias, Bennui of the sons of Henadad. Cedmihel,
10 Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
And their brethren, Sebenia, Oduia, Celita, Phalaia, Hanan,
11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
Micha, Rohob, Hasebia,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
Zachur, Serebia, Sabania,
13 Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
Odaia, Bani, Baninu.
14 The Israeli leaders who signed it were: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
The heads of the people, Pharos, Phahath Moab, Elam, Zethu, Bani,
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
Bonni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
Adonia, Begoai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
Ater, Hezecia, Azur,
18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
Odaia, Hasum, Besai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
Hareph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
Megphias, Mosollam, Hazir,
21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
Mesizabel, Sadoc, Jeddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
Pheltia, Hanan, Anaia,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
Osee, Hanania, Hasub,
24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
Alohes, Phalea, Sobec,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
Rehum, Hasebna, Maasia,
26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
Echaia, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.
Melluch, Haran, Baana:
28 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].
And the rest of the people, priests, Levites, porters, and singing men, Nathinites, and all that had separated themselves from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters.
29 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: ]
All that could understand promising for their brethren, with their chief men, and they came to promise, and swear that they would walk in the law of God, which he gave in the hand of Moses the servant of God, that they would do and keep all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his judgments and his ceremonies.
30 “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.
And that we would not give our daughters to the people of the land, not take their daughters for our sons.
31 “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).
And if the people of the land bring in things to sell, or any things for use, to sell them on the sabbath day, that we would not buy them of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day. And that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every hand.
32 “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.
And we made ordinances for ourselves, to give the third part of a side every year for the work of the house of our God,
33 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.
For the leaves of proposition, and for the continual sacrifice, and for a continual holocaust on the sabbaths, on the new moons, on the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offering: that atonement might be made for Israel, and for every use of the house of our God.
34 “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].
And we cast lots among the priests, and the Levites, and the people for the offering of wood, that it might be brought into the house of our God by the houses of our fathers at set times, from year to year: to burn upon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law of Moses:
35 “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].
And that we would bring the first fruits of our land, and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, from year to year, in the house of our Lord.
36 “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].
And the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our oxen, and of our sheep, to be offered in the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God.
37 “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.
And that we would bring the firstfruits of our meats, and of our libations, and the fruit of every tree, of the vintage also and of oil to the priests, to the storehouse of our God, and the tithes of our ground to the Levites. The Levites also shall receive the tithes of our works out of all the cities.
38 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.
And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites in the tithes of the Levites, and the Levites shall offer the tithe of their tithes in the house of our God, to the storeroom into the treasure house.
39 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].”
For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall carry to the treasury the firstfruits of corn, of wine, and of oil: and the sanctified vessels shall be there, and the priests, and the singing men, and the porters, and ministers, and we will not forsake the house of our God.
