Nehemiah 10

The Leaders Who Sealed the Covenant

1 Those who placed their seals on the document were Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah.

2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,

4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

8 Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.

9 The Levites: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui from the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel.

10 And their associates: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13 Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

14 The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,

27 Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

The Covenant to Follow God’s Commands

28 The rest of the people, the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the surrounding peoples to obey God’s Law, along with their wives, sons, and daughters who could understand,

29 Joined with their fellow Israelites and their nobles. They bound themselves with a curse and an oath to follow God’s Law given through Moses, and to obey all the LORD’s commands, regulations, and decrees.

30 “We will not give our daughters to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons.”

31 “If the neighboring peoples bring goods or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or any holy day. Every seventh year we will let the land rest and cancel all debts.”

32 “We assume responsibility for the annual tax of one-third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:

33 For the bread on the table, regular grain offerings, burnt offerings, offerings on the Sabbaths, new moons, and appointed festivals, and for the holy offerings, sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the duties of the house of our God.”

Offerings and Tithes for the Temple

34 “We, the priests, Levites, and people, cast lots to determine when each family would bring wood to the temple at set times every year, to keep the fire burning on the altar, as written in the Law.”

35 “We will bring the firstfruits of our crops and every fruit tree to the house of the LORD each year.”

36 “We will bring our firstborn sons and firstborn cattle, as written in the Law, and present them to the priests serving in the house of our God.”

37 “We will also bring the first batch of our ground meal, our offerings, the fruit of all our trees, and our new wine and oil to the storerooms of the house of our God. We will bring a tenth of our crops to the Levites, since they collect the tithes in all our towns.”

38 “A priest, a descendant of Aaron, will be with the Levites when they receive the tithes. And the Levites will bring a tenth of the tithes up to the storerooms in the house of our God.”

39 “The people of Israel, along with the Levites, will bring their contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the sacred articles are kept, and where the ministers, gatekeepers, and singers stay. We will not neglect the house of our God.”