Nehemiah 10

Now those who sealed were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,

Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,

Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

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

The Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;

and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

Hariph, Anathoth, Nobai,

Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,

Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters—everyone who had knowledge and understanding—

joined with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;

and that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;

and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year crops and the exaction of every debt.

Also we made ordinances for ourselves, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:

for the show bread, for the continual meal offering, for the continual burnt offering, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers’ houses, at times appointed year by year, to burn on the LORD our God’s altar, as it is written in the law;

and to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all fruit of all kinds of trees, year by year, to the LORD’s house;

also the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, 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, to the priests who minister in the house of our God;

and that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, our wave offerings, the fruit of all kinds of trees, and the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground to the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all our farming villages.

The priest, the descendent of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes. The Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms, into the treasure house.

For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the wave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the rooms where the vessels of the sanctuary are, and the priests who minister, with the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not forsake the house of our God.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter records the solemn covenant renewal made by the leaders and people of Israel after the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt. Following the public reading of the Law and widespread repentance, key figures formally sealed a binding agreement to obey God’s commandments, outlining specific commitments regarding religious, social, and economic life in the restored community.

Flow.

Begins with a list of the signatories: priests, Levites, and leaders of the people who officially sealed the covenant.
Describes the broader population—including priests, Levites, and ordinary Israelites—who joined the leadership in a binding oath to follow the Law of Moses.
Enumerates specific commitments: avoiding intermarriage with surrounding peoples, keeping the Sabbath by refusing commerce on that day, observing the sabbatical year, and canceling debts.
Details provisions for the ongoing support of temple worship: a yearly tax for temple service, regular wood offerings, and faithful delivery of firstfruits, firstborn, and tithes to priests and Levites.

Connections.
Following chapter 9, where the people confess sin and recount God’s faithfulness in history, this chapter enacts that repentance through concrete vows of obedience. The theological reflection and worship of chapter 9 is now matched with practical, communal accountability. The commitments made here—especially regarding Sabbath keeping and temple support—set the stage for the corrective reforms Nehemiah enforces in chapter 13, when he discovers violations of this very covenant. The pattern of hearing the Law (chapter 8), responding in worship and confession (9), covenanting anew (10), and later enforcing fidelity (13) forms a cohesive arc of renewal.

What it teaches.
The chapter affirms the seriousness of covenant obligation before God, grounded in the Law given through Moses. The people bind themselves under oath to keep God’s commandments, particularly those safeguarding Israel’s holiness and worship (WCF 19.1; HC LD 34). Their separation from surrounding nations reflects the call to be a holy people (), while their financial provisions for the temple uphold the divinely instituted roles of priests and Levites (; WCF 22.5). The tithe and firstfruits are not merely economic obligations but acts of worship, ensuring the continual service of God’s house—an expression of gratitude and dependence upon God’s provision (HC LD 39).

Apply.
Faithful obedience involves binding oneself to regular, tangible practices that sustain communal worship and resist compromise.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.