Nehemiah 10
1 Now those that set their seal were: Nehemiah the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zedekiah;
(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 Hattush, 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 were the priests.
Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah.
9 And the Levites: Jeshua the 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 brethren, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan;
Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah;
Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah;
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.
Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
14 The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, 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, Hezekiah, Azzur;
Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai;
Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai;
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir;
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua;
Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah;
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub;
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek;
Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah;
Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 and Ahiah, 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 porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one that 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 they cleaved to their brethren, 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;
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 would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for 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 if the peoples of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego 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 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel 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 the showbread, and for the continual meal-offering, and for the continual burnt-offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the appointed seasons, and for the holy things, and for the sin-offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for 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 cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, 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 upon 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 all fruit of all manner of trees, year by year, unto 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 also the first-born of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto 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 that we should bring the first of our dough, and our heave-offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the wine and the oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our land unto the Levites; for they, the Levites, take 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 the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes; and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into 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 the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the heave-offering of the corn, of the wine, and of the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, 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].”
