Nehemiah 10
The names on the documents
The seals have the names of Nehemiah (the governor, Hacaliah’s son),
The priests: Zedekiah, Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah
The Levites: Jeshua (Azaniah’s son), Binnui (from Henadad’s lineage), and Kadmiel. Also their brothers: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Bani, an Beninu.
The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
Israel commits to follow God’s Law
“The rest of the people (including the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and anyone who separated himself from the secular people on behalf of God’s Law along with their families) join their brothers and their nobles in entering a curse and an oath to live according to God’s Law that was given to Moses and to observe and follow all of the Existing One’s orders, rules, and instructions.
We won’t let our children marry the secular people, and if they sell anything on the Sabbath or on a holy day, we won’t buy it. Every 7 years we will not harvest [like it says in Exodus 23:10–11], and we’ll forgive debts [like it says in Deuteronomy 15:1–2].
We also commit to give 3.3 grams every year to help pay for the maintenance of God’s house: for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the holiday feasts, the holy things, the sin offerings that make amends for Israel, and all the work that is done in God’s house.
We, the priests, Levites, and the people, have cast lots to see who should bring the wood offering into God’s house at the appointed times to burn on our God the Existing One’s altar like the Law instructs.
We commit to give the firstfruits from all our trees to the Existing One’s house every year. We commit to give our firstborn sons and firstborn livestock to the priests who minister in God’s house, just like the Law says. We will also give our contributions, the first of our dough, the first from our trees, our wine, and our oil to the priests who live in our God’s house. We’ll give the Levites tithes from our crops since they’re the ones who collect the tithes in our towns. The priest (Aaron’s descendant) will be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes.
The Levites will then give a tithe from their tithes to God’s storage rooms. Israel’s people and Levi’s descendants will put the contribution of grain, wine, and oil in the storage rooms where the vessels for the sanctuary are along with the ministering priests, gatekeepers, and singers. We will not neglect the house where our God lives.