Heritage Reformed Baptist Mission
NEHEMIAH
Chapter 10
Summary Commentary
Here are listed the names of 85 priests, Levites and leaders of the people, with Nehemiah at the head, who signed the covenant mentioned at the end of Chapter 9. Those who did not sign - "the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding" - are described as being in total agreement with the covenant. They all swore "to walk in God's Law . . . and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and His rules and His statutes."
The things to which they swore included the following:
1. No intermarriage with the peoples of the land.
2. Strict observance of the Sabbath and holy days.
3. Observance of letting the ground lie fallow and forgiving of debts every 7 years.
4. Giving yearly support to the Temple service.
5. Gathering the necessary wood for the altar fire.
6. Giving of the firstfruits of crops and fruit trees every year.
7. Dedication of firstborn sons and of cattle and of herds and of flocks.
8. Giving the first of dough, tree fruit, wine, oil.
9. Tithing, first to the Levites who then give a tithe to the priests.
10. Not to neglect the "house of our God".
As they committed themselves to do all of these things, everyone of which was commanded in the Law of Moses, so we should be constantly and totally committed to do those things which are commanded in the New Covenant, doing those good works which God has ordained (Galatians 2:10) in love for our Lord and for one another. Just as the Law of Moses described specific things the people should do in obedience to the LORD, so the New Covenant describes specific things for us. Diligent study of God's Word will teach us what they are. The Holy Spirit within us will will give us both the desire and the ability to do them.