1.
Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
those that sealed. These are stated by the Talmudical writings, and the unanimous voice of tradition, to have formed "The Great Synagogue". It consisted at first of 120 members, but was afterward reduced to seventy. It represented the five divisions of the nation:
(1) the chiefs of the priests;
(2) the chief Levites;
(3) the chiefs of the people;
(4) the representatives of the cities;
(5) the doctors of the law. Its work was (by solemn oath):
(1) not to intermarry with the heathen;
(2) to keep the sabbath;
(3) to keep the sabbatical year;
(4) to pay annually [a portion?] of a shekel to the temple;
(5) to supply wood for the altar;
(6) to pay the priestly dues;
(7) to collect and preserve the canonical scriptures.
The Great Synagogue lasted 110 years: from Nehemiah to Simon the Just, when, having completed its work, it became known as the Sanhedrim of the NT., the supreme council of the Jewish nation; which rejected the kingdom, and crucified the King (Messiah).
Tirshatha. See note on Ezra 2:63 .
2.
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3.
Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4.
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5.
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6.
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7.
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8.
Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
9.
And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10.
And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11.
Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12.
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13.
Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
14.
The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
chief = heads.
15.
Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16.
Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17.
Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
18.
Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19.
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20.
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21.
Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22.
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23.
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24.
Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
25.
Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26.
And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27.
Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28.
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;
Nethinims. See note on Ezra 2:43 .
people = peoples.
the law of God. See Exodus 17:14 and App-47 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4 . I
29.
They clave 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 judgments and his statutes;
given. See App-47 .
Moses the servant of God. The first four occurrences of this expression in the Hebrew Bible. See Dan 9:11 . 1 Chronicles 6:49 , 2 Chronicles 24:9 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
our Lord. Hebrew our Adonai. App-4 . = our sovereign Lord. Compare Psalms 8:1 , Psalms 8:9 .
statutes. See note on Deuteronomy 4:1 .
30.
And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:
31.
And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
ware = wares. Hebrew, plural only here.
on the sabbath. Compare Nehemiah 9:14 ; Nehemiah 13:15 , Nehemiah 13:16 , Nehemiah 13:18 , Nehemiah 13:19 , Nehemiah 13:21 . This observation of the sabbath ensured the reading of God's Word, and the multiplication of copies.
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
leave, &c.: i.e. forego the produce of the seventh year.
the seventh year. See Exodus 23:10 , Exodus 23:11 .Leviticus 25:2 , Leviticus 25:7 .
the exaction of every debt. Hebrew = the burden of every bond. Compare Nehemiah 5:10 , Nehemiah 5:11 , and Deuteronomy 15:2 ; especially in the year of release.
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;
33.
For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
meat offering = gift, or meal offering. Hebrew. min-chah.
burnt offering. App-43 .
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .
34.
And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:
the wood offering. Hebrew the offering of wood. Figure of speech Hypallage. App-6 . Not prescribed by the law. Josephus calls it Xylophory, or wood-bearing. A feast kept on the 22nd of Ab, and at other times.
burn. Hebrew. ba'ar, to consume. Not yazath (as in Nehemiah 1:3 ; Nehemiah 2:17 ); or saraph (as in Nehemiah 4:2 . App-43 .)
written in the law. See note on Exodus 17:14 , and App-47 .
35.
And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:
36.
Also the firstborn 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:
37.
And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
offerings = heave offerings. See App-43 .
wine = new wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .
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.
into = attached to.
39.
For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and 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.
children = sons.
not forsake: not fail to provide for. Septuagint has same word as Hebrews 10:25 , egkataleipontes.