Nehemiah

Chapters 8-10

Leon L. Combs, B.S., M.A., M.Div., Ph.D.

Chapter Eight

Neh 8:1-8 And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel.

The description in this chapter does not occur immediately after Ezra returned to Jerusalem but years later. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in 458 B.C., the seventh year of King Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:7-8) and Nehemiah arrived thirteen years later in 445 B.C., the twentieth year of Artaxerxes (Neh 2:1). Now the people gathered in front of the Water Gate and asked Ezra to come to them with the book of the Law of Moses that He had given to Israel. The Water Gate is seen on the right at the bottom third of this map that we have seen before:

We have seen previously that the water is symbolic of the Word of God so it is very appropriate that this site was chosen for the reading of the Law. We see their great respect for Ezra by asking him to come to them to read the Law as was also ordered earlier: Num 21:16 From there they continued to Beer, that is the well where the LORD said to Moses, "Assemble the people, that I may give them water." It is instructive to us today to see the people taking the initiative in asking for a reading of the Law. It is also important to note that this ceremony was not led by the priesthood and was not in the Temple. From this time forward the Torah was more important to

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the Israelites than the Temple. They did not worship the book but the One who was the Author of the book and they wanted to hear what He had to say to them. Similarly for Christians, the bible should be more important than any church building. Although Christians often need help in understanding properly the Word, a member of the priesthood is not required. The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to bring about sanctification in the life of the Child of God. Ezra was recognized as a priest but he was not a member of the priesthood that controlled the temple functions. They needed an expert of the Law as so do people today but those experts do not have to be members of some ruling class in an assembly of God’s people.

Neh 8:2-8Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. (3) He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. (4) Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand. (5) Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. (6) Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. (7) Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. (8) They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

Ezra then read the Law to all those who could understand what he was saying. This included men, women, and children of sufficient maturity to so understand. Ezra then read from the book for about six hours as the people stood attentively. The people constructed a wooded podium from which Ezra stood and read so all could see him and listen carefully. On his right side stood six Levites and on his left side stood seven Levites all of whom were prepared to explain the law to the people while they all remained in their place. During captivity the people largely spoke Aramaic so there was a great need for someone to explain the meaning of the Hebrew words to the people. When he read the law the people stood in attention. Ezra then blessed the LORD and all the people answered with “Amen, Amen” while lifting their hands in praise of the LORD. They then all bowed low to the ground in subjection to Him.

Is this a model for modern practices of reading and preaching the Bible? After the Reformation, churches tended to have elevated pulpits analogously to the platform on which Ezra stood. But a danger to this practice is that people might tend to elevate the person rather than the Book. Certainly standing to read the Book is a symbol of respect and is a good standard. In some churches people in the congregation will also stand in reference to the Word being read. If people are able to so stand that is also a good sign of respect. Some churches frown upon people saying amen while the Word is being read but I see no objection to such as long as the person is not trying to draw attention to himself.

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Is it appropriate today to have people at the reading of the Book to explain it to those in attendance? Certainly such is very appropriate if there are a significant number of people present who cannot understand the language such as those who are deaf or if a lot of people do not have the language being read as their native language. For example some churches will have people translating the message into English or Spanish for those in attendance. It is very difficult in America to properly understand the Bible because it was written in a language different from what we speak and it was written at a very different time and to a very different culture. An important principle is that no part of it can mean something different than what it meant to the people to whom it was originally written. A teacher has to interpret it properly according to the original language and its meaning to the people at that time in history. The teacher then has to determine if what he is studying can be properly brought forward to our time and culture for some of it cannot. Also some of it has direct meaning only for the nation Israel so one has to determine how the church age fits into that category. Those working to properly interpret the OT came forward with what is called the Targums which are Aramaic paraphrases of the OT.

So I would say that there are excellent applications of this method of reading the Word of God to people as long as those making the presentations are not being lifted up rather than the Word. Unfortunately today we hear too many people saying something like “Pastor Bill said so-and-so” rather than God says “so-and-so”. My wife often says that those listening to her are free to disagree with her but not free to disagree with God. The Word often tells us to test what people are teaching or doing:

1John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Job 12:11 "Does not the ear test words, As the palate tastes its food? 2Cor 13:6 But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. 1Cor 3:12-15 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones,

wood, hay, straw, (13) each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. (14) If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. (15) If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

False leaders tried to test Jesus but He never failed any tests: Mark 8:11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a

sign from heaven, to test Him. Luke 10:25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I

do to inherit eternal life?" Luke 11:16 Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven.

Neh 8:9-12Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. (10) Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (11) So the Levites calmed all the people, saying,

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"Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." (12) All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

It seems that Ezra and Nehemiah worked together on this section as it is stated that all of them taught the people. After hearing the words of the law, all the people were mourning and weeping as they realized how sinful they had been. However all the leaders told them to not mourn or weep for two reasons. One is that the people had repented for their sins. The other reason is that this was the first day of the seventh month, the Feast of Trumpets that was to be a day of rejoicing:

Lev 23:23-25 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (24) "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. (25) 'You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD.'"

Deu 16:15 "Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.

The people knew that their time in exile was because of their disobedience to God and only genuine repentance could bring about a change in the community of believers. The same is true today as our country has been at least as disobedience to God as had the Israelites and so are deserving of judgment. Only if we confess our sins and genuinely repent of them will God remove the judgment and bring about revival. Let us all get on our knees and confess our sins to God and ask for His forgiveness.

The Hebrew text does not give a noun for verse ten and some translators add Nehemiah and some add Ezra but the point is that all the leaders were exhorting the people to be joyful for this is a day to praise God. This day is declared to be holy before God and they are not to mourn and weep but to be joyful and have a fellowship meal. The joy of the Lord is the source of their strength as it is our strength today. The Levites then calmed all the people to a time of celebration. When God’s people truly understand His Word a huge change occurs and they are destroyed by a lack of knowledge. Treating God’s Word in a routine or ritualistic way is a violation of its true meaning. God has not changed and His warnings do not change either:

Hos 6:6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Mal 2:1-9 "And now this commandment is for you, O priests. (2) "If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name," says the LORD of hosts, "then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart. (3) "Behold, I am going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it. (4) "Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi," says the LORD of hosts. (5) "My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. (6) "True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity. (7) "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the

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messenger of the LORD of hosts. (8) "But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of hosts. (9) "So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.

The Bible must be taught fresh to all generations and such teachings must not fall into legalism or syncretism as is happening to many Christian denominations today. Pharisees used the same OT scriptures as did Jesus but He taught with authority (Matt 7:29) and although no teachers today have that same authority they can teach properly and with the backing of the Holy Spirit.

Neh 8:13-14Then on the second day the heads of fathers' households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law. (14) They found written in the law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month.

The leaders of all the households and the priests and Levites were not satisfied with a superficial understanding of the Word of God and stayed the next day with Ezra so that they might gain more insight into God’s Word. They then read in the law that God wanted all of his people, not just the leaders, to know and discuss these commands. They decided they should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month so that they could practice what is taught:

Deut 6:4-9 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! (5) "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (6) "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. (7) "You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. (8) "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. (9) "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

I can hardly imagine the effect on our society if all people who call themselves Christians would similarly obey these verses. We also have a similar NT command:

Php 2:12-16 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (14) Do all things without grumbling or disputing; (15) so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, (16) holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

To work out our salvation means to be actively involved in our sanctification since our justification has already been attained by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We should never be satisfied with any level of righteousness for us or our friends and family but should always be striving to work with the Holy Spirit to further develop into a likeness of Jesus Christ. The Bible was never intended to be the property of only scholars and ministers such as happened in the Middle Ages when the people were at the mercy of the “elite”. All Christians should “do

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theology”, meaning practicing the applications of God’s Word to all areas of their lives. No Christian should have a compartmentalized life but one that is connected to all areas:

Neh 8:15-18So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written." (16) So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. (17) The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them. The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And there was great rejoicing. (18) He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.

The leaders then went to their cities and in Jerusalem to proclaim the Word of God. They told all the people to obey the commands of Lev 23:33-43 and to do so with joy (Deut 16). I have already quoted some of these verses above. The people obeyed and made booths for themselves on the roofs, in their courts, in the courts of the Temple, and in the squares of the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim. Everyone who had returned from captivity did as they were told. We are told that they had not done this for many years probably meaning that they had not obeyed all aspects of the Feast of Tabernacles. This Feast was to be celebrated in two ways. One was to be an agricultural celebration of harvesting that they probably had obeyed. The second was the memorial celebration of the wilderness wanderings that they apparently had not obeyed during that time period. Their present situation was similar to the exodus from Egypt and it was very appropriate for them to so celebrate it. The booths were to be temporary places to live in remembrance of the time when God brought them out of Egypt and they lived in the wilderness. The house roofs were flat and accommodated themselves to such booths either on the roof or in the courtyard. The picture below has the reminder to not steal but using it for a small class is allowed and I have included the web site address for proper credit.

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For seven days Ezra read from the Law daily and they celebrated the feast during that time. On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly to praise God. This chapter emphasizes that all people must know the Word of God and practice it. The lack of Biblical knowledge in the United States is well documented to be appallingly lack. As at this time of Nehemiah, the church leaders today must seriously feed their flock:

John 21:15-17 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Tend My lambs." (16) He *said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." (17) He *said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus *said to him, "Tend My sheep.

Acts 20:28-31 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (29) "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; (30) and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. (31) "Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

Heb 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. (13) For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. (14) But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

1Pet 2:2-3 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, (3) if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

All Christians should urge their churches to find ways to disciple their members appropriately by teaching in small groups led by talented and educated people like Nehemiah and Ezra. What a great example that could lead to a revival in our country!

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Chapter 9

Neh 9:1-4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting, in sackcloth and with dirt upon them. (2) The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. (3) While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God. (4) Now on the Levites' platform stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Chenani, and they cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God.

This chapter continues the reading of the law. The first reading was in 8:4-8 followed by celebration, the second was in 8:14-15 when Tabernacle was celebrated, and the third was in 9:3 which would be followed by the longest prayer recorded in the Bible (9:5b-37). They were all assembled in a time of repentance and they separated themselves from all foreigners. The event was between the covenant people and God so only covenant people could participate. They all stood and read from the law for the first quarter of the day. They then confessed and worshiped the LORD for a fourth of a day. The order is important and including both is imperative, for without knowing the Word of God we are unable to properly worship Him. One who only spends time studying the Word can become self-important and doctrinal as he can argue about points and become occupied only with theoretical aspects of Christianity. One who only spends time in prayer can become introspective, mystical, and even fanatical. One who spends equal time on both will become fuller in grace and knowledge as he becomes a well-rounded follower of Christ.

The leaders of the worship were the Levites. Literally the words of verse four read that they stood on the stairs of the Levites. It is not known the meaning of the stairs although some think there were stairs leading from one portion of the temple to another. The important point being made is that the leaders of the worship were taking a prominent role and such should be the same today.

Neh 9:5-9Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah, said, "Arise, bless the LORD your God forever and ever! O may Your glorious name be blessed And exalted above all blessing and praise! (6) "You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You. (7) "You are the LORD God, Who chose Abram And brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees, And gave him the name Abraham. (8) "You found his heart faithful before You, And made a covenant with him To give him the land of the Canaanite, Of the Hittite and the Amorite, Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite and the Girgashite-- To give it to his descendants. And You have fulfilled Your promise, For You are righteous. (9) "You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, And heard their cry by the Red Sea.

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This list of Levites contains five repeated names with the list in verse 4. It seems that there were two different functions for the Levites and they had active parts in both. The prayer begins in verse 5b and starts the same as the “Lord’s Prayer”: hallowed be thy name. This prayer is often called a prayer psalm as many psalms are of similar nature such as 78, 105, 106, 135, and 136. One cannot go wrong by praying psalms as we are repeating to God some of His most important words. God is certainly above everything else and indeed created all. The Jews thought of three heavens: the first is the air we breathe, the second is where we see the stars, and the third is the place of God. They praised God for creating those heavens and all that we can see in them. They then praised Him for creating the earth and all of its life and the seas and all the life in them. They then said that all the inhabitants of the third heaven bow down before Him.

They then began to trace their having been chosen by God. They acknowledge God having chosen Abram from Ur of the Chaldees and then making him the “Father of a multitude”. They praise God for then finding Abraham faithful to Him and making a covenant with him (Gen 12; 15; 17) to give him the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. The list of nations is abbreviated from:

Gen 15:19-21 the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite (20) and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim (21) and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite."

God is then praised for having given the land to the descendants of Abraham and when seeing their affliction in Egypt He heard their cry by the Red Sea and responded. God had told them to show pity to the oppressed because He had released them from oppression:

Deu 15:12-15 "If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free. (13) "When you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed. (14) "You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat; you shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. (15) "You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.

Neh 9:10-15"Then You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, Against all his servants and all the people of his land; For You knew that they acted arrogantly toward them, And made a name for Yourself as it is this day. (11) "You divided the sea before them, So they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground; And their pursuers You hurled into the depths, Like a stone into raging waters. (12) "And with a pillar of cloud You led them by day, And with a pillar of fire by night To light for them the way In which they were to go. (13) "Then You came down on Mount Sinai, And spoke with them from heaven; You gave them just ordinances and true laws, Good statutes and commandments. (14) "So You made known to them Your holy sabbath, And laid down for them commandments, statutes and law, Through Your servant Moses. (15) "You provided bread from heaven for them for their hunger, You brought forth water from a rock for them for their thirst, And You told them to enter in order to possess The land which You swore to give them.

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The exodus experience was a decisive moment in the history of Israel and influenced their worship of God. They remember how He acted against Pharaoh and his servants and God made known His name among all for His actions then. They relate how God divided the sea so their people could safely pass through and then caused the sea to rush back to drown the ensuing army. They then relate how God led them by day as a pillar of cloud and by night as a pillar of fire. Next they remember His actions in coming down on Mount Sinai to speak to them from heaven and give them the ordinances and laws which are good statutes and commandments. They then stated how God then educated them concerning His holy Sabbath and made known His commandments, statutes, and law through His servant Moses.

It is important to note that this states God did not make the holy Sabbath known to them until He had a covenant people gathered before Him at Sinai. God had sanctified the seventh day when He completed His work as recorded in Genesis. But God did not give the Sabbath to man as a command until this time in history. The Sabbath was then a sign of God’s rest but also of the deliverance of His people from Egyptian bondage: Exo 31:16 'So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.' It is sign between God and Israel forever: Exo 31:17 "It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed." It is also a pledge of a rest to come for all who trust only upon the work of Jesus Christ for their salvation:

Heb 4:9-11 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (10) For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. (11) Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

They then continue to praise God for miraculously providing food (Gen 16:4-8) and water for them so they could progress to their promised land. It is also important to note that only two people are mentioned in these praises as the main person being praised is God. Moses is similarly important in the NT as he is mentioned there 85 times.

From verses 6-15 they remember what God has done for them. It is very important for Christians to also remember their history with God both individually and collectively. We have been grafted into God’s family so the history of Israel is our history also:

Rom 11:17-21 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, (18) do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. (19) You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." (20) Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; (21) for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.

Neh 9:16-19"But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Your commandments. (17) "They refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; And You did not

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forsake them. (18) "Even when they made for themselves A calf of molten metal And said, 'This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,' And committed great blasphemies, (19) You, in Your great compassion, Did not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, To guide them on their way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go.

But now they also remember how their fathers acted against their covenant with God. From all that proceeded, we could conclude that Israel should have acted gratefully and submissively to God. However they did not and such activity is the great tragedy of the OT. The picture painted by the word “stubborn” is of an ox that would not submit to the placing of a yoke upon its neck. Some translators add “stiff-necked” after “stubborn” to the description in verse 16. Similar descriptions are given elsewhere:

Exo 32:9 The LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people.

Jer 7:26 "Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers.

Jer 17:23 "Yet they did not listen or incline their ears, but stiffened their necks in order not to listen or take correction.

Jer 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

This was an attitude of pride and wickedness that occurred throughout the monarchical period of their history and some think such was the reason for the fall of Samaria and Judah: Jer 17:27 "But if you do not listen to Me to keep the sabbath day holy by not carrying a load and coming in through the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem and not be quenched."'"

They continue remembering the sinful state of their fathers when they elected Aaron to lead them back to Egypt.

Exo 32:1-8 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." (2) Aaron said to them, "Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." (3) Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. (4) He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, "This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." (5) Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD." (6) So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. (7) Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. (8) "They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, 'This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!'"

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But we do not know when the final judgment of God will occur. The people now remember that God was gracious and did not leave them even when Aaron made a golden calf for them to worship and they committed great blasphemies.

Exo 32:9-14 The LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. (10) "Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation." (11) Then Moses entreated the LORD his God, and said, "O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? (12) "Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, 'With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth'? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. (13) "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, 'I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'" (14) So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.

Rather than forsaking them in the wilderness He continued to lead them with a pillar of fire by night to guide them to the Promised Land. The land is important to the Israelites because it represents the covenant.

Neh 9:20-26"You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth, And You gave them water for their thirst. (21) "Indeed, forty years You provided for them in the wilderness and they were not in want; Their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell. (22) "You also gave them kingdoms and peoples, And allotted them to them as a boundary. They took possession of the land of Sihon the king of Heshbon And the land of Og the king of Bashan. (23) "You made their sons numerous as the stars of heaven, And You brought them into the land Which You had told their fathers to enter and possess. (24) "So their sons entered and possessed the land. And You subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, And You gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, To do with them as they desired. (25) "They captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled and grew fat, And reveled in Your great goodness. (26) "But they became disobedient and rebelled against You, And cast Your law behind their backs And killed Your prophets who had admonished them So that they might return to You, And they committed great blasphemies.

God gave the Spirit to guide them and He continued giving them food and water as He led them through the wilderness for 40 years during which time their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. God then led them into a land where they could judge the moral corruption of the Canaanite people. He then made their sons as numerous as the stars in reference to His promise to Abraham (Gen 12:2; 15:5). Bringing them into the land is a symbol of the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham because of His graciousness. God did not leave the people who rebelled against Him in the wilderness unpunished for He did destroy those who did not believe:

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Jude 1:5-7 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. (6) And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, (7) just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

Psa 95:9-11 "When your fathers tested Me, They tried Me, though they had seen My work. (10) "For forty years I loathed that generation, And said they are a people who err in their heart, And they do not know My ways. (11) "Therefore I swore in My anger, Truly they shall not enter into My rest."

Verse 25 elaborates on how God prospered them in their new land. They also reveled in God’s great goodness to them which was an outgrowth of His mercy. However they now remember how they became disobedient and rebelled against God. They ignored His law and even silenced those sent by God to bring them back to obedience.

1Ki 19:10 He said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."

1Ki 19:14 Then he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."

Jer 26:23 And they brought Uriah from Egypt and led him to King Jehoiakim, who slew him with a sword and cast his dead body into the burial place of the common people.

Mat 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.

Luk 11:47 "Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them.

Finally God let the kings of Assyria and Babylonia take them out of their inheritance and into captivity.

Certainly many of the same accusations can be said about the state of our country for the past 20 or so years. The people have certainly become stiff-necked concerning the Law. We now look at the two people who are being brought forward for President and neither one has Godly principles. It seems certain that we are being judged much as Israel was judged and sent into exile. Perhaps the same thing is happening to us today as we are effectively being led to choose a leader to return us away from the yoke of the commandments of God and back to “Egypt”. Jesus wants to put a yoke upon the neck of His people and He makes a promise about it:

Mat 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. (30) "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

But it seems the people of our country are saying that this yoke is too restrictive for it takes away my\\their right to choose how to live their life. They would rather return to “Egypt”. But are we heading into a wilderness time or a time when our country will be defeated and exiled?

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Neh 9:27-30"Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them, But when they cried to You in the time of their distress, You heard from heaven, and according to Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who delivered them from the hand of their oppressors. (28) "But as soon as they had rest, they did evil again before You; Therefore You abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they ruled over them. When they cried again to You, You heard from heaven, And many times You rescued them according to Your compassion, (29) And admonished them in order to turn them back to Your law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to Your commandments but sinned against Your ordinances, By which if a man observes them he shall live. And they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen. (30) "However, You bore with them for many years, And admonished them by Your Spirit through Your prophets, Yet they would not give ear. Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

They cried out to God who heard them and gave them a series of judges like Samson, Gideon, etc. (Judg 2:16-18; 3:9, 15 et al; 2 Kings 13:5). They discuss a cyclic pattern of obedience, disobedience, help from God, etc. which is a cyclic period from Judges:

God was patient with them for many years before turning them over to the pagans of the lands: Eze 7:24 'Therefore, I will bring the worst of the nations, and they will possess their houses. I will also make the pride of the strong ones cease, and their holy places will be profaned.

Neh 9:31-34"Nevertheless, in Your great compassion You did not make an end of them or forsake them, For You are a gracious and compassionate God. (32) "Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and lovingkindness, Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You, Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people, From the days of the kings of Assyria to this day. (33) "However, You are just in all that has come upon us; For You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly. (34) "For our kings, our

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leaders, our priests and our fathers have not kept Your law Or paid attention to Your commandments and Your admonitions with which You have admonished them.

Nehemiah’s long history of the cyclic pattern of behavior did not include any time under Saul or David. God was also not ready to make an end of them because He is gracious:

Jer 4:27 For thus says the LORD, "The whole land shall be a desolation, Yet I will not execute a complete destruction.

Jer 30:11 'For I am with you,' declares the LORD, 'to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, Only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly And will by no means leave you unpunished.'

Jer 46:28 "O Jacob My servant, do not fear," declares the LORD, "For I am with you. For I will make a full end of all the nations Where I have driven you, Yet I will not make a full end of you; But I will correct you properly And by no means leave you unpunished."

The word “now” marks a transition from the history of the nation to a supplication for their current situation. They have suffered hardships from many kings of Assyria such as Shalmaneser III (858-824) who is not mentioned in the Bible and who laid siege to Samaria. Another such king was Esarhaddon who conquered Egypt and took tribute from Manasseh of Judah (2 Kings 19:7). He states that God was just in all that happened to them but they were not just as they acted evilly. All their leaders and fathers did not keep God’s law or paid attention to His commands and admonitions.

Neh 9:35-38"But they, in their own kingdom, With Your great goodness which You gave them, With the broad and rich land which You set before them, Did not serve You or turn from their evil deeds. (36) "Behold, we are slaves today, And as to the land which You gave to our fathers to eat of its fruit and its bounty, Behold, we are slaves in it. (37) "Its abundant produce is for the kings Whom You have set over us because of our sins; They also rule over our bodies And over our cattle as they please, So we are in great distress. (38) "Now because of all this We are making an agreement in writing; And on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests."

In spite of being greatly blessed by God they did not obey Him but continued in their evil plans. Now even though they are back in the land promised them by God, they are still slaves for they are controlled by Persia as their land is under Persian rule. Being a slave in a foreign land was one situation but being a slave in your own land was another condition. The Persians enacted a strict and severe tax on their subjects so the produce of the land was used by the foreign rulers. They also rule over their cattle by taxation and over their bodies since they belong to them. The Persians also drafted their subjects into military service so some of the Jews may have served Xerxes when he invaded Greece. Even though they deserve such treatment because of their sins, they are still in great distress.

Verse 38 brings together chapters 9 and 10. “All this” relates to all that was contained in this long prayer. The author used a combination of Hebrew words that are translated “agreement”: berit and amana. The Hebrew word for covenant is berit and may have been used here in analogy with the same word used in the “agreement” between God and Abraham. Just as Abraham was faithful, they pledge faithfulness. They are acknowledging their repentance and

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will make a covenant in writing so there will be a permanent record of it. They will then seal it so nobody can modify it. It will also be signed by the names of their leaders, Levites, and priests.

Chapter 10

This chapter starts with a legal list of 84 names arranged in order of authority.

Neh 10:1-39 Now on the sealed document were the names of: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,

A seal signifies a legal agreement and the first names listed are Nehemiah and Zedekiah who were the representatives of the civil government.

Neh 10:2-8Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, (3) Pashhur, 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.

There are 21 priestly names given with 15 of which are names of families. Ezra is probably not named because he belonged to the family of Seraiah as did Eliashib.

Neh 10:9-13And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; (10) also their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, (11) Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, (12) Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, (13) Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.

Seventeen Levitical names are given with some being individuals and some families. Their brothers literally means fellow Levites.

Neh 10:14-27The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, (15) Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, (16) Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, (17) Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, (18) Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, (19) Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, (20) Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, (21) Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, (22) Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, (23) Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, (24) Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, (25) Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, (26) Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, (27) Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

These are mainly family representatives. The first 21 are almost identical with that given in Ezra 2:3-30 and Neh 7. The additional 23 include some who helped build the wall (Neh 3) and some new ones that may have returned from Babylonia recently.

Neh 10:28-30Now 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

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to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, (29) are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given through Moses, God's servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of GOD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes; (30) and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.

The rest of the people are those who separated themselves from the local people to establish the covenant community. The fathers, wives, sons and daughters who all had knowledge and understanding of the law of God are also included in making this covenant. They all acknowledge that there is a curse associated with the covenant if it is not obeyed. Verse 29 is reminiscent of Deut 27-29. They all agree to walk in God’s law as given by Moses and to keep all His commandments, ordinances, and statutes. They further agree to neve give their daughters to any pagan people in the land and to never take the daughters of the pagans to be married to their sons. They are agreeing to keep their covenant community pure in the sight of God.

Neh 10:31-33As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. (32) We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: (33) for the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.

The Torah does not specifically prohibit trading on the Sabbath but from Amos the implication is for such not to happen: Amo 8:5 saying, "When will the new moon be over, So that we may sell grain, And the sabbath, that we may open the wheat market, To make the bushel smaller and the shekel bigger, And to cheat with dishonest scales, The people did decide to be very legalistic and not to trade with the pagan neighbors. Mosaic legislation did state that in the seventh year the land was to not be cultivated and debts were not to be collected from fellow Jews:

Exo 23:10-11 "You shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, (11) but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

Deu 15:1-3 "At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. (2) "This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD'S remission has been proclaimed. (3) "From a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother.

The Mosaic legislation allows for a half-shekel as an offering to the Lord:Exo 30:13-14 "This is what everyone who is numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as a contribution to the LORD. (14) "Everyone who is numbered, from twenty years old and over, shall give the contribution to the LORD.

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Several explanations have been offered as to why this covenant required one-third of a shekel instead of one-half. The weights of a Babylonian shekel averaged 11.42 grams so one-third of a shekel would be about 4 grams or about one-eighth of an ounce. This tax was to be used in services of the temple as outlined in verse 33. The showbread (Lev 24:6) consisted of 12 cakes of fine flour on the golden table at the beginning of each Sabbath. The burnt offering was one lamb each morning and evening and originally was provided by the Persian government (Ezra 6:9; 7:17).

Neh 10: 34-36Likewise we cast lots for the supply of wood among the priests, the Levites and the people so that they might bring it to the house of our God, according to our fathers' households, at fixed times annually, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law; (35) and that they might bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of the LORD annually, (36) and bring to the house of our God the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks as it is written in the law, for the priests who are ministering in the house of our God.

Note that they included all the people so this would be a community project. The wood offering is not mentioned in the Pentateuch but its use is stated in:

Lev 6:12-13 'The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning; and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it, and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. (13) 'Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out.

The first fruits offerings were brought to the temple for the support of the priests and Levites. Deu 26:10 'Now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O LORD have given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God;

Giving the first fruits of every tree was considered an act of exceptional piety. They would also bring the firstborn of their sons, cattle, herds, and flocks for the priests to dedicate to the Lord.

Lev 27:28 'Nevertheless, anything which a man sets apart to the LORD out of all that he has, of man or animal or of the fields of his own property, shall not be sold or redeemed. Anything devoted to destruction is most holy to the LORD.

Neh 10:37-39We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the oil to the priests at the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all the rural towns. (38) The priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. (39) For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers; there are the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.

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They then continued with their pledges to not neglect the house of God by bringing in what was needed for the support of the Levites: Num 18:21 "To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting. The Levites were then to bring up a tenth of what they received to the chambers of the temple which were rooms in the outer courts of the temple used for storehouses. This tithe was for the support of the priests: Num 18:26 "Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, 'When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the LORD, a tithe of the tithe.

We cannot doubt that they were all earnest in their pledges of repentance and offerings to be given to the Lord. However the future will show that man is not to be trusted and they will again enter the cycle of the Judges as mentioned above. I can almost hear God saying something like” “I think I have heard that before!”. If God’s covenant were based upon human faithfulness instead of divine grace all hope for man’s eternal blessing would be vain. We now wait for the Second Coming of our Lord as only He is truly faithful.

The writings of Ezra-Nehemiah show how the community of believers was reestablished by the reading of the Word within a new Jerusalem. They set a great example of how Christians should be working together for the glory of God. There are differences between the community of these Jews and the community of Christians today. For example, all Christians are priests but there are still leaders within the church that should be supported by the group of Christians through tithes and offerings.

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