Keraia
Nehemiah 10

Nehemiah 10:34

The Vows of the Covenant · Nehemiah 10:28–39
Read Nehemiah 10

Translations

Modern
We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.
Traditional
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:
Literal
And the lots we made fall over the offering of wood for the priests, the Levites, and the people, to bring it to the house of our God, by the house of our fathers, at the times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of YHWH our God, as written in the Law,
Latin
Sortes ergo misimus super oblationem lignorum inter sacerdotes, et Levitas, et populum, ut inferrentur in domum Dei nostri per domos patrum nostrorum, per tempora, a temporibus anni usque ad annum: ut arderent super altare Domini Dei nostri, sicut scriptum est in lege Moysi:

Original

Hebrew
English
We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.

Notes

Nehemiah 10:34

The fire on the altar burned constantly (Leviticus 6:12), so it required a lot of wood. The Gibeonites supplied it earlier (Joshua 9:27), but now everyone shared the responsibility.

Nehemiah 10:30–39

The community had broadly committed to following the law of Moses. However, they focused on specific issues. These issues involved keeping the community pure and ensuring proper worship at the temple.

Nehemiah 9:38–10:39

The people, embracing the prayer, renewed their dedication to God and his word. They signed their names to show their commitment (Nehemiah 9:38–10:27) and took an oath to follow the covenant (10:28–39).

Nehemiah 7:73–10:39

This section, possibly from Ezra’s personal memoirs, explains how Ezra’s teaching of God’s law renewed the people's commitment to serve God and follow his instructions. Spiritual revival occurred alongside the civic work of Ezra and Nehemiah.

People

Levi: Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites

Glossary

Book of Nehemiah Lots, Casting of Nehemiah (Person) Singer

Topics

Decision: Israelites Forsaking God: Resolve Against Fuel for Temple, How Provided Liberality: Jews After the Captivity Offerings: Wood: Fuel for the Temple Priest: Duties of To Furnish a Quota of Wood for the Sanctuary The Lot: Priests and Levites Designated By, for Sanctuary Service