Signers of the Covenant 1 UST These are{ the names of} the people who signed the agreement: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah; Zedekiah the scribe. BSB BSB: Now these were the ones who sealed the document: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and also Zedekiah,
2 UST { The priests who signed the agreement included:} Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, BSB BSB: Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 UST Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah, BSB BSB: Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4 UST Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluk, BSB BSB: Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 UST Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, BSB BSB: Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 UST Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, BSB BSB: Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 UST Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, BSB BSB: Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 UST Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. Those are{ the names of} the priests{ who signed the agreement}. BSB BSB: Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.
9 UST The Levites{ who signed the agreement} were: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui from the clan of Henadad, Kadmiel, BSB BSB: The Levites: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,
10 UST { Some of} their associates also{ signed the agreement, including}: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, BSB BSB: and their associates: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 UST Mika, Rehob, Hashabiah, BSB BSB: Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 UST Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, BSB BSB: Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 UST Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu. BSB BSB: Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
14 UST The Israelite leaders{ who signed the agreement} were: Parosh, Pahath- Moab, Elam, Zattu, and Bani, BSB BSB: And the leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15 UST Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, BSB BSB: Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 UST Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, BSB BSB: Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 UST Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, BSB BSB: Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18 UST Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, BSB BSB: Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 UST Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, BSB BSB: Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 UST Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, BSB BSB: Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 UST Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, BSB BSB: Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 UST Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, BSB BSB: Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 UST Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, BSB BSB: Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24 UST Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, BSB BSB: Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25 UST Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, BSB BSB: Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 UST also Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, BSB BSB: Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27 UST Malluk, Harim, and Baanah. BSB BSB: Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.
The Vows of the Covenant 28 UST The rest of the people{ joined in this solemn agreement. This included} the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, and the{ temple} workers.{ It also included} everyone who agreed only to worship and obey the God of Israel, along with their wives and their sons and daughters who were{ old enough} to understand what they were{ doing}. BSB BSB: “The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the people of the land to obey the Law of God—along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand,
29 UST They{ all} joined with their leaders, who were important people, and together they all made a solemn agreement to obey{ all} the laws that God had given by Moses his servant. They agreed that they would strictly obey everything that Yahweh our God had commanded, yes,{ all of} his instructions. BSB BSB: hereby join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the Law of God given through His servant Moses and to obey carefully all the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord.
30 UST This is what{ they promised to do}:“We will not give our daughters{ in marriage} to people{ who live} in this land{ who do not worship Yahweh}. We will not allow our sons to marry their daughters. BSB BSB: We will not give our daughters in marriage to the people of the land, and we will not take their daughters for our sons.
31 UST People from other groups{ who live} in this land might bring merchandise and all kinds of food to sell on Sabbath days. But we will not buy anything from them on a Sabbath{ day} or any other sacred day. Every seventh year, we will let{ the fields} rest{ and not plant any crops. That same year} we will not make anyone pay back{ anything they owe} to another person. BSB BSB: When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields lie fallow and will cancel every debt.
32 UST We each also agreed to a pledge that{ every} year we would pay 4 grams of silver for the{ supplies} needed for the temple. BSB BSB: We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God:
33 UST { Here is a list of those supplies.} The{ sacred} bread that is placed{ before God}. The grain that is{ burned on the altar} each day.{ The animals that} are completely burned up{ on the altar} each day. The sacred offerings for the Sabbath days and for celebrating each new moon and other{ festivals} that{ God} told{ us to celebrate}.{ Other} offerings that are dedicated{ to God}.{ The animals} to be sacrificed to atone for the sins of the Israelite people. Anything else{ that is needed} for the work of{ taking care of} the temple. BSB BSB: for the showbread, for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God.
34 UST We have cast lots to determine when each clan of the priests, the Levites, and{ the rest of} the people will bring an offering of wood to the temple. Each clan will do this at an appointed time every year.{ The Levites will use} the wood to burn{ the sacrifices} on the altar that belongs to Yahweh our God. He commanded this in the law{ he gave through Moses}. BSB BSB: 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.
35 UST We will also bring{ an offering} to the temple every year from the first{ grain} that we{ harvest} and from all the first fruit that{ grows on} all our trees. BSB BSB: We will also bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the house of the LORD year by year.
36 UST We will also do something else that God commanded. We will bring our firstborn sons to the temple{ for dedication}, and our firstborn calves and lambs and goats{ as sacrifices}, to the priests who minister in the temple. BSB BSB: And we will bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God.
37 UST We will also bring supplies to the priests that{ they} can store in the temple. These will include the first grain that we{ harvest}, the first flour we{ make}, the first fruit from all{ our} trees, and the first wine and olive oil{ that we produce}. We will also bring 10 percent of our harvest to the Levites. We will allow them to collect this 10 percent right in all the towns where we work. BSB BSB: Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God the firstfruits of our dough, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil. A tenth of our produce belongs to the Levites, so that they shall receive tithes in all the towns where we labor.
38 UST A priest, one of the descendants of Aaron, will be with the Levites{ and supervise} them when they collect that 10 percent. Then the Levites must bring 10 percent of what they have received to the temple.{ The priests will put it} in the storerooms and it will support{ them}. BSB BSB: A priest of Aaron’s line is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of these tithes to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God.
39 UST That is how it will work. The Israelites and the Levites will bring their offerings of grain, wine, and olive oil to those storerooms. That is where{ the priests} will store the equipment for the temple. And that is where{ they will keep the food supplies} for the priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers who are serving at that time. We promise that we will keep taking care of the temple.” BSB BSB: For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.”
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