12 They entered into a covenant(A) to seek the Lord,(B) the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. 13 All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death,(C) whether small or great, man or woman. 14 They took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. 15 All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God(D) eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest(E) on every side.

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28 “The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants(A) and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples(B) for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand— 29 all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath(C) to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord.

30 “We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons.(D)

31 “When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath,(E) we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land(F) and will cancel all debts.(G)

32 “We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel[a] each year for the service of the house of our God:

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 10:32 That is, about 1/8 ounce or about 4 grams

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