10 Those whose seals were on the document were:

Nehemiah the governor,(A) son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,
Seraiah,(B) Azariah, Jeremiah,
Pashhur,(C) Amariah, Malchijah,
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah.
These were the priests.

The Levites(D) were:
Jeshua son of Azaniah,
Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,
10 and their brothers
Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

14 The leaders of the people(E) were:
Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,(F)
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,(G) Hasshub,
24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

28 The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with their wives, sons, and daughters, everyone who is able to understand(H) and who has separated themselves from the surrounding peoples(I) to obey the law of God— 29 join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath[a](J) to follow the law of God given through God’s servant Moses(K) and to carefully obey all the commands, ordinances, and statutes of Yahweh our Lord.

Details of the Vow

30 We will not give our daughters in marriage to the surrounding peoples and will not take their daughters as wives for our sons.(L)

31 When the surrounding peoples bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day.(M) We will also leave the land uncultivated in the seventh year(N) and will cancel every debt.(O)

32 We will impose the following commands on ourselves:

To give an eighth of an ounce of silver[b] yearly for the service of the house of our God:(P) 33 the bread displayed before the Lord,[c](Q) the daily grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbath and New Moon offerings,(R) the appointed festivals, the holy things, the sin offerings to atone for Israel,(S) and for all the work of the house of our God.

34 We have cast lots(T) among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our ancestral houses at the appointed times each year. They are to bring the wood to our God’s house to burn on the altar of the Lord our God,(U) as it is written in the law.

35 We will bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the Lord’s house year by year.(V) 36 We will also bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as prescribed by the law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God,(W) to the priests who serve in our God’s house. 37 We will bring a loaf from our first batch of dough(X) to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God. We will also bring the firstfruits of our grain offerings, of every fruit tree, and of the new wine and oil.(Y) A tenth of our land’s produce belongs to the Levites, for the Levites are to collect the one-tenth offering in all our agricultural towns.(Z) 38 A priest of Aaronic descent must accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth,(AA) and the Levites must take a tenth of this offering to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God.(AB) 39 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(AC) and where the priests who minister are, along with the gatekeepers and singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.(AD)

Resettling Jerusalem

11 Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem,(AE) and the rest of the people cast lots(AF) for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city,(AG) while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns.(AH) The people praised all the men who volunteered(AI) to live in Jerusalem.

These are the heads of the province who stayed in Jerusalem(AJ) (but in the villages of Judah each lived on his own property in their towns(AK)—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants(AL) while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem):

Judah’s(AM) descendants:

Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of Perez’s descendants; and Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, a descendant of the Shilonite. The total number of Perez’s descendants, who settled in Jerusalem, was 468 capable men.

These were Benjamin’s descendants:

Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, and after him Gabbai and Sallai: 928. Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second in command over the city.

10 The priests:

Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin, and 11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief official of God’s temple, 12 and their relatives who did the work at the temple: 822. Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah 13 and his relatives, the leaders of families: 242. Amashsai son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, 14 and their relatives, capable men: 128. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim, was their chief.

15 The Levites:

Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God; 17 Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving in prayer;(AN) Bakbukiah, second among his relatives; and Abda son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.(AO) 18 All the Levites in the holy city:(AP) 284.

19 The gatekeepers:

Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, who guarded the gates: 172.

20 The rest of Israel, the priests, and the Levites were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inherited property.(AQ) 21 The temple servants lived on Ophel;[d](AR) Ziha and Gishpa supervised the temple servants.

The Levites and Priests

22 The leader of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the descendants of Asaph, who were singers for the service of God’s house. 23 There was, in fact, a command of the king regarding them, and an ordinance regulating[e] the singers’(AS) daily tasks. 24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, of the descendants of Zerah(AT) son of Judah, was the king’s(AU) agent[f] in every matter concerning the people.

25 As for the farming settlements with their fields:

Some of Judah’s descendants lived in Kiriath-arba(AV) and its villages,
Dibon(AW) and its villages, and Jekabzeel and its villages;
26 in Jeshua, Moladah,(AX) Beth-pelet,
27 Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba(AY) and its villages;
28 in Ziklag(AZ) and Meconah and its villages;
29 in En-rimmon, Zorah,(BA) Jarmuth,(BB) and
30 Zanoah(BC) and Adullam with their villages;
in Lachish(BD) with its fields and Azekah(BE) and its villages.
So they settled from Beer-sheba(BF) to the Valley of Hinnom.(BG)

31 Benjamin’s descendants:
from Geba,[g](BH) Michmash,(BI) Aija,
and Bethel(BJ)—and its villages,
32 Anathoth,(BK) Nob,(BL) Ananiah,
33 Hazor,(BM) Ramah,(BN) Gittaim,(BO)
34 Hadid, Zeboim,(BP) Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono,(BQ) the Valley of Craftsmen.
36 Some of the Judean divisions of Levites were in Benjamin.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 10:29 Lit and enter in a curse and in an oath
  2. Nehemiah 10:32 Lit give one-third of a shekel
  3. Nehemiah 10:33 Lit rows of bread
  4. Nehemiah 11:21 = a hill in Jerusalem
  5. Nehemiah 11:23 Lit for
  6. Nehemiah 11:24 Lit was at the king’s hand
  7. Nehemiah 11:31 Or descendants from Geba [lived in]

10 [a]Those who sealed it were:

Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hakaliah.

Zedekiah, Seraiah,(A) Azariah, Jeremiah,

Pashhur,(B) Amariah, Malkijah,

Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluk,

Harim,(C) Meremoth, Obadiah,

Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah.

These were the priests.(D)

The Levites:(E)

Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,

10 and their associates: Shebaniah,

Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11 Mika, Rehob, Hashabiah,

12 Zakkur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

13 Hodiah, Bani and Beninu.

14 The leaders of the people:

Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,(F)

17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,(G)

21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

23 Hoshea, Hananiah,(H) Hasshub,

24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,

27 Malluk, Harim and Baanah.

28 “The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants(I) and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples(J) 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(K) 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.(L)

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

32 “We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel[b] each year for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the bread set out on the table;(P) for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon(Q) feasts and at the appointed festivals; for the holy offerings; for sin offerings[c] to make atonement for Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God.(R)

34 “We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots(S) to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood(T) to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law.

35 “We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits(U) of our crops and of every fruit tree.(V)

36 “As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn(W) of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there.(X)

37 “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil.(Y) And we will bring a tithe(Z) of our crops to the Levites,(AA) for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.(AB) 38 A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes(AC) up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. 39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept.

“We will not neglect the house of our God.”(AD)

The New Residents of Jerusalem(AE)

11 Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem,(AF) the holy city,(AG) while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns.(AH) The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on their own property in the various towns,(AI) while other people from both Judah and Benjamin(AJ) lived in Jerusalem):(AK)

From the descendants of Judah:

Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez; and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Kol-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah. The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of standing.

From the descendants of Benjamin:

Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah, and his followers, Gabbai and Sallai—928 men. Joel son of Zikri was their chief officer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the New Quarter of the city.

10 From the priests:

Jedaiah; the son of Joiarib; Jakin; 11 Seraiah(AL) son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub,(AM) the official in charge of the house of God, 12 and their associates, who carried on work for the temple—822 men; Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah, 13 and his associates, who were heads of families—242 men; Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and his[d] associates, who were men of standing—128. Their chief officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.

15 From the Levites:

Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 Shabbethai(AN) and Jozabad,(AO) two of the heads of the Levites, who had charge of the outside work of the house of God; 17 Mattaniah(AP) son of Mika, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph,(AQ) the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.(AR) 18 The Levites in the holy city(AS) totaled 284.

19 The gatekeepers:

Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.

20 The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, each on their ancestral property.

21 The temple servants(AT) lived on the hill of Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them.

22 The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah,(AU) the son of Mika. Uzzi was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the musicians responsible for the service of the house of God. 23 The musicians(AV) were under the king’s orders, which regulated their daily activity.

24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, one of the descendants of Zerah(AW) son of Judah, was the king’s agent in all affairs relating to the people.

25 As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba(AX) and its surrounding settlements, in Dibon(AY) and its settlements, in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 in Jeshua, in Moladah,(AZ) in Beth Pelet,(BA) 27 in Hazar Shual,(BB) in Beersheba(BC) and its settlements, 28 in Ziklag,(BD) in Mekonah and its settlements, 29 in En Rimmon, in Zorah,(BE) in Jarmuth,(BF) 30 Zanoah,(BG) Adullam(BH) and their villages, in Lachish(BI) and its fields, and in Azekah(BJ) and its settlements. So they were living all the way from Beersheba(BK) to the Valley of Hinnom.

31 The descendants of the Benjamites from Geba(BL) lived in Mikmash,(BM) Aija, Bethel(BN) and its settlements, 32 in Anathoth,(BO) Nob(BP) and Ananiah, 33 in Hazor,(BQ) Ramah(BR) and Gittaim,(BS) 34 in Hadid, Zeboim(BT) and Neballat, 35 in Lod and Ono,(BU) and in Ge Harashim.

36 Some of the divisions of the Levites of Judah settled in Benjamin.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 10:1 In Hebrew texts 10:1-39 is numbered 10:2-40.
  2. Nehemiah 10:32 That is, about 1/8 ounce or about 4 grams
  3. Nehemiah 10:33 Or purification offerings
  4. Nehemiah 11:14 Most Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew their