Neh 9-10 | TNotes

9:2 ^a Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins: This sentence might allude to the problem of intermarriage with foreigners, as narrated in Ezra 9–10 ^b.
9:3 ^c They confessed their sins after hearing God’s word (cp. 8:1-9 ^d, 13-14 ^e, 18 ^f).
Summary for Neh 9:5-37: 9:5-37 ^g This long prayer confesses the nation’s sins and praises God for his compassion throughout history (cp. Pss 105–106 ^h; 135–136 ⁱ). It prompted listeners to confess their own unfaithfulness and to call on God to be compassionate and forgive their sins.
Summary for Neh 9:5-6: 9:5-6 ^j The Levites’ prayer praised God for his glorious reputation, his sole divinity, his creation of the universe, his providential care for life on earth, and his worship by angels. Putting the focus on God brought Israel’s present circumstances into proper perspective.
Summary for Neh 9:7-8: 9:7-8 ^k God’s actions with Abram—calling him (Gen 12:1-3 ^l; 15:7 ^m), giving him a new name and identity (Gen 17:5 ⁿ), making a covenant with him (Gen 15:6-21 ^o; 17:4-5 ^p), and fulfilling his promises of land and descendants (Gen 15:18-21 ^q)—demonstrated God’s faithfulness and inspired confidence about what God would do in the future.
9:9 ^r God had paid attention to his people’s misery under foreign domination (Exod 2:23-25 ^s; 3:7 ^t; 14:10-14 ^u), which was analogous to their present situation (Neh 9:32-37 ^v).
Summary for Neh 9:10-11: 9:10-11 ^w You have a glorious reputation: In the Exodus, God had demonstrated his character with plagues, parting the sea, and defeating the arrogant Egyptian army (Exod 15:5 ^x, 9-10 ^y, 19 ^z).
Summary for Neh 9:12-21: 9:12-21 ^aa This prayer reminded the people of God’s miraculous direction of Israel in the wilderness (Exod 13:21-22 ^ab), his personal appearance at Mount Sinai to reveal his covenant laws through Moses (see Exod 19–20 ^ac), and his faithfulness in providing bread ... and water (see Exod 16:4 ^ad; 17:1-6 ^ae). Despite all of that, Israel’s ancestors had been proud and stubborn and refused to obey (see Exod 32 ^af; Num 14:4 ^ag). Yet in his grace, God remained faithful and had compassion (see Exod 34:6 ^ah) and provided his Spirit to direct and teach them (cp. Exod 33:2 ^ai; Num 11:17 ^aj).
9:24 ^ak You subdued whole nations: See Josh 6–12 ^al.
9:25 ^am Cp. Deut 6:10-11 ^an; 8:6-10 ^ao.

• they were full and grew fat: Prosperity proved to include spiritual danger (see Deut 8:11-20 ^ap).
Summary for Neh 9:26-27: 9:26-27 ^aq The prayer recounts the pattern in the book of Judges (see Judg 2:11-23 ^ar).
Summary for Neh 9:28-31: 9:28-31 ^as The people did not learn from mistakes made in the period of the judges (9:26-27 ^at), and the same pattern of disobedience emerged during the subsequent monarchy (cp. 2 Kgs 17 ^au). Despite the nation’s persistent disobedience (Neh 9:29 ^av), God was persistent in his love, patience, compassion, and guidance through the Spirit and through the prophets.
Summary for Neh 9:32-37: 9:32-37 ^aw And now: The prayer moves to the current situation, petitioning the great ... God—who has unfailing love—for continued love and mercy to his people in their present difficult situation (9:32 ^ax). The leaders recognized God’s justice in punishing them for their sins (9:33-35 ^ay), and they lamented their enslavement under the Persians (9:36-37 ^az).
Summary for Neh 9:38-10:39: 9:38–10:39 ^ba The people, embracing the prayer, renewed their dedication to God and his word. They signed their names to indicate their commitment (9:38–10:27 ^bb) and took an oath to live by the covenant (10:28-39 ^bc). 9:38 ^bd making a solemn promise ... putting it in writing: These actions indicate a serious vow of faithfulness to the covenant. The sealed document had legal standing.

‏ Nehemiah 10

Summary for Neh 10:1-27: 10:1-27 ^be The eighty-four names included the governor: Nehemiah (10:1 ^bf), and a group of priests (10:2-8 ^bg; cp. 12:1-7 ^bh), Levites (10:9-13 ^bi; cp. 9:4-5 ^bj; 12:8-9 ^bk), and leaders (10:14-27 ^bl; cp. 3:4-31 ^bm).
10:28 ^bn separated themselves from the pagan people: See 9:2 ^bo; cp. Ezra 9–10 ^bp.
10:29 ^bq swore a curse on themselves if they failed to obey the Law: Cp. Lev 26:14-35 ^br; Deut 28:15-62 ^bs.
Summary for Neh 10:30-39: 10:30-39 ^bt Although the community had committed itself broadly to all the instructions in the law of Moses, some specific issues were being addressed in this commitment. These issues related to maintaining the purity of the community and worship at the Temple. 10:30 ^bu Cp. Ezra 9–10 ^bv.
10:31 ^bw Ceasing trade on the Sabbath was necessary for covenant faithfulness (cp. 13:15-22 ^bx; see Exod 16:29 ^by; 20:8-11 ^bz; 31:15 ^ca; Num 15:32-36 ^cb; Amos 8:5 ^cc).

• Every seventh year: See Exod 23:10-11 ^cd; Lev 25:2-7 ^ce; Deut 15:1-3 ^cf.
10:33 ^cg Bread of the Presence: See Lev 24:5-9 ^ch; Num 28:1-8 ^ci.

• everything necessary: With the money from the annual tax, priests could purchase the animals for daily sacrifices and maintain the Temple complex (cp. 2 Kgs 12:11-12 ^cj; see also Exod 30:11-16 ^ck).
10:34 ^cl Because the fire on the altar burned continually (Lev 6:12 ^cm), a good deal of wood was used. The Gibeonites provided it at an earlier time (Josh 9:27 ^cn), but now it was a joint responsibility.
Summary for Neh 10:35-37: 10:35-37 ^co Offerings from the community provided food for the priests and Levites, who had no allocations of agricultural land and no means of providing for themselves. These provisions came from the first part of every harvest (see Exod 23:19 ^cp; 34:26 ^cq; Num 18:12-13 ^cr; Deut 26:1-11 ^cs), the redemption money of five shekels paid for the oldest sons and the firstborn of all the herds and flocks (see Exod 13:13 ^ct; 34:20 ^cu; Num 18:15-17 ^cv), as well as a tenth of everything (see Num 18:21-24 ^cw; Deut 14:22-29 ^cx).
Summary for Neh 10:37-39: 10:37-39 ^cy The Levites collected the tithes in all ... rural towns and sent a tenth of that collection to the Temple in Jerusalem (see Num 18:25-32 ^cz).