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588 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Nehemiah, Chapter X].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC16009.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC16011.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>N E H E M I A H</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. X.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We have in this chapter a particular account of the covenant which in
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the close of the foregoing chapter was resolved upon; they struck while
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the iron was not, and immediately put that good resolve in execution,
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when they were in a good frame, lest, if it should be delayed, it might
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be dropped. Here we have,
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I. The names of those that set their hands and seals to it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:1-27">ver. 1-27</A>.
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II. An account of those who signified their consent and concurrence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:28,29">ver. 28, 29</A>.
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III. The covenant itself, and the articles of it in general, that they
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would "keep God's commandments"
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:29">ver. 29</A>);
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in particular, that they would not marry with the heathen
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:30">ver. 30</A>),
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nor profane the sabbath, nor be rigorous with their debtors
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:31">ver. 31</A>),
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and that they would carefully pay their church-dues, for the
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maintenance of the temple service, which they promise faithfully to
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adhere to,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:32-39">ver. 32-39</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ne10_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Sealing of the Covenant.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 444.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now those that sealed <I>were,</I> Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the
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son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
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2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
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3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
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4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
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5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
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6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
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7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
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8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these <I>were</I> the priests.
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9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of
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the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
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10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah,
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Hanan,
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11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
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12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
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13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
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14 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu,
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Bani,
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15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
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16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
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17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
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18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
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19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
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20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
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21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
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22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
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23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
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24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
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25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
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26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
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27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
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28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the
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porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had
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separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of
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God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one
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having knowledge, and having understanding;
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29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into
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a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given
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by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the
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commandments of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our Lord, and his judgments and his
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statutes;
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30 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of
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the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:
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31 And <I>if</I> the people of the land bring ware or any victuals
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on the sabbath day to sell, <I>that</I> we would not buy it of them on
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the sabbath, or on the holy day: and <I>that</I> we would leave the
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seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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When Israel was first brought into covenant with God it was done by
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sacrifice and the sprinkling of blood,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:1-8">Exod. xxiv.</A>
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But here it was done by the more natural and common way of sealing and
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subscribing the written articles of the covenant, which bound them to
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no more than was already their duty. Now here we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. The names of those public persons who, as the representatives and
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heads of the congregation, set their hands and seals to this covenant,
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because it would have been an endless piece of work for every
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particular person to do it; and, if these leading men did their part in
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pursuance of this covenant, their example would have a good influence
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upon all the people. Now observe,
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1. Nehemiah, who was the governor, signed first, to show his
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forwardness in this work and to set others a good example,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Those that are above others in dignity and power should go before them
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in the way of God.
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2. Next to him subscribed twenty-two priests, among whom I wonder we do
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not find Ezra, who was an active man in the solemnity
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+8:2"><I>ch.</I> viii. 2</A>)
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which was but the first day of the same month, and therefore we cannot
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think he was absent; but he, having before done his part as a scribe,
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now left it to others to do theirs.
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3. Next to the priests, seventeen Levites subscribed this covenant,
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among whom we find all or most of those who were the mouth of the
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congregation in prayer,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+9:4,5"><I>ch.</I> ix. 4, 5</A>.
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This showed that they themselves were affected with what they had said,
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and would not bind those burdens on others which they themselves
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declined to touch. Those that lead in prayer should lead in every other
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good work.
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4. Next to the Levites, forty-four of the chief of the people gave it
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under their hands for themselves and all the rest, chiefly those whom
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they had influence upon, that they would keep God's commandments. Their
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names are left upon record here, to their honour, as men that were
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forward and active in reviving and endeavouring to perpetuate religion
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in their country. The memory of such shall be blessed. It is observable
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that most of those who were mentioned,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+7:8-63"><I>ch.</I> vii. 8</A>,
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&c., as heads of houses or
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clans, are here mentioned among the first of the chief of the people
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that subscribed, whoever was the present head bearing the name of him
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that was head when they came out of Babylon, and these were fittest to
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subscribe for all those of their father's house. Here are <I>Parosh,
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Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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<I>Azgad, Bebai, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Hashum, Bezai, Hariph,
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Anathoth,</I> and some others in the following verses, that are all
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found in that catalogue. Those that have interest must use it for
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God.</P>
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<P>
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II. The concurrence of the rest of the people with them, and the rest
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of the priests and Levites, who signified their consent to what their
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chiefs did. With them joined,
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1. Their wives and children; for they had transgressed, and they must
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reform. Every one that had knowledge and understanding must covenant
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with God. As soon as young people grow up to be capable of
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distinguishing between good and evil, and of acting intelligently, they
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ought to make it their own act and deed to <I>join themselves to the
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Lord.</I>
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2. The proselytes of other nations, <I>all that had separated
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themselves from the people of the lands,</I> their gods and their
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worship, <I>unto the law of God,</I> and the observance of that law.
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See what conversion it; it is separating ourselves from the course and
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custom of this world, and devoting ourselves to the conduce of the word
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of God. And, as there is one law, so there is one covenant, one
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baptism, for the stranger and for him that is born in the land. Observe
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how the concurrence of the people is expressed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
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(1.) <I>They clave to their brethren</I> one and all. Here those whom
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the court blessed the country blessed too! The commonalty agreed with
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their nobles in this good work. Great men never look so great as when
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they encourage religion, and are examples of it; and they would by
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that, as much as any thing, secure an interest in the most valuable of
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their inferiors. Let but the nobles cordially espouse religious causes,
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and perhaps they will find people cleave to them therein closer than
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they can imagine. Observe, Their nobles are called their
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<I>brethren;</I> for, in the things of God, rich and poor, high and
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low, meet together.
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(2.) They <I>entered into a curse and an oath.</I> As the nobles
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confirmed the covenant with their hands and seals, so the people with a
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curse and an oath, solemnly appealing to God concerning their
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sincerity, and imprecating his just revenge if they dealt deceitfully.
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Every oath has in it a conditional curse upon the soul, which makes it
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a strong bond upon the soul; for our own tongues, if false and lying
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tongues, will fall, and fall heavily, upon ourselves.</P>
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<P>
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III. The general purport of this covenant. They laid upon themselves no
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other burden than this necessary thing, which they were already obliged
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to by all other engagements of duty, interest, and gratitude--<I>to walk
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in God's law, and to do all his commandments,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
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Thus David swore that he would <I>keep God's righteous judgments,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:106">Ps. cxix. 106</A>.
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Our own covenant binds us to this, if not more strongly, yet more
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sensibly, than we were before bound, and therefore we must not think it
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needless thus to bind ourselves. Observe, When we bind ourselves to do
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the commandments of God we bind ourselves to do <I>all</I> his
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commandments, and therein to have an eye to him as the Lord and our
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Lord.</P>
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<P>
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IV. Some of the particular articles of this covenant, such as were
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adapted to their present temptations.
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1. That they would not intermarry with the heathen,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
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Many of them had been guilty of this,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+9:1">Ezra ix. 1</A>.
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In our covenants with God we should engage particularly against those
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sins that we have been most frequently overtaken in and damaged by.
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Those that resolve to <I>keep the commandments of God must say to evil
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doers, Depart,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:115">Ps. cxix. 115</A>.
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2. That they would keep no markets on the sabbath day, or any other day
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of which the law had said, <I>You shall do no work therein.</I> They
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would not only not sell goods themselves for gain on that day, but they
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would not encourage the heathen to sell on that day by buying of them,
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no not victuals, under pretence of necessity; but would buy in their
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provisions for their families the day before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
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Note, Those that covenant to keep all God's commandments must
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particularly covenant to keep sabbaths well; for the profanation of
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them is an inlet to other instances of profaneness. The sabbath is a
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market day for our souls, but not for our bodies.
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3. That they would not be severe in exacting their debts, but would
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observe the seventh year as a year of release, according to the law,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
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In this matter they had been faulty
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:1-19"><I>ch.</I> v.</A>),
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and here therefore they promise to reform. This was the acceptable
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fast, to <I>undo the heavy burden,</I> and to <I>let the oppressed go
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free,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:6">Isa. lviii. 6</A>.
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It was in the close of the day of expiation that the jubilee trumpet
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sounded. It was for the neglect of observing the seventh year as a year
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of rest for the land that God had made it enjoy its sabbaths seventy
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years
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+26:35">Lev. xxvi. 35</A>),
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and therefore they covenanted to observe that law. Those are stubborn
|
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children indeed that will not amend the fault for which they have been
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particularly corrected.</P>
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<A NAME="Ne10_32"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_33"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_34"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_35"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_36"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_37"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_38"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ne10_39"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Renewal of Sacred Rites.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 444.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly
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with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of
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our God;
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33 For the showbread, and for the continual meat offering, and
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for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new
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moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy <I>things,</I> and for the
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sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and <I>for</I> all the
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|
work of the house of our God.
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34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the
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people, for the wood offering, to bring <I>it</I> into the house of
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our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year
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by year, to burn upon the altar of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God, as <I>it is</I>
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written in the law:
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35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the
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firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the
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house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>:
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36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as <I>it
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|
is</I> written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of
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|
our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests
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|
that minister in the house of our God:
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|
37 And <I>that</I> we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and
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|
our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and
|
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|
of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our
|
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|
God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same
|
||
|
Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
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|
38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites,
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|
when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the
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|
tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers,
|
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|
into the treasure house.
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|
39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall
|
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|
bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil,
|
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|
unto the chambers, where <I>are</I> the vessels of the sanctuary, and
|
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|
the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and
|
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|
we will not forsake the house of our God.
|
||
|
</FONT></P>
|
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|
|
||
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
||
|
Having covenanted against the sins they had been guilty of, they
|
||
|
proceed in obliging themselves to revive and observe the duties they
|
||
|
had neglected. We must not only <I>cease to do evil,</I> but <I>learn
|
||
|
to do well.</I></P>
|
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|
|
||
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
||
|
I. It was resolved, in general, that the temple service should be
|
||
|
carefully kept up, that the work of the house of their God should be
|
||
|
done in its season, according to the law,
|
||
|
|
||
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Let not any people expect the blessing of God unless they make
|
||
|
conscience of observing his ordinances and keeping up the public
|
||
|
worship of him. Then it is likely to go well with our houses when care
|
||
|
is taken that the work of God's house go on well. It was likewise
|
||
|
resolved that they would never <I>forsake the house of their God</I>
|
||
|
|
||
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>),
|
||
|
|
||
|
as they and their fathers had done, would not forsake it for the house
|
||
|
of any other god, or for the high places, as idolaters did, nor forsake
|
||
|
it for their farms and merchandises, as those did that were atheistical
|
||
|
and profane. Those that forsake the worship of God forsake God.</P>
|
||
|
|
||
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
||
|
II. It was resolved, in pursuance of this, that they would liberally
|
||
|
maintain the temple service, and not starve it. The priests were ready
|
||
|
to do their part in all the work of God's house, if the people would do
|
||
|
theirs, which was to find them with materials to work upon. Now here it
|
||
|
was agreed and concluded,
|
||
|
|
||
|
1. That a stock should be raised for the furnishing of God's table and
|
||
|
altar plentifully. Formerly there were treasures in the house of the
|
||
|
Lord for this purpose, but these were gone, and there was no settled
|
||
|
fund to supply the want of them. It was a constant charge to provide
|
||
|
show-bread for the table, two lambs for the daily offerings, four for
|
||
|
the sabbaths, and more, and more costly, sacrifices for other
|
||
|
festivals, occasional sin-offerings, and meat-offerings, and
|
||
|
drink-offerings for them all. They had no rich king to provide these,
|
||
|
as Hezekiah did; the priests could not afford to provide them, their
|
||
|
maintenance was so small; the people therefore agreed to contribute
|
||
|
yearly, every one of them, the third part of a shekel, about ten pence
|
||
|
a-piece for the bearing of this expense. When every one will act, and
|
||
|
every one will give, though but little, towards a good work, the whole
|
||
|
amount will be considerable. The tirshatha did not impose this tax, but
|
||
|
the people made it an ordinance for themselves, and charged themselves
|
||
|
with it,
|
||
|
|
||
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:32,33"><I>v.</I> 32, 33</A>.
|
||
|
|
||
|
2. That particular care should be taken to provide wood for the altar,
|
||
|
to keep the fire always burning upon it, and wherewith to boil the
|
||
|
peace-offerings. All of them, priests and Levites as well as people,
|
||
|
agreed to bring in their quota, and cast lots in what order they should
|
||
|
bring it in, which family first and which next, that there might be a
|
||
|
constant supply, and not a scarcity at one time and an overplus at
|
||
|
another,
|
||
|
|
||
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Thus they provided the fire and the wood, as well as the lambs for the
|
||
|
burnt-offerings.
|
||
|
|
||
|
3. That all those things which the divine law had appointed for the
|
||
|
maintenance of the priests and Levites should be duly paid in, for
|
||
|
their encouragement to mind their business, and that they might not be
|
||
|
under any temptation to neglect it for the making of necessary
|
||
|
provision for their families. Then the work of the house of God is
|
||
|
likely to go on when those that serve at the altar live, and live
|
||
|
comfortably, upon the altar. First-fruits and tenths were then the
|
||
|
principal branches of the ministers' revenues; and they here resolved,
|
||
|
|
||
|
(1.) To bring in the first-fruits justly, the first-fruits of their
|
||
|
ground and trees
|
||
|
|
||
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+23:19,Le+19:23">Exod. xxiii. 19; Lev. xix. 23</A>),
|
||
|
|
||
|
the first-born of their children (even the money wherewith they were to
|
||
|
be redeemed) and of their cattle,
|
||
|
|
||
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:2,11,12">Exod. xiii. 2, 11, 12</A>
|
||
|
|
||
|
(this was given to the priests,
|
||
|
|
||
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:15,16">Num. xviii. 15, 16</A>),
|
||
|
|
||
|
also the first-fruits of their dough
|
||
|
|
||
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+15:21">Num. xv. 21</A>),
|
||
|
|
||
|
concerning which there is a particular order given in the prophecy
|
||
|
concerning the second temple,
|
||
|
|
||
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+44:30">Ezek. xliv. 30</A>.
|
||
|
|
||
|
(2.) To bring in their tenths likewise, which were due to the Levites
|
||
|
|
||
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>),
|
||
|
|
||
|
and a tenth out of those tenths to the priest,
|
||
|
|
||
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>.
|
||
|
|
||
|
This was the law
|
||
|
|
||
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:21-28">Num. xviii. 21-28</A>);
|
||
|
|
||
|
but these dues had been withheld, in consequence of which God, by the
|
||
|
prophet, charges them with <I>robbing him</I>
|
||
|
|
||
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+3:8,9">Mal. iii. 8, 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
||
|
at the same time encouraging them to be more just to him and his
|
||
|
receivers, with a promise that, if they brought the <I>tithes into the
|
||
|
store-house,</I> he would <I>pour out blessings upon them,</I>
|
||
|
|
||
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
||
|
This therefore they resolved to do, that there might be meat in God's
|
||
|
house, and plenty in the store-chambers of the temple, where the
|
||
|
vessels of the sanctuary were,
|
||
|
|
||
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>.
|
||
|
|
||
|
"We will do it (say they) <I>in all the cities of our tillage,</I>"
|
||
|
|
||
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>.
|
||
|
|
||
|
<I>In all the cities of our servitude,</I> so the LXX., for they were
|
||
|
servants in their own land,
|
||
|
|
||
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+9:36"><I>ch.</I> ix. 36</A>.
|
||
|
|
||
|
But (as Mr. Poole well observes), though they paid great taxes to the
|
||
|
kings of Persia, and had much hardship put upon them, they would not
|
||
|
make that an excuse for not paying their tithes, but would render to
|
||
|
God the things that were his, as well as to Cæsar the things that
|
||
|
were his. We must do what we can in works of piety and charity
|
||
|
notwithstanding the taxes we pay to the government, and cheerfully
|
||
|
perform our duty to God in our servitude, which will be the surest way
|
||
|
to ease and liberty in God's due time.</P>
|
||
|
|
||
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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