May 14, 2025
The Reading of the Law and the Response to the Law
Nehemiah 8-10
Samantha Parsons
Big Book Idea
Nehemiah sought to follow God faithfully despite opposition.
Key Verse | Nehemiah 8:8
They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
Nehemiah 8-10
Chapter 8
Ezra Reads the Law
1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, 1 8:7 Vulgate; Hebrew and the Levites helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, 2 8:8 Or with interpretation, or paragraph by paragraph and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
This Day Is Holy
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Feast of Booths Celebrated
13 On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. 14 And they found it written in the Law that the LORD had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths 3 8:14 Or temporary shelters during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.
Chapter 9
The People of Israel Confess Their Sin
1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. 2 And the Israelites 4 9:2 Hebrew the offspring of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God. 4 On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
6 5 9:6 Septuagint adds And Ezra said You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. 7 You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.
9 And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, 10 and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day. 11 And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters. 12 By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go. 13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 14 and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant. 15 You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them.
16 But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. 17 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. 6 9:17 Some Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts and in their rebellion appointed a leader to return to their slavery But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. 18 Even when they had made for themselves a golden 7 9:18 Hebrew metal calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, 19 you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. 21 Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.
22 And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. 23 You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess. 24 So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. 25 And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
26 Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. 27 Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. 29 And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. 30 Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. 31 Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
32 Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33 Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. 35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.
38 8 9:38 Ch 10:1 in Hebrew Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of 9 9:38 Hebrew lacks the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.
Chapter 10
The People Who Sealed the Covenant
1 10 10:1 Ch 10:2 in Hebrew On the seals are the names of 11 10:1 Hebrew lacks the names of Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, Zedekiah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these are the priests. 9 And the Levites: Jeshua the 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, Beninu. 14 The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 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, Hasshub, 24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
The Obligations of the Covenant
28 The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, 29 join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his rules and his statutes. 30 We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. 31 And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.
32 We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel 12 10:32 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. 34 We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have likewise cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law. 35 We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the LORD; 36 also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks; 37 and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor. 38 And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. 39 For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.”
Footnotes
[1] 8:7 Vulgate; Hebrew and the Levites[2] 8:8 Or with interpretation, or paragraph by paragraph
[3] 8:14 Or temporary shelters
[4] 9:2 Hebrew the offspring of Israel
[5] 9:6 Septuagint adds And Ezra said
[6] 9:17 Some Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts and in their rebellion appointed a leader to return to their slavery
[7] 9:18 Hebrew metal
[8] 9:38 Ch 10:1 in Hebrew
[9] 9:38 Hebrew lacks the names of
[10] 10:1 Ch 10:2 in Hebrew
[11] 10:1 Hebrew lacks the names of
[12] 10:32 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
Table of Contents
Introduction to Nehemiah
Timeline
Author and Date
Nehemiah is the central figure in the book. It contains some of his own records, but he is not the author of the entire book. The same author probably wrote Nehemiah and portions of Ezra. Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem in 445 B.C., 13 years after Ezra arrived. He returned for a further visit sometime between 433 and 423 B.C. He may have made several journeys between Persian capitals and Jerusalem in this period of 20 years (see chart).
Theme
The theme of Nehemiah is the Lord’s protection of his people and their need to be faithful in worship and in keeping the Mosaic law.
Purpose and Background
The basic purpose and background of Nehemiah are the same as that for Ezra (see Introduction to Ezra). Ezra, “a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses” (Ezra 7:6), called the returning exiles back to covenant loyalty and obedience to the law. Nehemiah rebuilt the city walls so that the community could be protected from enemies who might take advantage of them.
Key Themes
- The Lord hears prayer (1:4–6).
- The Lord works providentially, especially through powerful rulers, to bring about his greater purposes (e.g., 2:8).
- The Lord protects his people. Because of this, they need not be afraid (4:14).
- The Lord is merciful and faithful to his promises despite his people’s ongoing sin (9:32–35).
- Worship is at the center of the life of God’s people. It includes the willing, joyful giving of resources (10:32–39).
- God’s people need to be on their guard against their own moral weakness (ch. 13).
Outline
- Nehemiah Returns to Jerusalem to Rebuild Its Walls (1:1–2:20)
- The Wall Is Built, Despite Difficulties (3:1–7:4)
- A Record of Those Who Returned from Exile (7:5–73)
- The Reading of the Law, and Covenant Renewal (8:1–10:39)
- The Population of Jerusalem and the Villages; Priests and Levites (11:1–12:43)
- Nehemiah Deals with Problems in the Community (12:44–13:31)
The Persian Empire at the Time of Nehemiah
c. 450 B.C.
During the time of Nehemiah, the Persian Empire had reached its greatest extent, engulfing nearly the entire Near East. In 539 B.C. the Persians under Cyrus the Great defeated the Babylonians and absorbed the lands of Israel and Judah (which they called “Beyond the River”) into their empire. The next year Cyrus allowed the people of Judah (now called Jews) to return home and rebuild the temple of the Lord. Several waves of returning Jews resettled in Judea. In about 445 B.C., Nehemiah was granted permission to rebuild Jerusalem’s ruined walls.
Fact: The Feast of Booths
The Feast of Booths (8:2) marked the end of the agricultural year. It was a time to celebrate God’s provision and to ask his blessing for the next year’s crops. Once every seven years, the Book of the Law of Moses was to be read during the festival. This was done to instruct the children and as a reminder for the adults.
Fact: Word pictures for worship and teaching
Word pictures for worship and teaching. Religious images were strictly forbidden under the Mosaic law, but Israel’s leaders often used vivid imagery in their story-telling to teach the people and to help them worship. Chapter 9 gives an example of this, as the Levites publicly recite the nation’s history, from creation to the present.
Fact: Seals
Seals in the ancient Near East (e.g., 10:1) were stamps pressed into soft wax on documents that demonstrated ownership or authorship.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Chronology of Nehemiah
| Event | Month/Day | Year | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanani brings Nehemiah a report from Jerusalem (20th year of Artaxerxes I) | 445–444 B.C. | 1:1 | |
| Nehemiah before King Artaxerxes | 1 | 445 | 2:1 |
| Nehemiah arrives to inspect Jerusalem walls | 445 | 2:11 | |
| Wall is finished | 6/25 | 445 | 6:15 |
| People of Israel gather | 7 | 445 | 7:73–8:1 |
| People of Israel celebrate Feast of Booths | 7/15–22 | 445 | 8:14 |
| People of Israel fast and confess sins | 7/24 | 445 | 9:1 |
| Nehemiah returns to Susa (32nd year of Artaxerxes I) | 433 | 5:14; 13:6 |
Chronology of Nehemiah
| Event | Month/Day | Year | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanani brings Nehemiah a report from Jerusalem (20th year of Artaxerxes I) | 445–444 B.C. | 1:1 | |
| Nehemiah before King Artaxerxes | 1 | 445 | 2:1 |
| Nehemiah arrives to inspect Jerusalem walls | 445 | 2:11 | |
| Wall is finished | 6/25 | 445 | 6:15 |
| People of Israel gather | 7 | 445 | 7:73–8:1 |
| People of Israel celebrate Feast of Booths | 7/15–22 | 445 | 8:14 |
| People of Israel fast and confess sins | 7/24 | 445 | 9:1 |
| Nehemiah returns to Susa (32nd year of Artaxerxes I) | 433 | 5:14; 13:6 |
Neh. 8:2 The inclusion of both men and women is stressed, since the strict keeping of the great Jerusalem feasts was expected of men only (Deut. 16:16–17). all who could understand. “Understanding” is a key theme in this chapter, since it was vital that all should know God’s law. The teaching of the law may have been neglected in the nearly one hundred years since the first return from Babylon. The first day of the seventh month was a day of rest, like a Sabbath, in the month of the Day of Atonement (see Lev. 23:24–25, 27, 34).
Fact: The Feast of Booths
The Feast of Booths (8:2) marked the end of the agricultural year. It was a time to celebrate God’s provision and to ask his blessing for the next year’s crops. Once every seven years, the Book of the Law of Moses was to be read during the festival. This was done to instruct the children and as a reminder for the adults.
Neh. 8:3–5 from early morning until midday. The book was lengthy, and there may have been frequent pauses for explanation (see note on v. 7). opened the book. The act of reading, in this setting, is also a corporate act of worship.
Neh. 8:7 The Levites presumably moved among the crowd, ensuring that all could understand. Such interpretation was one of their special tasks (see Deut. 33:10; 2 Chron. 17:7–9).
8:1–8 The Law Is Read. Ezra reads the Book of the Law to all the people, and the Levites ensure that everyone has understood it.
8:9–12 The People Are to Be Joyful. Though sorrow for sin was the desired response to the teaching, joy at renewed relationship with God was its ultimate purpose. the joy of the LORD is your strength. As the people rejoiced in God, he would show himself strong to help and defend them. Eat . . . drink . . . send portions are important themes of worship in Deuteronomy, associated with God’s rich gifts and the privilege of sharing them (Deut. 12:12; 14:23, 26, 27–29).
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Chronology of Nehemiah
| Event | Month/Day | Year | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanani brings Nehemiah a report from Jerusalem (20th year of Artaxerxes I) | 445–444 B.C. | 1:1 | |
| Nehemiah before King Artaxerxes | 1 | 445 | 2:1 |
| Nehemiah arrives to inspect Jerusalem walls | 445 | 2:11 | |
| Wall is finished | 6/25 | 445 | 6:15 |
| People of Israel gather | 7 | 445 | 7:73–8:1 |
| People of Israel celebrate Feast of Booths | 7/15–22 | 445 | 8:14 |
| People of Israel fast and confess sins | 7/24 | 445 | 9:1 |
| Nehemiah returns to Susa (32nd year of Artaxerxes I) | 433 | 5:14; 13:6 |
Neh. 8:13–15 The following day, as the leaders study the Law, they realize they are in the month of the Feast of Booths, the feast of the seventh month (Lev. 23:33–43). During this feast the people lived in temporary dwellings made from branches to commemorate how they had lived in booths in the wilderness (Lev. 23:43).
8:13–18 The People Keep the Feast of Booths. This family-oriented festival highlighted God’s protection of Israel in the desert, before the conquest of Canaan.
Neh. 8:17–18 Jeshua is another form of “Joshua.” had not done so. Although the Feast of Booths had been celebrated on occasion (see 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Chron. 7:9; Ezra 3:4), it had apparently not been celebrated in this way (with such great joy, or in such unsettled conditions, or with all the people participating). seven days. See Lev. 23:34. For the reading of the law at the Feast of Booths (every seven years), see Deut. 31:10–11.
Neh. 9:1 the twenty-fourth day. It is still the seventh month, after the seven days of the Feast of Booths and an eighth day of solemn assembly (8:18).
Chronology of Nehemiah
| Event | Month/Day | Year | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanani brings Nehemiah a report from Jerusalem (20th year of Artaxerxes I) | 445–444 B.C. | 1:1 | |
| Nehemiah before King Artaxerxes | 1 | 445 | 2:1 |
| Nehemiah arrives to inspect Jerusalem walls | 445 | 2:11 | |
| Wall is finished | 6/25 | 445 | 6:15 |
| People of Israel gather | 7 | 445 | 7:73–8:1 |
| People of Israel celebrate Feast of Booths | 7/15–22 | 445 | 8:14 |
| People of Israel fast and confess sins | 7/24 | 445 | 9:1 |
| Nehemiah returns to Susa (32nd year of Artaxerxes I) | 433 | 5:14; 13:6 |
Neh. 9:2–3 separated themselves from all foreigners. See Ezra 9–10. Here it refers not just to marriage but also to the integrity of the community in general. iniquities of their fathers. That is, of all previous generations, as in the prayer that follows (Neh. 9:6–37).
Neh. 9:7–8 Ur of the Chaldeans is in southern Mesopotamia (see Gen. 11:31). the name Abraham. See Gen. 17:5. the covenant. God promised Abraham both descendants and land. The promise to drive out other nations has particular meaning in this period of restoration to the land.
Neh. 9:9–11 heard their cry at the Red Sea. This condenses the whole story from Exodus 2–15 (see Ex. 2:23–25; 14:1–15:27). signs and wonders . . . divided the sea. This refers to the miracles done to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites (Exodus 7–15).
Neh. 9:12 The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire provided God’s guidance (see Ex. 13:21–22).
Neh. 9:13–14 Mount Sinai is where God gave the Ten Commandments and detailed instructions for applying them (rules, laws, statutes, commandments).
Neh. 9:15 bread from heaven . . . water. Compare Ex. 16:14–15; 17:6.
Neh. 9:16–18 appointed a leader. See Num. 14:4. The people must have gone ahead and chosen a different leader, though Numbers 14 contains no record of it. Golden calf refers to the rebellion committed while the covenant was still being made at Sinai (Exodus 32; Deut. 9:7–21).
Neh. 9:23 stars of heaven. See Deut. 1:10.
Neh. 9:26–28 This pattern of sin, judgment, repentance, and deliverance is typical of the book of Judges. killed your prophets. Compare Matt. 23:31; Acts 7:52.
Neh. 9:29–31 The story of God’s long patience with the Israelites’ sin, finally ending in judgment, is told in 1–2 Kings (see especially 2 Kings 17).
Neh. 9:30–31 you gave them into the hand of the peoples. The northern kingdom was “[given] into the hand of” Assyria (2 Kings 17); Judah was conquered by Babylon (2 Kings 24–25). you did not make an end of them. God rescued his people from exile, as recorded in 2 Chron. 36:22–23 and in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Neh. 9:32–33 All the hardship refers to the sufferings of both exiles (Assyrian and Babylonian). Yet God has been righteous in his judgment.
Neh. 9:6–37 The prayer mixes confession with memories of God’s grace and petition. It follows the biblical story as told in Genesis–Kings.
9:1–38 A Prayer of Confession, Penitence, and Covenant Commitment. The next phase in the great act of covenant renewal is a prayer of praise, confession, and petition.
Neh. 9:36–38 we are slaves. The people’s continuing sinfulness explains why they are not yet entirely free. To resolve this situation, the people will enter a solemn covenant.
Fact: Word pictures for worship and teaching
Word pictures for worship and teaching. Religious images were strictly forbidden under the Mosaic law, but Israel’s leaders often used vivid imagery in their story-telling to teach the people and to help them worship. Chapter 9 gives an example of this, as the Levites publicly recite the nation’s history, from creation to the present.
Fact: Seals
Seals in the ancient Near East (e.g., 10:1) were stamps pressed into soft wax on documents that demonstrated ownership or authorship.
Neh. 10:1–27 The long list of names shows that the entire community supported the covenant.
Neh. 10:29 a curse and an oath. The two expressions together show the people’s serious intention to keep their commitment.
Neh. 10:30 Mosaic law prohibited intermarriage with the peoples of the land because they worshiped other gods. This is in the forefront because it was such a problem recently (Ezra 9–10).
Neh. 10:31 The Sabbath commandment (Ex. 20:8–11; Deut. 5:12–15) was a key marker of Israel’s identity. Trading with surrounding peoples on the Sabbath must have been a temptation (see Neh. 13:16–22). crops of the seventh year. The Sabbath idea extended to the seventh year, when normal cultivation was prohibited (Lev. 25:2–7).
Neh. 10:32 third part of a shekel. No Mosaic law requires this tax. It is a new commitment to support the service of the house of our God. (However, compare Ex. 30:11–16.)
Neh. 10:33–34 showbread. See Lev. 24:5–9. wood offering. Again, no specific law requires this tax, but the need for it is implied in Lev. 6:12–13. This is why it is described as written in the Law.
Neh. 10:36 firstborn of our sons. On the redemption of firstborn sons, see note on Ex. 13:2. herds . . . flocks. See Num. 18:15–18; Deut. 15:19–23.
Neh. 10:35–37 These agricultural offerings were to supply temple personnel, as specified in various laws (e.g., Ex. 23:19; Num. 18:12–13), but they were not always paid (see Neh. 13:10).
Neh. 10:37 first of our dough. See Num. 15:20–21; Deut. 18:4. Tithes are for the Levites, according to Num. 18:21–24, though the entire nation is invited to partake of the tithe in Deut. 14:22–27.
Neh. 10:38 tithe of the tithes. The Levites give part of the tithe to the priests (Num. 18:25–32).
8:1–10:39 The Reading of the Law, and Covenant Renewal. In this long section, the Book of the Law is solemnly read, the Feast of Booths is kept, and a great act of covenant renewal is performed. For the first time in this book, Ezra enters the story. This shows the unity of his and Nehemiah’s projects. With the walls securely in place, the Mosaic law is once again made prominent. It is not security or the temple that is most essential to the life of the community; trust in God and obedience to his Word are most important.
10:1–39 Signatories and Specific Commitments. Many of the people agree to the covenant, and they accept the responsibility of funding the temple’s activities.
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Listen NowDive Deeper | Nehemiah 8-10
"[A]nd all the people answered, 'Amen, Amen,' lifting up their hands." (Nehemiah 8:6)
Ezra has led the rebuilding of the temple, Nehemiah has led the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, and God's people are reuniting from their captivity and exile. What happens next? Revival.
In this section of Nehemiah, we can learn from:
The reverence of God's Word
The revelation of God's Word
The response to God's Word
Ezra and Nehemiah deeply believed in God's promises, trusted in His character for protection and provision, and responded with radical obedience. Their joy and commitment to the Lord was contagious, and Nehemiah 8 begins with the people calling upon Ezra to read the Law (Torah) aloud as their very first action after rebuilding the wall. We see a reverence for God's Word. They set a stage; and everyone is there to participate, standing in reverence as Scripture is read aloud. There is an eagerness and joy toward God's Word, and the crowd is actively engaged in listening. God’s people love God’s Word.
Nehemiah 9 transports us into a sermon rich with Scripture and teaching that happened just a little bit too early to be live-streamed. We see the revelation of God's Word, written by God, revealing who God is, reminding us what He's done in and through people and time, and revealing His promises. Through Scripture, they recounted events from creation to exile, seeing the futility of our human attempts at holiness and the response of our merciful and faithful God. God’s people value God’s Word.
And their response to God's Word ensued. They wept over their sin in humble repentance. In that repentance, they turned back to the festivals and days of remembrance that were markers to regularly remind them of who God is and what He has already done, and they turned from their disobedience through a new covenant. God's Word affected their desires, emotions, and actions. God’s people are transformed by God's Word through the Holy Spirit.
May we, too, be reverent and responsive to the revelation of God's Word!
This month's memory verse
"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
– Job 1:21b
Discussion Questions
1. Reverence for God's Word. What is your perspective on God's Word? Is there a part of your perspective that you need to repent from and transform through the Holy Spirit?
2. Revelation of God's Word. Do you feel confident studying God's Word and gleaning contextual observations and applications? Are you reading God's Word together with others in community, a Bible study, or your family? Is God calling you to a next step of faithfulness or equipping in this area?
3. Responding to God's Word. Does God's Word stop in your head or navigate down into your heart (intentions, desires, motivations)? How do you need to respond to God's Word today? (Share your answer with your community group for help and encouragement!)