The big picture
Nehemiah 10 opens in verse 1 with “Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 20 with “Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,”, and closes in verse 39 with “For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the…” Repeated or prominent terms include house, Levites, people, priests, year. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Nehemiah · King James Version · 39Nehemiah 10:1-8
1–8: Those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah…
Nehemiah 10:1–8 opens with “Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,” and reaches “Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Nehemiah 10 develops its own movement around house, Levites, people, priests, year, with particular weight carried by Abijah, Amariah, Azariah.
Nehemiah 10:1-8
King James Version1Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
2Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
Nehemiah 10:9-16
9–16: The Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of…
Nehemiah 10:9–16 opens with “And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;” and reaches “Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Nehemiah 10 develops its own movement around house, Levites, people, priests, year, with particular weight carried by Bani, Hodijah, Shebaniah.
Nehemiah 10:9-16
King James Version9And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
10And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
14The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,
15Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
Nehemiah 10:17-24
17–24: Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
Nehemiah 10:17–24 opens with “Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,” and reaches “Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Nehemiah 10 develops its own movement around house, Levites, people, priests, year, with particular weight carried by Anaiah, Anathoth, Ater.
Nehemiah 10:17-24
King James Version17Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
18Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
Nehemiah 10:25-32
25–32: Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
Nehemiah 10:25–32 opens with “Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,” and reaches “Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Nehemiah 10 develops its own movement around house, Levites, people, priests, year, with particular weight carried by people, daughters, land.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,” Naming Hashabnah and Maaseiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Malluch, Harim, Baanah.” Naming Baanah and Harim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which…” The verse names God and Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them…” The line’s distinctive content terms include sabbath, debt, exaction. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.
Nehemiah 10:25-32
King James Version25Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;
29They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;
30And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:
31And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
32Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
Nehemiah 10:33-39
33–39: For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the…
Nehemiah 10:33–39 opens with “For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of…” and reaches “For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Nehemiah 10 develops its own movement around house, Levites, people, priests, year, with particular weight carried by house, Levites, offering.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house…” Naming Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include firstfruits, year, fruit. Its relationship to verses 34 and 36 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of…” Naming Also keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of…” Naming Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Nehemiah 10:33-39
King James Version33For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
34And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:
35And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD :
36Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:
37And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our 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.
38And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
39For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Nehemiah 10:1 begins with “Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,”
Where the chapter turns
Nehemiah 10:1 forms a natural hinge: “Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,”
The final note
Nehemiah 10:39 leaves the reader with “For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words house, Levites, people, priests, year, LORD help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why list the nations before introducing Abram?
The blessing promised through Abram will concern the families of the earth, not an isolated group.
What organizes the table?
Families, lands, nations and languages recur, linking people with place and relationship.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
