Commentaria in II Esdrae (Nehemiam)
Chapter 10. Synopsis of the Chapter
Those are enumerated who signed the covenant of the people made with God, who promise to keep all the commandments of God, and namely the Sabbath and the seventh year; likewise to pay the tithes and first fruits appointed by the law, since in these they had until now been negligent and transgressors.
1. Now they that sealed were Nehemias, Athersatha the son of Hachelai, and Sedecias, 2. Saraias, Azarias, Jeremias, 3. Pheshur, Amarias, Melchias, 4. Hattus, Sebenia, Melluch, 5. Harem, Merimuth, Obdias, 6. Daniel, Genthon, Baruch, 7. Mosollam, Abia, Miamin, 8. Maasia, Belgai, Semeia: these were priests. 9. And the Levites, Josue the son of Azanias, Bennui of the sons of Henadad, Cedmihel, 10. and their brethren, Sebenia, Odaia, Celita, Phalaia, Hanan, 11. Micha, Rohob, Hasebia, 12. Zachur, Serebia, Sabania, 13. Odaia, Bani, Baninu. 14. The chiefs of the people, Pharos, Phahathmoab, Elam, Zethu, Bani, 15. Bonni, Azgad, Bebai, 16. Adonia, Bergoai, Adin, 17. Ater, Hezecia, Azur, 18. Odaia, Hasum, Besai, 19. Hareph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20. Megphias, Mosollam, Hazir, 21. Mesizabel, Sadoc, Jeddua, 22. Pheltia, Hanan, Anaia, 23. Osee, Hanania, Hasub, 24. Alohes, Phalea, Sobec, 25. Rehum, Hasebna, Maasia, 26. Echaia, Hanan, Anan, 27. Melluch, Haran, Baana: 28. and the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters and the singers, the Nathinites, and all they that separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, 29. all that could understand, pledging themselves for their brethren, their nobles, and those that came to promise and swear that they would walk in the law of God, which he gave in the hand of Moses the servant of God, that they would do and keep all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his judgments, and his ceremonies, 30. and that we would not give our daughters to the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons. 31. The people of the land also, that bring in wares, and all things for use on the sabbath day to sell, we will not take of them on the sabbath, or on the sanctified day. And we will let the seventh year alone, and the exaction of every hand. 32. And we will make ordinances to us to give the third part of a sicle every year for the work of the house of our God. 33. For the loaves of proposition, and for the continual sacrifice, and for a continual holocaust on the sabbaths, on the calends, on the solemnities, and on the sanctified days, and for sin: that prayer be made for Israel, and for all the use of the house of our God. 34. So we cast lots upon the offering of the wood, among the priests, and the Levites, and the people, that it should be brought into the house of our God, by the houses of our fathers, at the times appointed, from year to year: to burn upon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law of Moses: 35. and that we would bring the firstfruits of our land, and the firstfruits of all the fruit of every tree, from year to year, to the house of the Lord. 36. And 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 be offered in the house of our God, to the priests that minister in the house of our God: 37. and we will bring the firstfruits of our meats, and of our drink offerings, and the fruit of every tree, of the vintage also and of the oil, to the priests, to the storehouse of our God, and the tithe of our land to the Levites. The same Levites shall receive the tithes out of all the cities of our works. 38. And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites in the tithes of the Levites, and the Levites shall offer the tenth part of their tithes in the house of our God, to the storehouse into the treasure house. 39. For to the storehouse the children of Israel, and the children of Levi, shall bring the firstfruits of corn, of wine, and of oil: and there shall be the sanctified vessels, and the priests, and the singers, and the porters, and the ministers, and we will not forsake the house of our God.
1. And those who signed (the covenant of the people made with God) were Nehemias (as leader), Athersatha, the son of Hachelai.—This one is different from Nehemias, who was also called Athersatha.
28. And all they that separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God—who, namely, had been converted from heathenism to Judaism and made proselytes.
29. All that could understand.—Refer it to “sons”; as if to say: All the sons of the proselytes, who were not infants but adults and possessed of reason, also signed this covenant.
Pledging themselves for their brethren their nobles—as if to say: In so great a number all could not sign this covenant; wherefore the nobles alone swore and sealed for the rest of their fellow tribesmen.
And those (who were like the nobles, the chief men of the people) that came to promise and swear.—In the Hebrew there is added, with a curse, saying: May God punish us if we do not keep his commandments.
31. We will let the seventh year alone—that is, the sabbatical year; as if to say: We will let the land keep sabbath in the seventh year, so that we do not till the fields, but leave to the poor what grows in them of itself, according to the law of Exodus And the exaction of every hand—as if to say: We will likewise let go to debtors what is owed us by their written bond, so that in the seventh year we do not exact it. For the law likewise commanded this, that, since the land was not tilled in the seventh year, debts also which had to be paid from the fruits of the land should not be paid in the same year.
sacrifices, which are offered to God; for he distinguishes these from the victims for sin, of which presently follows.
34. From year to year—that is, every year, or yearly.
37. The tithe of our land—that is, the tithes of the fruits of the land. For the Levites could not possess land, but only receive from it the tithes of the fruits.
Of our works.—Hence it is clear that the Jews paid tithes not only of their fields but also of their labours and works, so as to give a tenth part of the profit coming to them from these to the Levites.
38. And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites in the tithes of the Levites (that is, the priests, the sons of Aaron, shall have a share of the tithes with the Levites, namely a tenth of the tithe. For, as follows:) the Levites shall offer the tenth part of their tithes in the house of God.—The Levites therefore gave the tenth part of their tithes to the priests, and the priests in turn gave a tenth of their tithe to the High Priest, who therefore was very rich and wealthy, as I said on Numbers 18.
39. And there shall be the sanctified vessels, and the priests—who in the time of their turn minister in the temple. For these dwelt in chambers attached to the temple, which were called exedrae and treasuries, and were fed there; for at the cost of the farmers and Levites the firstfruits, which fell to the priests, had to be brought to these treasuries. The Hebrews therefore promise that they will diligently attend to all these things which they had neglected before.
And we will not forsake the house of God—as if to say: We will take care of all that belongs to the uses of the temple and to the sustenance of the priests and Levites. They swear, then, that they will do these things, because in them they had until now been rather negligent.