Nehemiah 10 | |
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![]() Discussing the issue of intermarriage. Illustration of Book of Ezra/Nehemiah. Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett | |
Book | Book of Nehemiah |
Category | Ketuvim |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 16 |
Nehemiah 10 is the tenth chapter of the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible,[1] or the 20th chapter of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, which treats the book of Ezra and the book of Nehemiah as one book.[2] Jewish tradition states that Ezra is the author of Ezra-Nehemiah as well as the Books of Chronicles,[3] but modern scholars generally accept that a compiler from the 5th century BCE known as The Chronicler is the final author of these books.[4] The chapter contains the list of signatories to the people's pledge and the later part deals with intermarriage with the non-Jews among the "people of the land" (parallel to Ezra 10) punctuated with the pledge to separate from "foreigners".[5]
The original text of this chapter is in Hebrew language. In English Bible texts this chapter is divided into 39 verses, but 40 verses in Hebrew Bible, due to a different verse numbering as follows:[6]
English texts | Hebrew texts |
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9:38 | 10:1 |
10:1–39 | 10:2–40 |
This article generally follows the common numbering in Christian English Bible versions, with notes to the numbering in Hebrew Bible versions.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).[7][a]
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century).[9]
After the first seal from Nehemiah the governor (verse 1a), the record is carefully ordered with three lists of signatories: the priests (10:1b–8), the Levites (10:9–13) and the chiefs of the people (10:14–27).[10] Ezra the priest, who has played a leading part in the narrative on chapters 8 and 9, is not mentioned in this chapter.
The pledge contains the general affirmation involving the whole community (verses 28–29; cf. Ezra 9–10) and particular obligations 'which they lay upon themselves' (verses 30–39), in relation to intermarriage (verse 30), to the Sabbath and sabbatical year (verse 31), and to the provision for the upkeep of the Temple and clergy (verses 32–39).[22] The wording can be traced to the Book of Deuteronomy, such as "to walk in God's law" (cf. Deuteronomy 8:6) and "to observe and do all the commandments" (cf. Deuteronomy 28:15). [23]
The "curse" is the penalty which they invoked if they were faithless to the covenant, the "oath" is the solemn obligation of a duty which they vowed to perform: the oath recalls the wording of Deuteronomy 29:12, enter into covenant with the Lord your God, and into His oath, which the Lord your God makes with you today.[25]