Nehemiah 10

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Those who sealed it were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah. Zedekiah,

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Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

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Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,

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Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,

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Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

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Daniek, Ginnethon, Baruch,

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Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

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Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah. These were tjhe priests.

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The Levites: Jeshua son of Azariah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,

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and their associates: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

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Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,

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Zaccut, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

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Hodiah, Bani and Beninu.

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The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

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Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

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Adonijah,Bigvi,Adin,

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Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

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Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

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Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

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Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

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Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

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Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

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Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

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Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

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Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

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Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,

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Malluch, Harim and Baanah.

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"The rest of the people - priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants

and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of

the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters

who are able to understand -

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all these now join their brothers the nobles, and

bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God

given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully

all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord.

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"We promise not give our daughters in marriage to the peoples

around us or take their daughters for our sons.

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"When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell

on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day.

Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.

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"We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give

a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God:

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for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offersings;

for the offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moon festivals and appointed feasts;

for the holy offerings; for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel;

and for all the duties of the house of our God.

34

"We - the priests, the Levites and the people- have cast lots to determine

when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times

each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the LORD our God,

as it is written in the Law.

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"We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD

each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.

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"As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons

and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God,

to the priests ministering there.

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"Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God,

to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings,

of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring

a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes

in all the towns where we work.

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A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites

when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes

up to the house of our God, to the strorerooms of the treasury.

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The people of Israel, inclulding the Levites, are to bring their contributions of

grain new wine and oil to the storerooms where the articles for the sanctuary

are ketp and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the singers stay.

"We will not neglect the house of our God.