28 May

Bible In 365 Days

Nehemiah 10-11

Nehemiah 10

Following their humiliation, the people entered into a new covenant with God. This covenant was sealed representatively by the priests (Nehemiah 10: 3-8), Levites (Nehemiah 10: 9-13), rulers (Nehemiah 10: 14-27). To its terms all the people agreed (Nehemiah 10: 28).

These terms were then set forth in general phrases, and in particular application. Generally the people promised "to walk in God's law . . . to observe and do all the commandments." Particularly the covenant referred to matters in which undoubtedly the people had been in danger of failure, namely, intermarriage with the heathen, neglect of the Sabbath, of Temple maintenance and arrangement, and offering of first fruits and tithes. In the light of the Law, as it was expounded on the day of convocation, and in the power of the approach to God on the day of humiliation, the people entered into covenant on the day of dedication.

Nehemiah 11

We now begin the third and final division of the Book, in which is set forth the arrangements made for settlement of the cities. It is the last piece of history which the Old Testament contains. Some revelation of later conditions is obtainable from the study of the prophets, but nothing more is directly written until, after a lapse of four centuries, the history is resumed in the New Testament.

In this chapter begins the account of the settlement of Jerusalem particularly. Perhaps not more than fifty thousand of the people, all told, had returned from captivity. By no means all of these had come to Jerusalem. Many of them were scattered through the surrounding cities. Jerusalem was peculiarly difficult of settlement, in that it was the center of danger and of possible attack. It was therefore arranged that the princes should dwell in the city, and that ten per cent of the people, selected by lot, must take up their abode there. In addition to these, some voluntarily came forward to dwell in the place of danger. These were especially honored by all the people (Nehemiah 11:2).