The leaders, priests and Levites put their seals on a written covenant. The people promise to follow God's law, to avoid intermarriage, to keep the sabbath, to provide for the temple, to give first fruits and tithes.
1 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah , the Tirshatha , the son of Hachaliah , and Zidkijah ,
2 Seraiah , Azariah , Jeremiah ,
3 Pashur , Amariah , Malchijah ,
4 Hattush , Shebaniah , Malluch ,
5 Harim , Meremoth , Obadiah ,
6 Daniel , Ginnethon , Baruch ,
7 Meshullam , Abijah , Mijamin ,
8 Maaziah , Bilgai , Shemaiah : these were the priests .
9 And the Levites : both Jeshua the son of Azaniah , Binnui of the sons of Henadad , Kadmiel ;
10 And their brethren , Shebaniah , Hodijah , Kelita , Pelaiah , Hanan ,
11 Micha , Rehob , Hashabiah ,
12 Zaccur , Sherebiah , Shebaniah ,
14 The chief of the people ; Parosh , Pahathmoab , Elam , Zatthu , Bani ,
16 Adonijah , Bigvai , Adin ,
18 Hodijah , Hashum , Bezai ,
19 Hariph , Anathoth , Nebai ,
20 Magpiash , Meshullam , Hezir ,
21 Meshezabeel , Zadok , Jaddua ,
22 Pelatiah , Hanan , Anaiah ,
23 Hoshea , Hananiah , Hashub ,
24 Hallohesh , Pileha , Shobek ,
25 Rehum , Hashabnah , Maaseiah ,
26 And Ahijah , Hanan , Anan ,
27 Malluch , Harim , Baanah .
28 And 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 ;
29 They 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 ;
30 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land , nor take their daughters for our sons :
31 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 on the sabbath , or on the holy day : and that we would leave the seventh year , and the exaction of every debt .
32 Also 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 ;
33 For 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 .
34 And 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 :
35 And 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 :
36 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 our flocks , to bring to the house of our God , unto the priests that minister in the house of our God :
37 And 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 .
38 And 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 .
39 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 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 .