Reading for December 21st

Read Nehemiah 10.1-39. In 10.28-39: The terms of the covenant. Having made an extensive confession before God, the community now offers a solemn covenant that covers a wide range of obligations. All these will reform the community and bring it into accord with the law of God. In verse 28: The rest of the people, that is, other than the named signatories. In verse 30: We will not give our daughters ... or take their daughters: The first major commitment is to oppose intermarriage and cease its practice. The dissolution of existing ethnically mixed marriages is not called for. In verse 31: We will will not buy ... on the sabbath or on a holy day: This involves observing thhe sabbath withnew rigor, since the law does not prohibit buying onthe sabbath, though selling on the sabbath may have been customarily forbidden (Am 8.5). Forego the crops of the seventh year: Crop land is to receive a sabbath (Lev 25.1-7), combined with rules regarding the release of debts (Deut 15.1-18). These rules had not previously been linked. In verse 32: One-third of a shekel: This was an annul temple tax that continued intot he Roman period (Mt 17.24-27). The Temple tax was instituted after the Exile since there was no source of regular royal underwriting of Temple functions. In verse 34: The community also commits to supply the wood offering to support the Temple service. In verse 35: First fruits: while the first cuttings of grain are specified in the law (deut 26.1-11), no provision is required for the produce of fruit trees. The remaining obligations commit the community to the support of various aspects of Temple service. In verse 39: The main thrust of this covenant extends the coverge of the law, placing a larger sphere of life intothe realm of the holy as part of service for the house of our God. Comments or Questions..