The Beginning:
After hearing the Law read aloud and confessing their sins, the returned community recognizes a pattern of covenant unfaithfulness in Israel’s history. In response, they resolve to make a renewed commitment to God. The leaders propose a written agreement to formalize this commitment.
The Middle:
A document is prepared and sealed by Nehemiah, priests, Levites, and other leaders, representing the whole community. The people bind themselves with an oath to walk in God’s law and to keep the commands given through Moses. Specific commitments include avoiding intermarriage with surrounding peoples, honoring the Sabbath (including refusing commerce on it), and observing the sabbatical year and debt release. They also pledge to support the temple’s service through offerings, firstfruits, and tithes so that worship and ministry will not be neglected.
The End:
The covenant is publicly affirmed as a communal act of renewal, not merely a private promise. By sealing the agreement, the community establishes clear obligations tied to worship, holiness, and daily life. The chapter concludes with the stated purpose: “We will not neglect the house of our God.”
This covenant sealing highlights God’s faithfulness in preserving a people even after judgment and exile. The renewed commitment is a response to grace: the community acknowledges sin, remembers God’s mercy, and reorients life around God’s revealed word. It also shows that covenant faithfulness involves both worship and ethics—devotion to God is expressed in communal obedience, justice, and the ordered support of temple service. The story underscores repentance not as mere regret, but as a return to God’s covenant purposes for a holy people.
In the ancient Near East, covenants and legal agreements were commonly confirmed in writing and validated by seals, especially for binding communal obligations. Nehemiah’s account reflects this broader practice: a written, sealed document served as a public, accountable witness to the community’s commitments regarding worship support, Sabbath observance, and social-economic rhythms like the sabbatical year.
“We will not neglect the house of our God.” — Nehemiah 10:39
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. Who sealed the written agreement that represented the whole community?
2. What stated purpose concludes the community’s covenant commitments?