Read the Passage: Nehemiah 9–10

Covenant Broken (9:1–38)

Earlier, in Neh. 8:16–18, the people had celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, which on the Jewish calendar is observed between the 15th and 22nd day of Tishri. Note that the Day of Atonement occurs prior to this, on the 10th day of Tishri (cf. Lev. 16:1–34). Yet, the narrative of Neh. 9:1–3 indicates that the people kept a Day of Atonement-like event on the 24th day of Tishri, perhaps because they had neglected to observe this special day earlier in the month. In any event, the people were assembled with “fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads” (Neh. 9:1). Recall that earlier, when the law of God was read by Ezra, the leaders needed to exhort the people not to mourn, but to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (cf. Neh. 8:9, 11). Now, two days after the feast ended, the people openly mourned and “confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers” (Neh. 9:2).

Neh. 9:4–38 contains a lengthy confession of the people. This confession, which is similar in parts to Psalms 78 and 106, is a brief history of the relationship between God and His people, which entails God’s faithfulness and man’s sinfulness. Neh. 9:4–31 is historical in nature, while Neh. 9:32–38 gives a petition. Evidently, this entire confession was part of the six hours of confession and worship mentioned in Neh. 9:3. In Neh. 9:4–5 we learn that eight men, some of whom were listed earlier at Neh. 8:7, along with other unnamed Levites, stood and spoke this confession before God. The first part of this historical section, Neh. 9:5–15, describes God’s faithfulness, including: His creation (cf. Neh. 9:5–6), the Abrahamic covenant (cf. Neh. 9:7–8), the exodus event (cf. Neh. 9:9–12), the giving of the moral law (cf. Neh. 9:13–14), and God’s provision of manna and water for the people (cf. Neh. 9:15).

The second part of the historical survey, Neh. 9:16–31, describes the history of Israel’s sinfulness. This section includes: the rebellion of God’s people (cf. Neh. 9:16–17), the idolatry of Israel and the mercy of God (cf. Neh. 9:18–21), the gracious provision of God (cf. Neh. 9:22–25), and the disobedience of Israel (cf. Neh. 9:26–31). While this summary cites instances of sinfulness, it also details God’s long-suffering and mercy. Given God’s character, then, in Neh. 9:32–38 the people petition Him for further faithfulness. In this section the people acknowledge God’s mercy (cf. Neh. 9:32a), they humbly recognize the justice of God’s judgment (cf. Neh. 32b–33), they admit their historical and on-going sinfulness (cf. Neh. 9:34–35), they present themselves as servants of God (cf. Neh. 9:36–37), and they make a covenant with God, based upon being His servants (cf. Neh. 9:38).

Covenant Sealed (10:1–29)

The list of the people who entered into the covenant in Neh. 9:5–38 is recorded in Neh. 10:1–29. This list includes Nehemiah, along with certain unnamed priests, Levites, leaders, and other brethren. It is interesting to note that while eighty-six names are specifically cited, Ezra’s name is not on the list. Undoubtedly, Ezra was included among “the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and understanding” (Neh. 10:28). Observe that while the people did not specifically promise obedience when they made their covenant in Neh. 9:5–38, it was surely implied, for they “entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law . . . and to observe and do all the commandments” (Neh. 10:29).

Covenant Made (10:30–39)

In Neh. 10:30–39 some of the specific contents of the covenant are listed. The details of this covenant included: not intermarrying with non-Jews (cf. Neh. 10:30), keeping the Sabbath day and Sabbath year (cf. Neh. 10:31), paying an annual one-third shekel temple tax (cf. Neh. 10:32–33), keeping the fire of the altar of offering burning (cf. Neh. 10:34), tithing of their agricultural produce and animals (cf. Neh. 10:35–38), and supporting the priests and Levites (cf. Neh. 10:39). In short, the gathered people covenanted to keep many of the ceremonial laws, especially those related to the operation of the temple and the sacrificial system. Concerning these covenant commitments, as we’ll later see in Nehemiah 13, it is noteworthy that nearly all of them are mentioned as being broken during Nehemiah’s absence from Jerusalem, which lasted from roughly 433–424 BC.

Application Questions:

1. What is the difference between a covenant and a contract? What is the difference between sorrow and repentance?
2. What did Paul mean in Rom 12:15 when he exhorted God’s people, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
3. When should sins be confessed privately, and when should they be admitted publicly (cf. Jas. 5:16)?
4. In their covenant with God recorded in Neh. 9:5–38, why do God’s people not specifically give a promise obedience?
5. If the sacrificial system did not actually cleanse the people of their sins (cf. Heb. 10:4), why was the system important?