1085 - The Jews make a Vow to the Lord
The Jews make a Vow to the Lord
The people of Judah—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Temple servants, and all, who had separated themselves, from the pagan people, of the land, in order to obey the Law, of God, ….together, with their wives, sons, daughters, and all, who were old enough, to understand—joined their leaders, and bound themselves, with an oath, to the Lord.
They swore a curse, on themselves, if they failed, to obey the Law, of God, as issued, by His servant, Moses.
They solemnly promised, to carefully follow …all the commands, regulations, and decrees, of the Lord, our Lord:
They said:
“We promise not to let our daughters marry the pagan people, of the land, and not to let our sons marry their daughters.
“We also promise, that if the people, of the land, should bring any merchandise or grain, to be sold on the Sabbath, or on any other holy day, we will refuse, to buy it.
Every seventh year, we will let our land rest, and we will cancel all debts owed to us.
“In addition, we promise to obey the command, to pay the annual Temple tax, of one-eighth, of an ounce of silver, for the care, of the Temple, of our God.
This will provide, for the Bread of the Presence; for the regular grain offerings… and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, the new moon celebrations, and the annual festivals; …for the holy offerings; and for the sin offerings, to make atonement for Israel.
It will provide for everything necessary, for the work, of the Temple of our God.
“We have cast sacred lots, to determine when—at regular times, each year—the families of the priests, Levites, and the common people… should bring wood, to God’s Temple, to be burned, on the altar, of the Lord, our God, as is written in the Law.
“We promise to bring …the first part, of every harvest, to the Lord’s Temple… year after year—whether it be a crop, from the soil, or from our fruit trees.
We agree to give God …our oldest sons, and the firstborn, of all our herds and flocks, as prescribed, in the Law.
We will present them to the priests, who minister, in the Temple, of our God.
We will store the produce, in the storerooms, of the Temple, of our God.
We will bring the best, of our flour, and other grain offerings, the best of our fruit, and the best of our new wine… and olive oil.
And we promise to bring, to the Levites, a tenth of everything, that our land produces, for it is the Levites, who collect the tithes, in all our rural towns.
“A priest—a descendant of Aaron—will be with the Levites, as they receive these tithes.
And a tenth, of all that is collected, as tithes, will be delivered, by the Levites, to the Temple, of our God, and placed in the storerooms.
The people, and the Levites, must bring these offerings… of grain, new wine, and olive oil, to the storerooms… and place them, in the sacred containers… near, the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers.
“We promise together… not to neglect the Temple of our God.”
Tyndale House Publishers. 2015.
Nehemiah 10:28-39
Praise be to God!
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