Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 10:32
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;
32. A poll-tax of of a shekel imposed for the maintenance of the service of the Temple
32. we made ordinances for us ] The verse shows that Ezra and his colleagues, although establishing the authority of the written law, were ready to expand or modify it according to the requirements of the time a significant indication of the way in which the numerous instances of minor variation in the laws of the Pentateuch may reflect changes and qualifications required at different epochs. ‘Ordinances.’ The plural shows that the reference is not to be limited to the Temple tax.
the third part of a shekel ] See Exo 30:11-16; in which passage every Israelite, ‘from twenty years old and upward,’ is required to give ‘the offering of the Lord,’ i.e. ‘ half-a-shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary:’ ‘the rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than the half shekel, when they give the offering of the Lord, to make atonement for your souls.’ The sum of ‘half a shekel,’ or two drachm, is mentioned as the regulation tax in Mat 17:24, ‘Doth not your master pay the half-shekel?’ ( didrachma). Cf. Josephus B. J. vii. 6. 6, ‘The emperor commanded every Jew to pay the two drachm annually to the Capitol which they had before been accustomed to pay to the Temple at Jerusalem.’
A poll-tax of shekel for the services of the Temple differs both from the regulation of Exodus 30 and from the later Jewish custom. In Exo 30:11-16 a tribute of shekel is to be levied, not annually, but on the occasions when the census of the people was taken. From Josephus we learn that the contribution of shekel was annually levied from every Jew. Here the Jews charge themselves with an annual tribute of shekel.
In order to explain this apparent discrepancy, some scholars maintain that the tax mentioned in Exodus, being only occasional, has no connexion with the annual poll-tax, and that the shekel was in later days raised to shekel when the Jews were wealthier, in order to assimilate the annual tax to the sum of the occasional ransom tax mentioned in the Pentateuch. It is an objection to this view that (1) there is no reference here to the occasional tax, (2) we have no mention anywhere of the coexistence of two taxes, one occasional and the other annual, for the maintenance of the Temple, (3) the reference in 2Ch 24:5-9 to the Mosaic law seems to contemplate a regular and not an occasional tax.
Others have conjectured that the requirement of the shekel in Exodus 30 is an interpolation later than the time of Nehemiah, made in the interest of the priests. To this it may be replied that, if such an interpolation had been made, it would surely also have been directed towards securing an annual tribute, instead of a payment to be made only at the time when the people were numbered.
It is more probable that the discrepancies reflect the gradual growth of the custom. The law in Exo 30:11-16 goes back to the days when to number the people was associated with human presumption, for which expiation was to be made. Cf. 2 Samuel 24. The necessities of the Temple service caused this occasional tax to become a regular one under kings favourable to the priests (2 Chronicles 24). After the Return the poverty of the Jews made it difficult to maintain the Temple services. The regular contributions promised by the Persian king (Ezr 7:2-23) ceased, or were only for a short period. The imposition of an annual poll-tax of shekel would be cheerfully accepted at the time of religious reformation under Ezra. In later times, when the power of the High-priest became more absolute and the prosperity of the Jews grew, the tax was raised from to shekel, in imitation of the occasional ‘census’ tax which had become obsolete, but whose memorial existed in Exodus 30. [3]
[3] An interesting explanation has recently been suggested: “In Exodus each male Israelite contributed a bekah, or half a shekel (of the Sanctuary) to defray the cost of the Tabernacle: this half-shekel was a drachm of about 65 grs. Troy. The Babylonian silver stater of [the age of Nehemiah] weighed about 172.8 grs. This formed the standard of the Empire, and doubtless the Jews of the Captivity employed it like the rest of the subjects of the Great King. The third part of this stater or shekel weighed about 58 grains; so that practically the third part of the Babylonian silver shekel was the same as the half of the ancient light shekel, or shekel of the Sanctuary.” (Ridgeway’s Origin of Currency and Weight Measures, p. 281.)
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The third part of a sheckel – This appears to have been the first occasion on which an annual payment toward the maintenance of the temple service and fabric was established. The half-shekel of the Law Exo 30:13 was paid only at the time of a census (which rarely took place), and was thus not a recurring tax. In later times, the annual payment was raised from the third of a shekel to half a shekel Mat 17:24.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Neh 10:32-39
Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel.
Voluntary taxation
Not to enter upon the thorny path of endowed or voluntary religion, nor to inquire whether tithes are coeval with the first man, and binding upon the present age, let us maintain–
I. That the church supposes an edifice. God may be worshipped in any house. Experience has taught the convenience and value of a house of God. The edifice must be built and maintained.
II. That a church requires a minister. No, man can rightly labour in the Word and doctrine without diligent and habitual Biblical study; no man can conduct such study without the renunciation of secular pursuits; no man can abandon such pursuits without an adequate and guaranteed salary from the Church in which he teaches, for which he labours. The ministry must be sustained.
III. That a church is a brotherhood. The rich and poor meet together. The poor ye have always with you. In a Church sense, if any provide not for his own house, he hath denied the faith.
IV. That a church is a missionary organisation. It has duties both at home and abroad. The Word of God must be translated, the masses evangelised, society leavened. A true Church must of necessity be a generous Church. It gets to give (Homiletical Commentary.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 32. Charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel] According to the law, every one above twenty years of age was to give half a shekel to the sanctuary, which was called a ransom for their souls. See Ex 30:11-16. But why is one third of a shekel now promised instead of the half shekel, which the law required? To this question no better answer can be given than this: the general poverty of the people, occasioned by their wars, overthrows, heavy tributes, c., in the land of their captivity: and now on their return, having little property, it was impossible for them to give more and we know, from the terms of the law in this case, that the poor and the rich were obliged to give alike, because it was a ransom for their souls; and the souls of the poor and the rich were of like value, and stood equally in need of redemption; for all were equally fallen, and all had come equally short of the glory of God.
Though only a third part of a shekel was given at this time, and probably for the reason above assigned, yet when the people got into a state of greater prosperity, the half shekel was resumed: for it is clear that this sum was paid in the time of our Lord, though not to the temple, but to the Roman government. Hence when those who collected this as a tribute came to our Lord, it was for the , didrachma, which was half a shekel; and the coin with which our Lord paid for himself and Peter was a stater, which contained exactly two half shekels. See Mt 17:24-27.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
To charge ourselves, i.e. every particular head or person among us; which they had warrant to do, both from the nature of the thing, because this was necessary to be done for the upholding of Gods worship, and from the warrant of former examples in the like case, 2Ch 24:5.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
32. the third part of a shekel forthe service of the house of our GodThe law required everyindividual above twenty years of age to pay half a shekel to thesanctuary. But in consequence of the general poverty of the people,occasioned by war and captivity, this tribute was reduced to a thirdpart of a shekel.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Also we made ordinance, for us,…. Laws among themselves, binding them to that which the laws of God did not:
to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel, for the service of the house of our God; the particulars of which follow in the next verse; for the defraying of which there used to be a treasury in the temple; but now there was none, and therefore they took this method to assess themselves; and being poor, instead of the half shekel, which in some cases was required, they only charged themselves with the third part of one; though Aben Ezra thinks this was added to the half shekel, and was paid over and above that; according to Brerewood a, it was of the value of ten pence of our money: Waserus b has given us the figure of one of these coins, with this inscription, a “third” part of a shekel of Israel.
a De Pond. & Pret. Vet. Num. c. 1. b De Antiqu. Num. Heb. l. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| The Renewal of Sacred Rites. | B. C. 444. |
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 showbread, 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.
Having covenanted against the sins they had been guilty of, they proceed in obliging themselves to revive and observe the duties they had neglected. We must not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well.
I. It was resolved, in general, that the temple service should be carefully kept up, that the work of the house of their God should be done in its season, according to the law, v. 33. Let not any people expect the blessing of God unless they make conscience of observing his ordinances and keeping up the public worship of him. Then it is likely to go well with our houses when care is taken that the work of God’s house go on well. It was likewise resolved that they would never forsake the house of their God (v. 39), as they and their fathers had done, would not forsake it for the house of any other god, or for the high places, as idolaters did, nor forsake it for their farms and merchandises, as those did that were atheistical and profane. Those that forsake the worship of God forsake God.
II. It was resolved, in pursuance of this, that they would liberally maintain the temple service, and not starve it. The priests were ready to do their part in all the work of God’s house, if the people would do theirs, which was to find them with materials to work upon. Now here it was agreed and concluded, 1. That a stock should be raised for the furnishing of God’s table and altar plentifully. Formerly there were treasures in the house of the Lord for this purpose, but these were gone, and there was no settled fund to supply the want of them. It was a constant charge to provide show-bread for the table, two lambs for the daily offerings, four for the sabbaths, and more, and more costly, sacrifices for other festivals, occasional sin-offerings, and meat-offerings, and drink-offerings for them all. They had no rich king to provide these, as Hezekiah did; the priests could not afford to provide them, their maintenance was so small; the people therefore agreed to contribute yearly, every one of them, the third part of a shekel, about ten pence a-piece for the bearing of this expense. When every one will act, and every one will give, though but little, towards a good work, the whole amount will be considerable. The tirshatha did not impose this tax, but the people made it an ordinance for themselves, and charged themselves with it, Neh 10:32; Neh 10:33. 2. That particular care should be taken to provide wood for the altar, to keep the fire always burning upon it, and wherewith to boil the peace-offerings. All of them, priests and Levites as well as people, agreed to bring in their quota, and cast lots in what order they should bring it in, which family first and which next, that there might be a constant supply, and not a scarcity at one time and an overplus at another, v. 34. Thus they provided the fire and the wood, as well as the lambs for the burnt-offerings. 3. That all those things which the divine law had appointed for the maintenance of the priests and Levites should be duly paid in, for their encouragement to mind their business, and that they might not be under any temptation to neglect it for the making of necessary provision for their families. Then the work of the house of God is likely to go on when those that serve at the altar live, and live comfortably, upon the altar. First-fruits and tenths were then the principal branches of the ministers’ revenues; and they here resolved, (1.) To bring in the first-fruits justly, the first-fruits of their ground and trees (Exo 23:19; Lev 19:23), the first-born of their children (even the money wherewith they were to be redeemed) and of their cattle, Exo 13:2; Exo 13:11; Exo 13:12 (this was given to the priests, Num 18:15; Num 18:16), also the first-fruits of their dough (Num. xv. 21), concerning which there is a particular order given in the prophecy concerning the second temple, Ezek. xliv. 30. (2.) To bring in their tenths likewise, which were due to the Levites (v. 37), and a tenth out of those tenths to the priest, v. 38. This was the law (Num. xviii. 21-28); but these dues had been withheld, in consequence of which God, by the prophet, charges them with robbing him (Mal 3:8; Mal 3:9), at the same time encouraging them to be more just to him and his receivers, with a promise that, if they brought the tithes into the store-house, he would pour out blessings upon them, v. 10. This therefore they resolved to do, that there might be meat in God’s house, and plenty in the store-chambers of the temple, where the vessels of the sanctuary were, v. 39. “We will do it (say they) in all the cities of our tillage,” v. 37. In all the cities of our servitude, so the LXX., for they were servants in their own land, ch. ix. 36. But (as Mr. Poole well observes), though they paid great taxes to the kings of Persia, and had much hardship put upon them, they would not make that an excuse for not paying their tithes, but would render to God the things that were his, as well as to Csar the things that were his. We must do what we can in works of piety and charity notwithstanding the taxes we pay to the government, and cheerfully perform our duty to God in our servitude, which will be the surest way to ease and liberty in God’s due time.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
3. The people pledged additionally to support the Temple.
TEXT, Neh. 10:32-33
32
We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:
33
for the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.
COMMENT
The one-third shekel in Neh. 10:32 appears superficially to be at variance with the requirement of Exo. 30:13, specifying a half-shekel. The amount is also known to us from Mat. 17:27. The simplest explanation is that different standards of weight had been introduced by the Persians so that what had been a half-shekel before was now only a third of a shekel.[76] This was to be used for the public services of the Temple.
[76] Interpreters Bible, op. cit., p. 764.
Neh. 10:33 probably is in addition to this, and they pledged to take care of these expenses also. It is not likely that the fraction of a shekel yearly from each male over twenty would be sufficient for all these supplies, including repairs to the building.
WORD STUDIES
DOCUMENT: see AMEN, in the Word Studies for chapter 8. SABBATH (Neh. 10:31): the basic idea is to cease, interrupt, stop; thus the manna ceased (the verb form of this word): Jos. 5:12. If work stops, there is rest (Exo. 23:12).
The word applied to the seventh day (Exo. 20:11); to the seventh years, when no crops were to be sown (Lev. 25:2); to the first and last day of the festivals that lasted for a week, regardless of the day of the week (Lev. 23:39); to the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:32) or Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:24); or in the plural as a synonym for weeks (Lev. 23:15) or for seven-year periods (Lev. 25:8).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(32) Also we made ordinances for us.The covenant proceeds now to certain new regulations and resumption of neglected duties.
To charge ourselves.Origin of that annual rate for the general service of the Temple which afterwards was raised to a half shekel (Mat. 17:24). The more ancient half shekel of the law was only an occasional tax (Exo. 30:13).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
PROVISION FOR THE TEMPLE SERVICE, Neh 10:32-39.
Having entered into a solemn covenant to keep the law, it was necessary that the people make provision for the support and regular observance of the holy service at the house of God. Such arrangements were accordingly made without delay.
32. We made ordinances Laws, rules, regulations. Nehemiah writes in the name of the whole community.
The third part of a shekel About eighteen cents, the silver shekel being valued at fifty-three cents. This was according to the law which ordained that half a shekel should be annually paid for the support of the holy service by every man twenty years old and upwards. See Exo 30:13-16. In view of the poverty of the people, it was now lowered to one third of a shekel, but later it was raised again to a half shekel. Mat 17:24.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Neh 10:32 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;
Ver. 32. To charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel ] Beside the poll money, the half shekel required, Exo 38:26 . The third part of a shekel was no great sum, yet somewhat more than what Saul and his servant presented the seer with, whom they could not but know to be the judge of Israel, 1Sa 9:8 . These had learned that thankfulness was measured, both by God and good men, not by the weight, but by the will of the retributor. God doth highly accept the small offerings of his weak servants when he seeth them to proceed from great love.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Neh 10:32-33
32We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: 33for the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.
Neh 10:32 to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God In Exo 30:11-16, it is a half of a shekel given to the tabernacle, but it is not given annually. Exactly what the fee paid for is delineated in Neh 10:33. In the pre-exilic period, the king supported the cost of the temple, but in the post-exilic community the cost was shared among the people
Neh 10:33 the showbread See Exo 25:23-30.
the continual grain offering See Num 28:1-8.
the continual burnt offering See Exo 29:38-42; Num 28:1-8
the sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times See Num 28:9-15; Num 29:39-40.
for the sin offering to make atonement for Israel See Lev 4:1 to Lev 5:13 and Num 15:23-29.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Neh 10:32-33
Neh 10:32-33
FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THE COVENANT
“Also we made ordinances for us to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of God; for the showbread, and for the continual meal-offering, and for the continual burnt-offering, for the sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin-offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of God.”
“Also we made ordinances for ourselves” (Neh 10:33). “This was merely a revival of a charge levied by Moses upon every Israelite twenty years old and upward to pay a half shekel (Exo 30:13),” the only difference being in their reduction of it to one third of a shekel.
This one-third of a shekel annual tax was levied against every Israelite and continued in force until the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Of course, through the years, the tax increased to the original half a shekel. Jesus Christ himself paid this tax for himself and the apostle Peter, in spite of our Lord’s being exempt from it. This he did by sending Peter to take up the fish out of the sea of Galilee with a whole shekel in its mouth (Mat 17:24-27). By this action, the Christ endorsed and approved the ordinance mentioned here. It was God’s ordinance, despite the statement in Neh 10:33 that “we made it.” They only renewed an old duty.
The mention here of the showbread and of various kinds of sacrifices is only a detailed way of saying that the tax was for everything connected with the work in the house of God. For comments on the various things mentioned here, see our commentaries on the Pentateuch where all these things are first mentioned.
E.M. Zerr:
Neh 10:32. The contribution stipulated here was voluntary, and in addition to the specific requirements of the law as to their income!
Neh 10:33. The preceding verse mentioned the service in general, this gives the specific services. The shew- bread was the unleavened bread that must be placed on the table. It was in 12 loaves and was renewed every weakly sabbath. Continual means “regular,” and applied to the meat (meal) offerings that were made in connection with other sacrifices. Continual burnt offering is a phrase referring to what is commonly called the “daily sacrifice.” See Exo 29:38-42. Of the sabbaths was referring to the doubling of the daily sacrifice on the sabbath days (Num 28:9). The new moon was the first of the month (1Sa 20:24; 1Sa 20:27), and was always a holy day. The set feasts referred to the three annual feasts described in Leviticus 23. This voluntary contribution was for the support of any or all of the divine services.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
to charge: Gen 28:22, Pro 3:9
the third part: According to the law, every one above twenty years of age was to give half a shekel to the sanctuary for a ransom for their souls. But, on account of the general poverty of the people, occasioned by their wars, and captivity, and by heavy tributes, etc., in the land of their captivity, this sum was reduced to the third part of a shekel. Exo 30:11-16, Mat 17:24-27, 2Co 8:12
Reciprocal: Exo 30:16 – appoint 1Ch 26:27 – to maintain
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 10:32. To charge ourselves Every particular person among us; yearly with a third part of a shekel About ten-pence of our money; for the service of the house of our God To provide the show-bread for the table, two lambs for the daily offerings, four for the sabbaths, and more costly sacrifices for other festivals, occasional sin-offerings, and meat offerings, and drink-offerings for them all, the charge of which was great and constant. Formerly these things had been provided from the treasures of the temple, (1Ch 26:20,) and when these failed, from the kings treasures: but now, both these failing, provision is here properly made for them another way.