Nehemiah 10:34 kjv
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:
Nehemiah 10:34 nkjv
We cast lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for bringing the wood offering into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at the appointed times year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God as it is written in the Law.
Nehemiah 10:34 niv
"We?the priests, the Levites and the people?have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.
Nehemiah 10:34 esv
We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have likewise cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.
Nehemiah 10:34 nlt
"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.
Nehemiah 10 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 6:12-13 | The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out... the priest shall add wood to it every morning... | Priests' duty to maintain altar fire continuously. |
| Exod 27:1-8 | Instructions for the altar of burnt offering, indicating it consumed offerings. | Requirement for material to burn sacrifices. |
| Num 18:21-26 | God gives the Levites and priests all the tithes and portions from the offerings for their service. | Support system for temple workers. |
| Deut 12:5-6 | You shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose... and there you shall bring your burnt offerings... | Centralization of worship and offerings. |
| Deut 16:16 | Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God... and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. | Obligation to bring offerings to appointed feasts. |
| 1 Chr 9:26-30 | Gatekeepers, some of the Levites, were in charge of the chambers and storerooms of the house of God, responsible for the articles for sacrifice and ingredients like flour, frankincense, oil, and spices. | Levites' role in temple provisions. |
| 2 Chr 2:9-10 | Solomon requests wood and laborers from Huram, king of Tyre, to build the temple and provide for offerings. | Provision of wood for temple worship historical precedent. |
| 2 Chr 31:4-5 | Hezekiah commanded the people... to give the portion due to the priests and Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the Lord. | Re-establishing offerings for temple support. |
| Ezr 3:2-3 | Jeshua and Zerubbabel built the altar and offered burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses. | Early post-exilic re-establishment of offerings. |
| Ezr 6:17-18 | Priests and Levites were stationed in their divisions for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses. | Organized temple service after exile. |
| Neh 13:30-31 | Nehemiah purifies the temple and makes arrangements for wood offerings and firstfruits to be brought. | Reaffirmation of this very practice later by Nehemiah. |
| Mal 3:8-10 | Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. | God's instruction for provision for temple maintenance. |
| Pss 50:5 | "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!" | Covenant relationship emphasized through offerings. |
| Matt 5:23-24 | So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there... first be reconciled... then come and offer your gift. | Principle of bringing offerings to the altar, connected to righteousness. |
| Rom 12:1 | Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | Spiritualization of Old Testament sacrifices in the NT. |
| Phil 4:18 | I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. | NT concept of giving as an acceptable spiritual offering. |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. | Spiritual offerings of praise in the New Covenant. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. | Believers as a spiritual priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices. |
| Acts 2:44-45 | And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. | Early church practice of communal support for ministry/community. |
| Exod 35:20-29 | The Israelites brought freewill offerings for the tabernacle construction, illustrating voluntary giving. | Historical example of voluntary communal contribution for sacred purposes. |
| Judg 20:9-10 | Israelites "cast lots" to provide food for the army and for the war effort against Benjamin, indicating casting lots for distribution or responsibility. | Precedent for casting lots for communal responsibility. |
| 1 Chr 24:1-19 | David organizes priestly divisions by lot for their duties in the temple service. | Organized rotation and responsibilities in temple service. |
Nehemiah 10 verses
Nehemiah 10 34 Meaning
Nehemiah 10:34 describes a specific commitment made by the people of Israel following their return from exile. It details their agreement to organize and provide wood for the temple sacrifices. This was to be done systematically by drawing lots among the priests, Levites, and the general populace, with families taking turns year by year at specific, designated times, ensuring the continuous burning of offerings on the altar of the Lord in accordance with God's Law. It highlights a practical, communal responsibility to sustain the sacrificial system and temple worship.
Nehemiah 10 34 Context
Nehemiah 10:34 is a part of the detailed covenant made by the returned exiles to rededicate themselves to the Mosaic Law. After rebuilding Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah's leadership and receiving spiritual instruction from Ezra, the community formally commits to observing God's statutes. This "sealed agreement" (Neh 9:38 – 10:27) covers various aspects of life, from avoiding foreign marriages to observing the Sabbath and supporting the temple. Specifically, chapter 10 outlines practical resolutions for maintaining proper worship and sustaining the religious establishment.
Historically, the people had recently returned from Babylonian exile, an event they understood as divine punishment for their unfaithfulness, including neglect of the Law and temple worship. In this post-exilic period, re-establishing and funding the temple service was paramount for their spiritual renewal and identity as God's people. The provision of wood, though seemingly mundane, was foundational for the perpetual burnt offerings mandated by the Law, ensuring that the central act of atonement and worship could continue without interruption. Their forefathers had neglected these duties, leading to the temple's destruction; now, they vowed to prevent a recurrence through organized communal responsibility.
Nehemiah 10 34 Word analysis
- We also cast lots: (Hebrew: וְגֹרָלוֹת הִפַּלְנוּ – vegorālôt hippalnû). "Lots" (goralot) refers to objects cast (like stones or sticks) to determine an outcome or distribute something, often believed to reflect divine will (Prov 16:33). "Cast" (hippalnu) means to cause to fall. Here, it signifies a fair, impartial, and divinely guided method for assigning the responsibility, ensuring everyone in the community had a designated time to contribute, rather than relying solely on spontaneous contributions or a single authority's choice.
- among the priests, the Levites, and the people: This highlights the broad communal involvement in supporting the temple. It wasn't just the burden of one group but a shared responsibility across all strata of Israelite society. Priests and Levites served, and the general populace supplied resources.
- for the wood offering: (Hebrew: לְקָרְבַּן הָעֵצִים – leqorban hā‘ēṣîm). "Wood offering" refers to the provision of fuel for the altar. The word qorban is a general term for anything "brought near" to God, meaning "offering" or "gift." "Wood" (etzim) was critical; without it, the fires for the burnt offerings (Exod 29:38-42; Lev 1:7) would cease, halting the primary daily sacrifices (Num 28:3).
- to bring it into the house of our God: Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem. This was the centralized place of worship, chosen by God (Deut 12:5-6). Bringing the wood signified their active participation in supporting this sacred institution.
- according to our fathers' houses: (Hebrew: לְבֵית אֲבֹתֵינוּ – levêt ’ǎḇōṯênū). This emphasizes family and tribal units as the basis for organizing this duty. It indicates a structured rotation, ensuring fairness and systematic supply, reflecting the patriarchal structure of Israelite society. Each household would know its turn.
- at fixed times, year by year: (Hebrew: בְּמוֹעֲדִים מְזֻמָּנִים שָׁנָה בְשָׁנָה – bemô‘ădîm mezummānîm shānāh beshānāh). "Fixed times" (mo'adim mezumannim) means appointed, predetermined, or scheduled seasons. This further underscores the organized, disciplined nature of this provision. "Year by year" highlights the commitment to continuity and regularity. This established an annual cycle of contribution.
- to burn on the altar of the Lord our God: The ultimate purpose of the wood was to fuel the sacred fires of the burnt offerings on the altar. The "Lord our God" emphasizes their covenant relationship with Yahweh and their devotion to Him. The perpetually burning fire on the altar was a visible sign of continuous worship and God's presence among them (Lev 6:12-13).
- as it is written in the Law: (Hebrew: כַּכָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה – kakātûḇ batTorāh). This phrase is crucial. It underscores that their actions were not arbitrary but based on divine command found in the Mosaic Law. While specific instructions for "wood offerings by lot" aren't explicitly found in the Pentateuch, the underlying principle of perpetually burning fire and community support for the sacrifices is commanded (Lev 6:12-13). The method of "casting lots" and "fathers' houses" likely refers to the organizational means of fulfilling the Law's demands in a post-exilic context of renewed covenant.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "We also cast lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering": This collective action signifies a united, consensual, and divinely sanctioned commitment. The lot-casting ensured fairness and impartiality in distributing the demanding duty of providing essential fuel for worship, reflecting the seriousness and communal ownership of the task. It was an organizational solution for a widespread community need.
- "to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at fixed times, year by year": This phrase defines the specific logistical plan. The "house of our God" (the Temple) was the focal point, emphasizing the centralized nature of worship. The organization "according to our fathers' houses" provided a structured, familial rotation, fostering individual accountability within the communal effort. "Fixed times, year by year" stresses consistency and longevity, highlighting the pledge for ongoing and regular support rather than a one-time donation.
- "to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law": This concluding phrase roots the entire practice firmly in theological purpose and divine authority. The wood's ultimate destiny was the altar of the covenant God, sustaining the mandated sacrificial system, which was vital for the nation's spiritual well-being. The phrase "as it is written in the Law" serves as the authoritative justification and motivation for this comprehensive organizational plan, proving that this was an act of obedience and faithfulness to God's commandments.
Nehemiah 10 34 Bonus section
The "wood offering" was such a significant and regularly required contribution that it evolved into an important day in later Jewish tradition. The 15th of Av (Tu B'Av) became known as the "Festival of Wood-offering" (Chag HaAvot or Yom Te'nah in some traditions) during the Second Temple period. Families that were assigned by lot to bring wood to the Temple for the year would do so on this specific date, making it a celebratory pilgrimage. This indicates that the organizational system outlined in Nehemiah 10:34 successfully became an institutionalized and celebrated practice for maintaining the continuous fire of the altar. The emphasis on "fathers' houses" in the verse hints at the future development of specific family groups being responsible for bringing wood on particular days, which evolved into 24 designated groups (or ma'amadot) assigned to perform these duties, rotating throughout the year. The Nehemiah covenant establishes the foundational principle for such structured community participation.
Nehemiah 10 34 Commentary
Nehemiah 10:34 showcases the detailed practical commitment of the post-exilic community to God's Law. More than just an abstract pledge, their covenant included specific, tangible actions. The organization of the "wood offering" by lot, distributing the responsibility among all segments of society on a rotational basis, underscores their dedication to maintaining the daily temple services. This commitment ensured that the perpetual fire on the altar, essential for the required burnt offerings, would never be extinguished, reflecting a disciplined and sustainable system of worship. It speaks to a people actively implementing divine commands and sharing the communal burden of honoring God through sacrifice, an echo of faithful devotion that transcends mere ritual to express a covenant relationship. This provision for wood, seemingly minor, was critical for the functioning of their spiritual life and adherence to the Torah.