Nehemiah 10:38 kjv
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.
Nehemiah 10:38 nkjv
And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse.
Nehemiah 10:38 niv
A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.
Nehemiah 10:38 esv
And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.
Nehemiah 10:38 nlt
"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.
Nehemiah 10 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 18:21 | "To the sons of Levi, I have given every tithe... for their service..." | Levites receive tithes as their inheritance for service. |
| Num 18:24 | "For the tithe of the people of Israel... I have given to the Levites..." | Confirms tithe as God's provision for Levites. |
| Num 18:26 | "Tell the Levites, 'When you receive... tithe from the people of Israel... then you shall present a heave offering from it to the LORD, a tithe of the tithe.'" | Direct command for Levites to give a tenth of their received tithes. |
| Num 18:28 | "From all your gifts you shall present every heave offering to the LORD, from all the best of them, the consecrated part." | Quality of offering, "tithe of tithes" as a heave offering. |
| Deut 12:17-18 | "...you may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grain... but you must eat them before the LORD your God in the place that the LORD your God will choose..." | Importance of consuming offerings in God's presence, indicating provision. |
| Deut 14:27 | "And the Levite who is within your towns you shall not neglect, for he has no portion or inheritance with you." | Emphasizes responsibility to support Levites. |
| Deut 26:12 | "When you have finished paying all the tithe... you shall give it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within your towns and be filled." | Mentions the three-year tithe and its recipients, including Levites. |
| 1 Chr 9:26 | "For these four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in charge of the chambers and the storehouses of the house of God." | Levites as custodians of temple chambers and storehouses. |
| 2 Chr 31:11-12 | "Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD... and they faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes, and the dedicated things." | Establishment and use of temple storehouses for tithes. |
| Neh 12:44 | "On that day men were appointed over the storerooms... to gather into them the portions for the priests and Levites..." | Administrative arrangements for receiving offerings in Nehemiah's time. |
| Neh 13:5 | "He prepared for him a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil..." | Malah's abuse of a temple chamber designated for tithes. |
| Neh 13:12 | "Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses." | Community's general obedience in bringing tithes to the storehouse. |
| Mal 3:8-10 | "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In tithes and contributions... Bring the full tithe into the storehouse..." | God's rebuke for withholding tithes, command to bring full tithes to storehouse. |
| Matt 23:23 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness." | Jesus affirms tithing (without condemning it) but prioritizes justice. |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | "Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." | NT principle of supporting those who minister God's word. |
| Gal 6:6 | "Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches." | Principle of financially supporting Christian teachers. |
| 1 Tim 5:17-18 | "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and 'The laborer deserves his wages.'" | Principle of rewarding spiritual leaders financially. |
| Heb 7:5 | "And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these too are descended from Abraham." | Reinforces the Levitical right to receive tithes under the Law. |
| Heb 7:9 | "One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him." | Illustrates the supremacy of the Melchizedekian priesthood over the Levitical through tithing. |
| Neh 10:29 | "...to walk in God's Law... and to observe and do all the commandments..." | Broader covenant context of obedience, including tithes. |
| Neh 10:32-33 | "We also make ordinances for ourselves to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God..." | Voluntary temple tax and commitment for temple service support. |
| Neh 10:37 | "And we will bring the first of our dough... and the tithes of our ground to the Levites, for they, the Levites, are to collect the tithes in all our towns where our laborers are." | Commits to bringing various offerings and initial point of tithe collection. |
Nehemiah 10 verses
Nehemiah 10 38 Meaning
Nehemiah 10:38 articulates a critical aspect of the post-exilic community's covenant renewal concerning the sustained operation of the Temple. It establishes the detailed procedure for the tithe of tithes, stipulating that a priest, specifically an Aaronite, must be present to oversee the Levites as they collect tithes from the people. Furthermore, the verse specifies that from the tithes received, the Levites were to bring a tenth of their collection as a special offering (the "tithe of the tithes") directly into the Temple's chambers, to be stored in the designated treasury or storehouse for the use and sustenance of the priests and the general maintenance of God's house. This system ensured accountability, financial integrity, and the proper support for those serving the Lord in the sanctuary.
Nehemiah 10 38 Context
Nehemiah chapter 10 records the solemn covenant, or "binding agreement," made by the returning Jewish exiles under Nehemiah's leadership. Having rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and confessed their sins as a nation in chapter 9, the community now publicly commits itself to obey God's Law. This chapter lists the names of those who sealed the document and outlines the specific commitments they made. These vows included:
- Separation from foreign peoples (10:28-30)
- Observing the Sabbath (10:31)
- Forgoing debts in the seventh year (10:31)
- A yearly tax for temple service (10:32-33)
- Provisions for wood, firstfruits, and firstborn (10:34-37a)The specific section where Nehemiah 10:38 resides (10:37b-39) details the comprehensive commitment to provide full tithes and offerings for the financial support of the Levites and priests, ensuring the continued operation of the Temple. Historically, after the return from Babylonian exile, the people faced the immense challenge of not only physical reconstruction but also spiritual and societal re-establishment in line with the Mosaic Law, which often involved practical administration of temple finance. This commitment was crucial for maintaining the restored worship life of the community.
Nehemiah 10 38 Word analysis
- And the priest:
- "And the": (Heb. "wəha") Conjunction connecting to prior commitments, signifying continuation.
- "priest": (Heb. כֹּהֵן, kohēn). Refers specifically to a descendant of Aaron, distinct from the Levites in their lineage and cultic function. The priesthood was established by God (Exod 28-29; Lev 8) for mediation between God and man. Their role in overseeing the tithe collection underscored divine order and authority in religious life. This ensures proper protocol and spiritual oversight for a holy task.
- the son of Aaron:
- Clarifies that only an individual from the divinely designated priestly lineage, a direct descendant of Aaron, was authorized to fulfill this supervisory role. This reinforces the sanctity and authority associated with their office, distinct from other Levites. It underlines the exclusive role of Aaron's lineage in high holy functions, preventing unauthorized individuals from interfering.
- shall be with the Levites:
- "shall be with": (Heb. עִם, ʿim) Denotes presence and accompaniment, indicating an supervisory, validating, or co-ordinating role, rather than direct collection. The priest's presence provides official endorsement and ensures proper conduct. It implies a hierarchical structure within the temple service, where priests oversee the Levites.
- "the Levites": (Heb. הַלְוִיִּם, ha-Lĕwiyyim). Members of the tribe of Levi, consecrated for various services in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, but not typically authorized for priestly sacrificial functions (Num 3:6-9; 8:14-22). They were designated by God to receive tithes from the people for their sustenance, as they had no tribal land inheritance (Num 18:21, 24).
- when the Levites take tithes:
- "take tithes": (Heb. לָקַח מַעֲשֵׂר, lāqaḥ maʿaśēr) Refers to the Levites' primary responsibility of collecting the first tithe (one-tenth of produce/livestock) directly from the people throughout their towns. This practice ensured the sustained livelihood of the Levitical caste, who dedicated their lives to temple service and teaching the Law. The mention of this indicates a functional, organized system of resource gathering.
- and the Levites shall bring up:
- "shall bring up": (Heb. וְהַלְוִיִּם יַעֲלוּ, wəha-Lĕwiyyim yaʿălu) Implies movement towards a higher or more sacred place, typical of presenting an offering or gift to the Temple. It’s an act of elevation, recognizing God's ultimate ownership. This shows that the Levites themselves were not exempted from contributing, but were active participants in sustaining the religious system.
- the tithe of the tithes:
- "the tithe of the tithes": (Heb. מַעֲשַׂר הַמַּעֲשֵׂר, maʿaśar ha-maʿaśēr) This is a crucial phrase referring to a specific portion, one-tenth, of the tithes the Levites had themselves received (Num 18:26). This secondary tithe, sometimes called the "heave offering of the Levites," was considered sacred, a direct contribution from God's portion back to God. It ensured that even the spiritual laborers contributed to the sanctuary and provided directly for the priests who served the holiest aspects of worship. It highlights God's sovereignty over all resources, even those designated for His servants.
- to the house of our God:
- (Heb. בֵּית אֱלֹהֵינוּ, bêt ʾĔlōhênū) Refers to the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship and divine presence for Israel. It underscores the ultimate destination and purpose of these offerings – to support the sanctuary and its functions as the hub of their communal spiritual life. "Our God" emphasizes a personal, covenantal relationship.
- to the chambers, into the storehouse:
- "chambers": (Heb. לִשְׁכֹּת, liškôt) Specific rooms or side-chambers within the Temple complex, designated for storage. These rooms served various purposes including storing holy vessels, sacrificial provisions, and, in this context, tithes and offerings.
- "into the storehouse": (Heb. לָאוֹצָר, la-ʾôsār) The general treasury or depository within the Temple. This points to organized, administrative control over the offerings. It ensures that the offerings were not haphazardly placed but carefully secured and managed for their intended purpose—to sustain the priests, the temple workers, and temple services. This also served as a means of accountability, preventing misappropriation of sacred funds, a problem previously encountered in Israelite history.
Nehemiah 10 38 Bonus section
The structure outlined in Nehemiah 10:38 and the preceding verses reflects a well-organized system of communal responsibility for religious sustenance, a necessity after generations of spiritual decline and exile. This practical outworking of their covenant commitment was a stark contrast to the historical failure to consistently support the temple and its staff, as evident in various periods of Judah's history and sharply rebuked in later prophets like Malachi. The verse implicitly asserts the principle that those dedicated to God's service should be supported by the community, not relying on secular labor for their livelihood, thus freeing them to fully commit to their spiritual duties. The insistence on "chambers" and "storehouse" shows a clear emphasis on good stewardship and administrative order within spiritual affairs.
Nehemiah 10 38 Commentary
Nehemiah 10:38 encapsulates a meticulous detail within the broader covenant of faithfulness sworn by the post-exilic community. It defines the crucial role of both Levites and priests in maintaining the Temple’s financial viability and spiritual integrity. The presence of an Aaronite priest overseeing the Levites' collection of tithes was paramount, providing divine sanction and ensuring proper accountability, underscoring that even seemingly mundane financial tasks were subject to divine order and priestly oversight. This systematic process was vital given past periods of neglect where priests and Levites were forced to abandon their temple duties due to lack of sustenance (Neh 13:10-11). The requirement for the Levites to offer a "tithe of the tithes" to the priests symbolized that all gifts ultimately derive from God and a portion of even their consecrated income must be consecrated back to God for the higher order of priesthood. This entire system channeled resources into designated temple chambers, highlighting the commitment to properly fund God's house and its dedicated servants, a foundational element for a functioning religious community. This verse underscores the divine design for the material support of those consecrated for God's work.