Welcome to BibleBum where we are exploring the entire Bible in one year to better learn how to follow God’s instructions and discover the purpose for our lives.  The BibleBum blog uses The One Year Chronological Bible, the New Living Translation version.  At the end of each day’s reading, Rob, a cultural history aficionado and seminary graduate, answers questions from Leigh An, the blogger host, about the daily scripture.  To start from the beginning, click on “Index” and select Day 1.

Nehemiah 8:13-10:39

Questions & Observations

O. (Nehemiah 8:13-18): Sounds like fun, a big campout!

Q. (9:1-38, 10:29): It’s amazing that after all this time, all the different rulers, all the destruction and moving around that these laws are still intact and are legible.  The priests and Levites do not sound like they are taking Israel’s offenses lightly.  What kind of curse would they put on themselves if they broke the laws?

A. I suspect that the curses they are thinking of/describing are similar to the ones in Deuteronomy 28, beginning around verse 15.  Among them are curses on the land, children, herds, and that God will cause disease, mildew, and pain upon the people, and that they will have no victory in battle.  Sounds pretty bad.

Q. (10:36): What does it mean when they give God their oldest sons?

A. They’re talking about the dedication of the firstborn son, which God required as part of the covenant relationship (i.e. what they sealed with each boy in his circumcision) as first described in Exodus 13.  God struck down the firstborn sons of Egypt in the final plague, but spared the firstborn sons of Israel with the lamb’s blood.  So in keeping with that tradition, God demanded of the nation that as long as they were His people, they must understand that the “firstborns” of each generation owe their life to Him.

Q. (10:35-37): All of these offerings go to the Temple, but what happens to them.  Most of them are burnt on the altar?  What about the fruit and grain?  Some of it goes to feed the priests and Levites?

A. Some of it was given to the priests and Levites, some of it was stored or given to the poor, and yes, some of it was consumed on the altar.