“Then the rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, 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.”
Nehemiah 10:28-29a
Last time we looked at the final three leaders’ names who signed the covenant. Today we move on to this group’s next moves.
First step is watching the rest of the folk join in obeying. The governor, Nehemiah himself, began the signing of this binding covenant; next the priests, the Levites, and the leaders of the people. Now it’s everyone else’s turn. Everyone who had “separated themselves (badal: to divide, exclude, make distinct, set apart, sever, make separate, distinguish) from the pagan people of the land.”
It’s so interesting in Holy Writ how God both demands a distinction from His people from the rest of the world, and yet seamlessly throughout shows how this is the way to be the light of it. If our desire is to sever ties from the world rather than sever ways of the world, how does this invite? If we divide and separate from our habits which don’t reflect Him, but do not at the same time multiply and unite our love and hearts toward those walking in darkness, how are we loving our neighbor as ourselves?
Indeed, this setting apart was an important primary step for God’s people as they sought repentance. They had witnessed first hand the consequences of not separating themselves from detestable practices. Now they were ready to listen.
I love how these verses make sure to include everyone in this covenant making. Wives, sons, daughters, and everyone who had knowledge and understanding.
Knowledge is yada: to know as familiar friend, discern, comprehend, perceive, take notice, well aware. Those joining in obedience didn’t just know intellectually, but apparently knew like you know your best friend that listening to Yahweh was vital. They were well aware the only way to true life was to trust the motives of the Author of Life.
And knowledge wasn’t all in this verse. In the NIV it says, “everyone who was old enough to understand. But according to the Hebrew, it is “everyone who had knowledge and understanding.” Understanding is bin – to carefully consider, act wisely, discern, interpret, pay close attention, skillful, teacher, eloquent, feel, instruct, prudent, deal wisely.
This group of people wanted to put their knowing into action. Like a skillful teacher they were going to take the previous lessons, build on them with discernment, carefully consider the next steps, and act wisely. Everyone who could understand was included. No one left on the sidelines.
Which is how they could join their leaders. Join in this verse is chazaq – to grow firm or strong, strengthen, take a stand, support, became courageous, fierce, stubborn, stalwart, to be fortified, become mighty, been arrogant, take courage, repair, recover, withstand.
From the top down they were uniting. Their strength was in their support. Governor, priests, Levites, and officials became stalwart against future slavery because the people came alongside. Our returning exiles saw a promising road ahead in which they could recover their worship of Who is worthy, continue to repair their city, and be fortified in the face of idolatry.
The same is true in our day, friends. When we unite on spine issues and disagree in love on non-essentials, the Church grows strong. When we take a stand against treating anyone as less than an image bearer of the King, we repair damage from the past. When we bow low and serve, we can recover from the slavery of idolatry.