Nehemiah Chapter 10 verse 32 Holy Bible
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;
read chapter 10 in ASV
And we made rules for ourselves, taxing ourselves a third of a shekel every year for the upkeep of the house of our God;
read chapter 10 in BBE
And 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,
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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;
read chapter 10 in KJV
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;
read chapter 10 in WBT
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;
read chapter 10 in WEB
And we have appointed for ourselves commands, to put on ourselves the third of a shekel in a year, for the service of the house of our God,
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 32. - To charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel. Hitherto the Jews had had no impost analogous to our "church-rate." The "half-shekel of the sanctuary," as it is called, being only payable on the rare, and forbidden, occasion of a census of the whole people (Exodus 30:13-16), could not possibly have served for the ordinary support of the temple service; but it was calculated to suggest to thoughtful minds the need of some regular fund, and the persons on whom the obligation lay to provide it. While the Jews were an independent nation, with their own kings and their own revenue, no difficulty had been felt in keeping up the service, since the kings easily provided for it; but in the existing condition of affairs the case was different. A "governor" was not like a king; he was responsible; he was removable; he was bound to remit the great bulk of the taxes to the court. Under these circumstances, and probably in connection with an immediate need, the idea arose of a special (voluntary) tax, to be paid annually by all adult males, for the support of the service, the continual provision of the morning and evening sacrifice, the incense, the shew-bread, the red heifers, the scape-goat, the numerous victims, and the numerous meat and drink offerings required on various occasions, and especially at each of the great festivals. It was felt that the provision in the law ruled two things - 1. The uniformity of the tax; and, 2. The sphere of its incidence - that it should be paid by all adult males. With regard to its proper amount, that had to be fixed by a consideration of existing needs in comparison with existing means. The third part of a shekel was determined on, as sufficient at the time; but it was not long ere for the third part the half-shekel was substituted, a return being thus made to the standard fixed by the law, and an ample provision made for the maintenance of the established rites in full completeness and efficiency (comp. Matthew 17:24-27).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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 (Matthew 17:24). The more ancient half shekel of the law was only an occasional tax (Exodus 30:13).
