1. THE first order of perfons is, "Our PrinThis is the fame order with thefe

ces *."

mentioned Differtation VI.

2. THE "Levites." The whole tribe of Levi, except the family of Aaron. The peculiar conftitution of this tribe deferves more particular confideration than I can here undertake. Let it fuffice, in this place, to obferve, That God took them inftead of the first-born, and fet them apart to the fervice of the temple; as alfo, affigned them their task in inftructing the rest of the tribes,-appointing them cities to live in,-tythes for an honourable maintenance, fecing they were excluded from having any inheritance among their brethren. As this tribe was devoted to God's fervice, fo it was proper they fhould be forward in his work. They were divided into three claffes: The firft waited on the Priefts, the fons of Aaron, to purify the holy things,-to prepare the fhewbread, flour, wine, oil, and every thing elfe for the facrifice; and to kill the facrifices, if there were more work of this kind than the Priests could accomplith. The next clafs formed the temple choir, confifting of both fingers and players on inftruments. The third are ftyled porters, who kept the doors of the temple, and had the charge of it; and probably received fuch oblations as were offered at it.

Neh. ix. 38.

3. A THIRD order of perfons covenanting at this time are, "Our Priefts." This comprehended the whole family of Aaron, even to the exclufion of that of Mofes: For, though he was the firft man in the kingdom, he fuffered his feed to fink down among the reft of the Levites.

4. THE next order fpecified is that of "Nethinims *." This defignation is not to be found but in books written after the captivity; for fuch, I prefume, are the books of Chronicles, The order of perfons unto which it belonged, however, was much more ancient. They were originally the Gibeonites, who, by fraud, obtained a league with the Ifraelites foon after they came into the land of Canaan: For which Joshua condemned them to the most laborious offices of the tabernacle; fuch as, hewing of wood and drawing of water for the facrifice. But it is conjectured that David added fome other strangers to their number, when he appointed them unto the fervice of the Levites. Thofe Nethinims who returned, were certainly the best of that order: The reft having preferred a place in Chaldea unto the fervice of

O, DEDITI. "Erantque Gibeonitæ, qui ob fraudem populo Ifraelitico facta a Jofua fervi publici conftituti Jof. ix. 21. Et poftea Davide ad minifterium Levitarum DEDITI, Ezr viii. 20." HENRIC. OPITIT. in

vocem.

the

the temple; but thofe Nethinims choose rather to ferve God, in a ftate not greatly different from that of flaves, than ftand on an equal footing with the rest of the children of the captivity in Babylon. Few, comparatively, were of this fpirit, as Jofephus declares*: The better part being the fmaller number in almost every order of men.

5. THE NOBLES of Judah are another order of perfons covenanting at this time. They appear to have taken the lead in this duty: The reft are faid to cleave unto their brethren the NOBLES. This is a defignation of general import; if we confult the Scripture ufe of the term, we will find it applied to a vaft variety of objects. Here it may denote the prin cipal Jews; for it appears that the nobles of Judah, at that time, were ringleaders, like our nobles at the Reformation from Popery, in the work of the Lord.

6. AGAIN, the facred hiftorian mentions fuch as "had feparated themselves from the people of the land." Their fin confifted in mixing with them, and learning of them their way: Hence, there was a particular article in this covenant refpecting their feparation from them. This people entered into covenant with God,

JOSEPH. De Bello Judaico, Lib. II. cap. xvi i.

male

male and female, their fons and their daughters, who had arrived at the exercife of their reafon, even fuch as were capable of doing it with knowledge and understanding.

SECONDLY, I fhall now attend unto the CHARACTER of the Minifter, by whofe inftrumentality they entered on this work. The minifters adminiftering it were the Levites, indeed; but Nehemiah had a principal share in the reformation, and covenant-renovation which followed it. The congregation was assembled by his orders, and animated by his example. Nehemiah was probably of the tribe of Levi; but, as far as I have been able to judge, his genealogy cannot be reckoned. There are other things, however, of which we may be abundantly certain He filled an high office at the Perfían court; and, at the fame time, poffeffed a qualification rarely to be met with in courtiers: He was frequently employed in ejaculatory prayer, even in the prefence of the Per fian monarch: He is the moft fignal example of this duty in all the book of God: His ardour for the welfare of the Church was equal to his piety; and this made him improve his high ftation for her benefit and advantage. Having obtained leave from Artaxerxes Loirgimanus to go unto Jerufalem, and authority to govern the returned captives, he gave equal proof of his courage and diligence, as well as

his ability to rule,-ftirring up the Princes, Priefts, and people, unto repentance *.

THIRDLY, It is now time to confider the MATTER of this Covenant: "And they entered into an oath to walk in God's law, which was given by Mofes the fervant of God, and to obferve and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his ftatutes: And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our fons: And if the people of the land bring ware, or any victuals on the Sabbath day to fell, that we would not buy it of them on the Sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the feventh year, and the exaction of every debt," &c. Here I obferve,

1. THIS tranfaction bore a reference unto the whole of the facred fyftem, and included a renovation of all former covenants. Thus,

* From Nehemiah's account of himself, he held the office of the King's Cup-bearer when at Shufhan; and of the Tirthatha when at Jerufaleni: But what is meant by the Tirthatha? The original word is of doubtful derivation; hence the learned have taken liberty to offer their conjectures. Some reckon it is compounded of

w and , QUI DISPENSAVIT POTUM, MUNSTER ON Ezra. Others from a Perfian word which fignifies SEVERE; fuch as CASTELLUS, MENINSKI, &c. Hence, they conclude, that it imports the Perfian monarch's Viceroy. Ezrah fucceed Zerubbabel in this office, as he was fucceeded by Nehemiah.

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