10:28 who know and understand Includes children who were of age.

10:29 into a solemn oath Throughout the ot, taking an oath was considered an indispensable part of making a covenant (e.g., Deut 29:12–14; Josh 9:15; Ezek 17:13). When the nation committed to following the stipulations of the covenant, it agreed to fall under a curse if the covenant was ever broken. The curse and covenant went hand in hand: When the covenant was broken, the curse went into effect. This formula was used with the conditional Mosaic covenant (Lev 26; Deut 28). Since no specific curse is mentioned here, it is likely that the curses prescribed in Lev 26 and Deut 28 are in view.

Moses the servant of God Moses is more commonly called “the servant of Yahweh” in the ot (compare e.g., Deut 34:5; Josh 1:1, 13, 15; 2 Kgs 18:12; 2 Chr 1:3). See 1 Chr 6:49; 2 Chr 24:9; Dan 9:11.

10:30 We will not give our daughters Mixed marriage is a prevalent theme throughout Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezra 9–10; Neh 13:23–28). See note on Ezra 9:1–10:44.

10:31 the peoples of the land Refers to all foreign groups in the region.

on the Sabbath day to sell Foreigners did not follow the Jewish Sabbath regulations; this practice served as a marker of Jewish identity.

we will not accept The Mosaic law does not specifically prohibit the purchase of food on the Sabbath. This requirement may be adapted from Exod 16:22–30. Nehemiah 13:15–16 indicates that the people soon broke their commitment to keep the Sabbath.

the seventh year The people are resolving to abide by the stipulations of Exod 23:10–11; Lev 25:2–7; and Deut 15:1–3.

10:32 a third of a shekel The Law required that all Israelites 20 years and older pay a half shekel as a temple tax (Exod 30:11–16). The oath taken in this verse mentions only a third of a shekel. This third may be in addition to the half shekel already owed (totaling 5/6 of a shekel). Alternatively, the amount could have been intentionally changed to compensate for the poverty of some in the community (see Neh 5:1–13).

10:33 the rows of bread Refers to the bread of the Presence. See note on Exod 25:30.

the offering of the daily sacrifice The grain offering was to be offered in conjunction with the burnt offering, which consisted of a one-year-old lamb each morning and evening (Exod 29:38–42).

the holy objects The sacred offerings associated with unique events, such as Hezekiah’s restoration of worship (2 Chr 29:33) and Josiah’s Passover celebration (2 Chr 35:1–6).

10:34 the contributions of the wood offering of In earlier times, the Gibeonites were given the responsibility of providing wood for the altar (Josh 9:27).

as it is written in the law Perhaps a reference to Lev 6:12.

10:36 our sons The firstborn child could be redeemed from temple service by paying five shekels of silver (Num 18:15–16).

our cattle and sheep The firstborn of a donkey was to be redeemed by a lamb, or else its neck would be broken (Exod 13:13).