Nehemiah 10:4

Study note

Setting — The text lists three signatories in a post-exilic covenant renewal document, positioned directly after Pashhur, Amariah, and Malchijah in verse 3 and before Harim, Meremoth, and Obadiah in verse 5. It records the names of individuals who formally affixed themselves to a written agreement.

The words — חַטּוּשׁ (cha.Tush) and מַלּוּךְ (ma.Lukh) appear as proper names without descriptive modifiers in the Hebrew text. They function solely as identifiers within a sequential roster rather than carrying lexical meaning beyond personal designation.

The thread — Hattush and Malluch reappear in Nehemiah 3:10 and Nehemiah 12:2 as leaders involved in temple repairs and priestly divisions. Shebaniah is later noted in Nehemiah 12:14 as the father of Joseph within the same priestly lineage.

Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to recognize that communal commitment in this text is recorded through specific, named accountability rather than anonymous consent. It demands attention to the continuity of individual responsibility across the covenant document.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.