SEV Biblia, Chapter 10:34
Echamos también las suertes, los sacerdotes, los levitas, y el pueblo, acerca de la ofrenda de la leña, para traerla a la Casa de nuestro Dios, según las casas de nuestros padres, en los tiempos determinados cada año, para quemar sobre el altar de nuestro Dios, como está escrito en la ley.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 10:34
Verse 34. Cast the lots-for the wood-offering] There does not appear to have been any wood-offering under the law. It was the business of the Nethinim to procure this; and hence they were called hewers of wood and drawers of water to the congregation. But it is very likely that after the captivity few Nethinim were found; for as such, who were the descendants of the Gibeonites, were considered only as slaves among the Israelites, they would doubtless find it as much, if not more, their interest to abide in the land of their captivity, than to return with their former masters. As there was not enough of such persons to provide wood for the fires of the temple, the people now cast lots, not who should furnish the wood, but what class or district should furnish it at a particular time of the year, so that there might be a constant supply. One district furnished it for one whole year, or for the first month or year; another, for the second month or year; and so on. Now the lot was to determine which district should bring the supply on the first month or year; which on the second; and so on. When the wood was brought, it was delivered to the Levites: they cut, prepared, and stacked it; and when wanted, delivered it to the priests, whose business it was to lay it upon the altar. Perhaps this providing of the wood was done only once a year by one district, the next year by another district, and so on: and this bringing the wood to the temple at last became a great day; and was constituted into a feast, called by Josephus xuloforia, the carrying of the wood. - See Deuteronomy Bell. Jud. lib. ii., cap. xvii., sec. 6, p. 194. This feast is not mentioned in the sacred writings: then there was no need for such an institution, as the Nethinim were sufficiently numerous.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 34. And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people , etc.] The priests and Levites were in one lot, and the people in another, as Aben Ezra: for the wood offering ; for providing wood to burn upon the altar continually, concerning which Maimonides thus writes: “what is the wood offering? there was a time fixed for families to go out unto the forests, and bring in wood of disposition (to be laid in order on the altar); and the day when it came to the turn of a family to bring the wood, they offered up freewill burnt offerings, which were called a wood offering; and it was to them as a good day (or festival), and they were forbid to mourn, fast, or do any work on it;” and he observes, that if a single person brought wood of his own free will, he was obliged to the same; and Josephus speaks of a feast called culoforia , when it was customary for all to bring wood to the altar, to keep alive the sacred fire, that it might not go out, which, according to him, was on the fourteenth of the month Lois, or August; but this was not the business of all the people, lots were cast, as here said, who should do it, and when: to bring it into the house of our God ; the temple, where there was a place called the “wood room”, into which the wood was brought after it had been wormed by the priests f67 after the houses of our fathers ; or families on whom the lot fell to do it: some render it, into the house of our fathers , meaning the same as before; the temple so called, because they built it, and worshipped God in it; so Jarchi and Aben Ezra: at times appointed, year by year ; as the lot directed; these, according to the Jewish doctors f68 , were nine times in the year; on the first of Nisan (or March), the sons of Arach, of the tribe of Judah, brought the wood; on the twentieth of Tammuz (or June), the posterity of David, of the tribe of Judah; on the fifth of Ab (or July), the children of Parosh, of the tribe of Judah; on the seventh of the same month, the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab; on the tenth of the same month, the posterity of Senaah, of the tribe of Benjamin; on the fifteenth of the same month, the children of Zattu, and with them the priests and Levites, and all who were of an uncertain tribe, etc. on the twentieth of the same month, the posterity of Pahathmoab, of the tribe of Judah; on the twentieth of Elul (or August), the children of Adin, of the tribe of Judah; on the first of Tebeth (or December), the posterity of Parosh again brought the wood: to burn upon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law ; the wood should be burnt upon it, and fire kept on it continually, ( Leviticus 6:12,13), for this refers only to that, the wood offering is nowhere spoken of in the law.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 32-39 - Having covenanted against the sins of which they had been guilty, the obliged themselves to observe the duties they had neglected. We mus not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well. Let not any people expect the blessing of God, unless they keep up public worship. It is likely to go well with our houses, when care is taken that the work of God's house goes on well. When every one helps, and every one gives though but little, toward a good work, the whole will come to be large sum. We must do what we can in works of piety and charity; an whatever state we are placed in, cheerfully perform our duty to God which will be the surest way to ease and liberty. As the ordinances of God are the appointed means of support to our souls, the believer wil not grudge the expense; yet most people leave their souls to starve __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
והגורלות 1486 הפלנו 5307 על 5921 קרבן 7133 העצים 6086 הכהנים 3548 הלוים 3881 והעם 5971 להביא 935 לבית 1004 אלהינו 430 לבית 1004 אבתינו 1 לעתים 6256 מזמנים 2163 שׁנה 8141 בשׁנה 8141 לבער 1197 על 5921 מזבח 4196 יהוה 3068 אלהינו 430 ככתוב 3789 בתורה׃ 8451
