“On the seals are the names of Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, Zedekiah,
When Israel was first brought into covenant with God it was done by sacrifice and the sprinkling of blood, Ex. 24. But here it was done by the more natural and common way of sealing and subscribing the written articles of the covenant, which bound them to no more than was already their duty. Now here we have, I.
Commenting on Nehemiah 10:1-31
Now those that sealed were,.... That sealed the covenant, made Neh 9:38. Nehemiah the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah; the governor of the Jews: and Zidkijah; who seems also to have been a prince, since, without, it could not be said it was sealed by their princes, Neh 9:38 though some think both these were priests, and then the princes must be supposed to be...
And because of all this we make a sure [covenant], and write [it]; and our princes, Levites, [and] priests, seal [unto it]. (n) Thus by affliction they promise to keep God's commandments to which they could not be brought by God's great benefits.
Commenting on Nehemiah 10:1-7