Charles Ellicott Commentary Nehemiah 10:29

"They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God`s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;" — Nehemiah 10:29 (ASV)

They clave to their brethren. —It was a union of the people as such, and sprang from a deep national conviction.

Entered into a curse, and into an oath. —The oath assumed the obligation; the curse invoked the penalty of violation .