Bible Commentaries
Nehemiah 9

Verse 1

this month. In 404 B.C., not in 426 B.C. (Nehemiah 7:73 ). Same as Ezra 9:1-4 . See App-58 .

children = sons.

Verse 2

strangers = sons of the foreigner.

sins. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

Verse 3

the book of the law. See App-47 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 4

stairs = platform. Omit the comma.

Bani, and Chenani. Some codices, with Septuagint, read "sons of Chenani".

Verse 5

Levites. For these names, Compare Nehemiah 3:17 ; Nehemiah 7:43 ; Nehemiah 10:10 ; Nehemiah 12:8 , Nehemiah 12:24 .Ezra 2:40 ; Ezra 3:9 .

Stand up, &c. One of the most glorious of all Doxologies.

blessed be = let them bless.

Verse 6

Thou . . . Thou . . . Thou. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

art LORD = [art] He, Jehovah,

heaven = the heavens.

heaven of heavens. Figure of speech Polyptoton , for emphasis.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton , throughout this confession.

Verse 7

choose Abram. Compare Genesis 11:31 ; Genesis 12:1 ; Genesis 17:5 .Joshua 24:1-3 .

Abraham. See note on Genesis 17:5 , and App-50 . The letter ( He ) = five. This is the number of grace ( App-10 ), put into the middle of the names (Abram and Sarai), as a symbol of the grace that called him. See App-50 . for the repetition of five in its multiples all through his life.

Verse 8

faithful. Because He had made it so. Compare James 3:6 .

covenant. Compare Genesis 15:1 , Genesis 15:18 ; Genesis 17:7 , Genesis 17:8 .

Verse 9

affliction = humiliation. Compare Exodus 2:23-25 .

Verse 10

shewedst signs, &c . See Exodus 1:7 , Exodus 1:8-10 ; Exodus 1:12 ; Exodus 1:14 .Psalms 105:27 ; Psalms 106:7 ; Psalms 135:9 .

Verse 11

persecutors = pursuers. mighty waters. Compare Exodus 15:5 .

Verse 12

leddest them = leddest them gently.

cloudy pillar. Compare Exodus 13:21 .

Verse 13

Thou earnest down. Compare Exodus 19:20 ; Exodus 20:1 .

true laws. Hebrew laws of truth. See note on John 1:17 .

good statutes. See note on Genesis 26:5 .Deuteronomy 4:7 .

Verse 14

madest known . . . Thy, &c. Jehovah's Sabbath was in Genesis 2:1-3 . Made known to Israel (Exodus 20:9-11 ). Established as a sign (Exodus 31:13-17 ).

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

sabbath = cessation (from work), rest. This rest was made for man (Mark 2:27 ).

Verse 15

gavest them bread. Exodus 16:14 , Exodus 16:15 . Compare John 6:57 , John 6:58 .

water. Exodus 17:6 . Numbers 20:9-11 .

Promisedst. Deuteronomy 1:8 .

Verse 16

dealt proudly = fostered pride.

Verse 17

among = with.

appointed a captain. See Numbers 14:4 .

to their bondage. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read bemizraim = to Egypt, instead of bemiryam = in their rebellion.

ready to pardon = of forgivenesses.

of great kindness = abounding in lovingkindness.

Verse 18

a molten calf. Exodus 32:4 .

This. Singular number: i.e. "This [calf]".

Egypt. Some codices, with six early printed editions and Syriac, read "the land of Egypt". Compare Exodus 32:4 .

Verse 19

manifold mercies. Compare Nehemiah 9:27 and Psalms 106:45 .

departed not. Compare Exodus 13:21 , Exodus 13:22 .

Verse 20

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . Compare Numbers 11:16 , Numbers 11:17 . Deuteronomy 34:9 . Psalms 143:10 , and Nehemiah 9:30 below.

manna. Compare Exodus 16:15 .Joshua 5:12 .

Verse 21

clothes. Compare Deuteronomy 8:4 ; Deuteronomy 29:5 .

Verse 22

nations = peoples.

divide them into corners = apportion them their lot. Hebrew. pe'ah = quarter, region. See Leviticus 19:9 ; Leviticus 23:22 . Compare Jeremiah 9:26 ; Jeremiah 49:32 . The word occurs in the allotment of the Land, in Joshua 15:5 ; Joshua 18:12 , Joshua 18:14 , Joshua 18:15 , Joshua 18:20 .

Sihon . . . Og. Compare Numbers 21:21 , &c.

Verse 24

people = peoples.

Verse 25

fat land = rich soil.

wells digged. Hebrew. bor, cisterns hewed. See note on Genesis 21:19 .

delighted themselves = made their Eden. Hebrew. 'anag. Hithp. pret. only here.

Verse 26

slew Thy prophets. See 1 Kings 19:10 . Compare Matthew 23:37 . Acts 7:52 .

testified against = solemnly admonished.

Verse 27

enemies = adversaries.

according to. Some codices, with seven early printed editions and Septuagint, read "in".

gavest them saviours. See Judges 3:9 ,

Verse 28

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

enemies = oppressors.

according to. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "in".

Verse 29

sinned. Hebrew. chata', App-44 .

a man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

he shall live, &c. See note on Leviticus 18:2 .

Verse 30

in = by the hand of; "hand" put by Fig, Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the ministry or agency of the prophets.

Verse 31

GOD. Hebrew. El. App-4 .

Verse 32

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

and. Some codices, with six early printed editions, omit this "and".

Verse 33

we. Note how Nehemiah (here), Ezra (Nehemiah 9:6-11 ), and Daniel (Nehemiah 9:5-19 ) associate themselves with the people in their confessions.

have done wickedly. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

Verse 35

wicked. Hebrew. ra'a. App-44 .

Verse 36

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

for = as to.

Verse 38

And because, &c. Ezra chapter 10 in Hebrew text begins with this verse.

Princes. Nehemiah and Hananiah, if not others, were members of the royal family of Judah. See Nehemiah 1:1 . This chapter is parallel with the last chapter of Ezra ( Neh 10:1-44 ). Consequently all beyond it is supplementary (chronologically). See note on Nehemiah 9:1 , the Structure on p. 617, notes on p. 618, and App-58 .