Nehemiah 9

The people of God keep a solemn day of humiliation, wherein the Levites spend one fourth part of the day in reading unto the people out of the book of the Law of God, and another fourth part of the day in confessing their sins before the LORD, vers.1. etc. With a very excellent and holy prayer, wherein they praise God, declare his mercies shewed to Abraham and his seed until their time, and confess the manifold unthankfulness of the people, and in an humble manner represent unto God their present sad and distressed condition: whereby they bind and engage themselves a new, making withal and singing a covenant to obedience unto God, that they may turn away all deserved punishments for the future, etc.

1. Moreover, on the four and twentieth day of this month, [To wit, of the seventh month, as ab.chap.8.1. when the joyful Feast of leaf-huts was ended with the two and twentieth day to the said month] the children of Israel assembled themselves with fasting, and with sacks, [See Gen.37.on verse 34.] and earth was upon them. [In token of their nothingness and upon them. [In token of their nothingness and unworthiness, as also of their humiliation before the LORD, and repentance for their sins. Compare 2 Sam.1.on verse 2.]

2. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers: [That is, foreign heathens, which pertained not to the holy fellowship and communion of Israel. Hebr. children of the stranger. Compare below chap.13.3.] and they stood and made confession of their sins, and of the iniquities of their fathers.

3. For when they stood up in their station, then they [To wit, the Levites. Compare chap.8.7,8.] read in the book of the Law of the LORD their God, one fourth part of the day, [That is three hours; for the day was divided into twelve hours, John 11:9. It is to be imagined that they met together three hours in the fore –noon and three hours in the after-noon. Oth. fourtimes a day, and so in the sequel.] and (another) fourth part they made confession, and worshipped the LORD their God.

4. Now Jesua, and Bani, and Kadmiel, Sebanja, Bunni, Serebja, Bani, (and) Chenani stood upon an high scaffold of the Levites, and cried [Hebr. high-place, exalted place, high-chair, or pulpit, etc. Not that they all stood close together upon one pulpit or scaffold, and cried all at together, (which would have been a very absurd and confused business) but every one of them stood upon his own pulpit before a particular part of the congregation, that they might not hinder or interrupt one another, but might conveniently administer unto all parts or parties of the people. Compare above chap.3.on vers.8.] with a loud [Hebr. great] voice unto the LORD their God.

5. And the Levites, Jesua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hasabneja, Serebja, Hodia, Sebanja, Petha chja, said; Stand up, praise [Hebr. Bless] the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting; and let men praise [Hebr. let them bless] the Name of thy glory, [That is, thy glorious Name. Compare Acts 7:2. 1 Cor.2.8.] which is exalted above all land [Hebr. blessing,] and praise. [That is, which is so high and glorious, that we cannot sufficiently land and praise the same.]

6. Thou art that LORD alone, thou hast made the heaven, the heaven of heavens, [The third and highest heaven. See 1 Kings 8:27. 2 Cor.12.2.] and all their host, [See Gen.2.verse 1.] the earth and all that is therein, the seas and all that is therein, [See Gen.1.1, &c. Psal.146.6. Acts 14:14. and 17.24. Revel.14.7.] and thou makest them all alive, [That is, thou maintainest and preservest them in their being, which thou hast given them] and the host of the heavens [See Gen.2.1. verse 1.] worshippeth thee. [That is, honoureth, obeyeth, and serveth thee, every one in his kind, and according unto thy holy will.]

7. Thou art that LORD, the God, who didest chuse Abraham, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldeans, [See Gen.11.31,32. And 12.1.] and thou put tedst his name Abraham. [See Gen.17.5.]

8. And thou hast found his faithful before thy face, [See Gen.15.6.] and hast made a covenant with him, to give the land of the Canaanites, the Nethites, the Amorites, the Pherezites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgasites, to give it unto his seed; [See Gen.12.7. and 13.15. and 15.18. and 17.8. and 26.4.] and thou hast confirmed thy words, because thou art righteous. [Keeping thy promises unto thy people, and justly punishing the wicked.]

9. And thou hast regarded the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; [See Exod.3.7.] and thou hast heard their cry at the Reed-sea, [See Exod.14.10.]

10. And thou hast done [Hebr. given, made, appointed,] tokens and wonders upon Pharao, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land; [See Exod.chapters 7,8,10,11,12,14.] for thou knowest that they dealt proudly against them, and thou hast made thee a name as it is this day.

11. And thou hast cloven the sea before their face (so) that they went through the midst of the sea, on the dry (land); and their persecutors hast thou thrown into the deeps, as stone into mighty waters. [See Exod.14.22. &c.]

12. And thou hast led them in the day by a cloudy pillar, and in the night by fiery pillar to light them in the way wherein they should walk. [See Exod.13.21. and 14.19 and 40.38. Psal.105.39.]

13. And thou camest down upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven: [That is, out of the sky. See Exod.19.20. and 20.1, &c.] and gavest them righteous judgments, and faithful laws, [Hebr. laws of faithfulness, or truth] good statutes and commandments.

14. And thou hast made known unto them thine holy Sabbath: and thou hast commanded them precepts, and statutes, and a law by the hand [That is, ministry] of thy servant Moses.

15. And thou hast given them bread from heaven [That is, from the Air] for their hunger [See Exod.16.14.] and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst: [See Exod.17.6. Num.20.9.] And thou hast said unto them, that they should go in to inherit the land, concerning which thou didst lift up thine hand, that thou wouldest give it unto them. [That is, which thou swarest to give them. See Gen.14.on verse 22.]

16. But they, and our fathers have dealt proudly: and they have hardened their neck, [See Exod.32.on verse 9.] and not hearkened to thy Commandments.

17. And they refused to hear, and remembered not thy wonders which thou didst among them, and hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed and head to return to their bondage: [See Numb.14.4.] But thou (being) a God of forgiving, [That is, who pardonest many and great sins] gracious, and merciful, long-suffering, and great of kindness, [or goodness, favourableness. So verse 32. See Exod.34 7. Numb.14.18. Psal.86.5.] not withstanding didst not forsake them.

18. Even, when they had made them a molten calf, and said; This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt; [See Exod.32.1, etc.] and had committed great vices.

19. Yet thou through thy great [Or, many. So verse 27.31.] mercies didst not forsake them in the wilderness, The pillar of cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night, to light them, and that in the way, wherein they should walk. See Exod.13.22. and 40.38.]

20. And thou hast given thy good Spirit to instruct them: [See Num.11.17.] and thou hast not removed thy Manna from their mouth, [See Jos.5.12.] and thou hast given them water for their thirst.

21. So thou hast sustained them fourty years in the wilderness, they had no want; they clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. [See Deut.2.7. and 8.4. and 29.5.]

22. Moreover, thou hast given them kingdoms and nations, and hast divided them into corners: [Or, countries. Some understand this of the children of Israel, unto whom the Lord divided the lands and countries which they had taken, unto every one his inheritace. Others understand it of the conquered enemies, whom God thrust here and there into corners, so that his people freely took and hereditarily possessed the land, and continued in the hereditary possession thereof] So they possessed hereditarily the land of Sihon, [See Numb.21.21.] to wit, the land of the king of Hesbon, [Meaning the land which the King of the Moabites had formerly possessed, and which was taken away from him by king Sihon. See Numb.21.26,27.] and the land of Og king of Basan.

23. Thou hast also multiplied their children as the stars of heaven: [See Gen.2.17.] And thou hast brought them into the land concerning which thou hadst said unto their fathers, that they should go in to possess it hereditarily.

24. So the children came in, and took possession of that land hereditarily, and thou hast subdued before their face the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and hast given into their hand, together with their kings, and the nations of the land, to do with them according to their good pleasure. [See Jos.chapters 1,2,3 etc.]

25. And they took fenced cities, and a fat land, and possessed hereditarily, houses full of all [That is, all manner of] good, wells hewen out, vineyards, olive-yards, and trees of meat, [That is, trees bearing estable fruits] in abundance: and they did eat, and were satisfied, and became fat, and lived in pleasure, through thy great goodness. [Or delighted themselves in thy great good; that is, in the great and many good things, which thou gavest them.]

26. But they grew refractory, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back, [Compare Psal.50.on verse 17. Ezech.23.35, &c.] and slew the Prophets [See 1 Kings 18 4. And 19.4. 2 Chron.24.20.] which testified against them, [Or among them: so verse 29,30,34.] to cause them to return unto thee: So they committed great vices.

27. Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their distressors who distressed them: [See Judg.2.14, &c.] But when in the time of their distress they cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven, and according to thy great mercies gavest them deliverers, who delivered them out of the hand of their distressors.

28. But when they had rest, they returned again to do evil before thy face; so thou leftist them in the hand of their enemies, (so) that they bare sway over them: when they then returned, and cried unto thee, then thou didst hear from heaven, and didst many times rescue them according to thy mercies.

29. And thou hast testified against them, to cause them to return unto thy Law, but they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, and they sinned against thy rights, against the same, by which a man that doth them shall live: [See Levit.18 5. Ezech.20.11. Rom.10.5. Gal.3.12.] and they have drawn back their shoulder [Heb. given a back-sliding shouldier. A similitude borrowed from beasts that will not bear the yoke or burden] and hardened their neck, [See Exod.32.on verse 9.] and hearkened not.

30. Yet many years [As long as the Kingdoms of Juda and Israel continued] didst thou forbear over them, [Thou hadst patience with them, and sparedst them, delaying the punishment] and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit, by the ministry [Hebr. hand] of thy Prophets, but they enclined not the ear; [See 2 Kings 17:13, 14. 2 Chron.36.15, 16.] therefore thou gavest them into the hand of the nations of the countries.

31. But through thy great mercies, didst not utterly consume them [Hebr. thou didst make them no finishing nor destruction. Compare Jer.4.27. with the annotate.] nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

32. Now then, O our God, thou great, thou mighty ad thou terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy; let not all the foil [that is, all the punishments and miseries that have come upon us] be mean before thy face, that hath befallen [Heb. found] us, our kings, our Princes, and our Priests, and our Prophets, and our Fathers, and all thy people; from the days of the kings of Assur, [That is, Assyria] unto this day.

33. Yet thou art righteous in all that is come upon us, [Compare Deut.32.4. Dan.9.24.] for thou hast dealt faithfully, [Hebr. done truth, or faithfulness] but we have dealt wickedly.

34. And our Kings, our Princes, our Priests, and our Fathers, have not done thy Law; and they have not listened unto thy commandments, and unto thy testimonies which thou didst testify against them.

35. For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy manifold goodness that thou gavest them, and in that large and that fat land which thou hadst given before their face; [That is, hadst set open and delivered unto them, that they might take it, and possess it. SO elsewhere often] neither have they turned themselves from their wicked ways.

36. Behold, we are servants this day; yea, the land which thou gavest unto our fathers, to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof, behold we are servants in it.

37. And it [To wit, the land] multiplieth its increase, [Oth. its increase, or profit is great, or manifold] for the kings thou hast set over us [as if they should say, though the land yield much increase, yet we are never the better for it, it’s not for us, but for strange kings that rule over us] because of our sins; and they have dominion over our bodies, and over our beasts, according to their pleasure; Thus are we in great distress.

38. And in all this [Or because of all this; to wit, all this evil that is come upon us, and presseth us still at present; or from all this; that is to testify, that we mean all this truly and sincerely, and engage our selves unto true repentance, to turn away thy just wrath, and to be made partakers of thy blessing. See below chap.10.29.] we make a sure (covenant) [See Gen.15.on verse 17, 18. Hebr. a sureness, or firmness] and write it: and our Princes, our Levites, (and) our Priests shall seal it. [Hebr. (are, or shall be) for, or, at the sealing, or the thing sealed, to wit, in the name of us all. Oth. for, or over the sealing (were) &c. Meaning that confession ended with the former verse, and that now in this last verse is further related, what they did after the confession, to make it effectual and prevailing: Therefore they annex this verse to the following chapter, and render it thus: Now of all this we made a sure covenant, and wrote it, etc.]