Nehemiah 1:1 to Nehemiah 7:73 _a_. Extract from the memoirs of Nehemiah 1. The Superscription. -In many MSS. and editions the beginning of this book is closely united with the last verse of Ezra, and in some it appears without line or interval between as part of Ezra" (Davidson's _Hebrew Text_). _T... [ Continue Reading ]
The opening address blends the Divine attributes of might and majesty with those of faithfulness and mercy. Divine _forgiveness_alone could vouchsafe the restoration, which Divine _power_alone could effect. _I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven_ R.V. O LORD, THE GOD OF HEAVEN. See on Ezra 1:2. -I b... [ Continue Reading ]
Nehemiah's Prayer This prayer falls into five portions: (1) the opening address, Nehemiah 1:5; (2) the humble approach, Nehemiah 1:6 _a_; (3) the confession of sins, Nehemiah 1:6 _b_, Nehemiah 1:7; (4) the appeal to the Divine Promise, Nehemiah 1:8-10; (5) the closing supplication for (_a_) the peo... [ Continue Reading ]
The humble access leading to the confession of sin. _let thine ear now be attentive_ The word -attentive" is not very common in the original. It occurs again in Nehemiah 1:11, in Psalms 130:2. And with the rendering -attent" (A.V. and R.V.) in 2Ch 6:40; 2 Chronicles 7:15. The LXX. renders πρόσεχον.... [ Continue Reading ]
_We have dealt very corruptly_ The words in the original occasion some difficulty. There is however no connexion, as commentators have supposed, between the Hebrew words used here and a similar root meaning -a pledge." The Vulgate, adopting a different derivation, has -vanitate seducti sumus." The L... [ Continue Reading ]
_Remember … the word … saying_ The reference here made is in general terms. No passage in the Pentateuch exactly agrees with it (cf. Nehemiah 10:34). This may be shown by the words used in the first sentence. The Hebrew word for -I will scatter" is only found in Deuteronomy in the Pentateuch: the He... [ Continue Reading ]
The Promise. The appeal to this promise marks the crisis of the prayer. if _ye turn_ R.V. RETURN. The word, as in Deuteronomy 30:2, is stronger than to -turn". It denotes a -return" from a wrong road. The back is turned upon the former wrong direction. Cf. Malachi 3:18. _and keep my commandments,... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse states the ground on which the privilege of the promise is claimed. _Now these_are _thy servants_, &c. The connexion of thought, which is not very obvious at first sight, seems to be as follows. Having stated the Divine promise, Nehemiah returns in thought to -the children of thy servant... [ Continue Reading ]
The special Intercession (_a_) generally, that the prayer of Nehemiah and his countrymen might be heard, (_b_) particularly, that Nehemiah's application to the king might be successful. _O Lord_ The Hebrew word -Adonai" is also used for the Divine name in Neh. (Nehemiah 3:5) Nehemiah 8:10; Nehemiah... [ Continue Reading ]