NEHEMIAH 9:1 A Prayer of Confession, Penitence, and Covenant Commitment. The next phase in the great act of covenant renewal is a prayer of praise, confession, and petition. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:2 SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM ALL FOREIGNERS. See Ezra 9:1. Here it refers not just to marriage but also to the integrity of the community in general. INIQUITIES OF THEIR FATHERS. That is, of all previous generations, as in the prayer that follows (Nehemiah 9:6). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:6 The prayer mixes confession with memories of God’s grace and petition. It follows the biblical story as told in Genesis 1:1–Kings. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:7 UR OF THE CHALDEANS is in southern Mesopotamia (see Genesis 11:31). THE NAME ABRAHAM. See Genesis 17:5. THE COVENANT. God promised Abraham both descendants and land. The promise to drive out other nations has particular meaning in this period of restoration to the land.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:9 HEARD THEIR CRY AT THE RED SEA. This condenses the whole story from Exodus 2:1 (see Exodus 2:23; Exodus 14:1). SIGNS AND WONDERS... DIVIDED THE SEA. This refers to the miracles done to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites (Exodus 7:1). ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:12 The PILLAR OF CLOUD and the PILLAR OF FIRE provided God’s guidance (see Exodus 13:21). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:13 MOUNT SINAI is where God gave the Ten Commandments and detailed instructions for applying them (RULES, LAWS, STATUTES, COMMANDMENTS). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:15 BREAD FROM HEAVEN... WATER. Compare Exodus 16:14; Exodus 17:6. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:16 APPOINTED A LEADER. See Numbers 14:4. The people must have gone ahead and chosen a different leader, though Numbers 14:1 contains no record of it. GOLDEN CALF refers to the rebellion committed while the covenant was still being made at Sinai (Exodus 32:1; Deuteronomy 9... [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:21 FORTY YEARS. See Deuteronomy 2:7. THEIR CLOTHES DID NOT WEAR OUT AND THEIR FEET DID NOT SWELL. From Deuteronomy 8:4, recalling God’s extraordinary preservation of his people. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:23 STARS OF HEAVEN. See Deuteronomy 1:10. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:26 This pattern of sin, judgment, repentance, and deliverance is typical of the book of Judges 1:1. KILLED YOUR PROPHETS. Compare Matthew 23:31; Acts 7:52. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getEl [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:29 The story of God’s long patience with the Israelites’ sin, finally ending in judgment, is told in 1–2 Kings (see especially 2 Kings 17:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:30 YOU GAVE THEM INTO THE HAND OF THE PEOPLES. The northern kingdom was “[given] into the hand of” Assyria (2 Kings 17:1); Judah was conquered by Babylon (2 Kings 24:1). YOU DID NOT MAKE AN END OF THEM. God rescued his people from exile, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:22... [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:32 ALL THE HARDSHIP refers to the sufferings of both exiles (Assyrian and Babylonian). Yet God has been RIGHTEOUS in his judgment. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH—NOTE ON NEHEMIAH 9:36 WE ARE SLAVES. The people’s continuing sinfulness explains why they are not yet entirely free. To resolve this situation, the people will enter a solemn COVENANT. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]