Nehemiah 9 - Introduction
IX. (1-38) The Fast, the Confession, and the Covenant.... [ Continue Reading ]
IX. (1-38) The Fast, the Confession, and the Covenant.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE TWENTY AND FOURTH DAY. — After one day of rest, the people assembled with all the tokens of sorrow, even to dust on the head (1 Samuel 4:12): the external signs and the internal spirit were one.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SEED OF ISRAEL SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM ALL STRANGERS. — The change to “seed” has here a deep propriety. They carefully avoided the many aliens among them throughout this fast. AND STOOD AND CONFESSED. — It must be remembered that these verses give the programme of what is afterwards filled up... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE FOURTH PART. — Both day and night were divided into four parts. All orders standing in their respective place, the reading occupied the morning and the worship the afternoon. It is the latter which is now made prominent, as the former had been prominent in the preceding chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]
STAIRS, OF THE LEVITES. — _The scaffold of the Levites,_ without the comma: the steps of ascent to the pulpit of Ezra (Nehemiah 8:2). BANI, AND CHENANI. — Probably, _Binnui and Haman_ (Nehemiah 10:9). THEIR GOD. — When the people are called upon (Nehemiah 9:5), it is “your God”; hence these eight... [ Continue Reading ]
HASHABNIAH. — Not found elsewhere. No reason is given why this company is somewhat different from the former; the LXX. arbitrarily omit all names after Kadmiel. Similarly, they insert “and Ezra said” before Nehemiah 9:6. The psalm was perhaps composed by Ezra, but uttered by the Levites in the name... [ Continue Reading ]
PRESERVEST THEM ALL. — In this comprehensiveness reproduced only in Hebrews 1:3. THE HOST OF HEAVEN. — First the stars, but here the angels (Psalms 103:21).... [ Continue Reading ]
The Hivites are for some reason omitted.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A STONE INTO THE MIGHTY WATERS — Compare the Song of Moses, and mark in the Hebrew both the identity and the variation.... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHT JUDGEMENTS. — Five of the names given to the law of God in Psalms 119 are singled out and applied to the Sinaitic legislation first, and then to the subsequent ordinances of Moses generally. But the emphasis here is on the adjectives “right,” “true,” “good,” as belonging rather to the eternal... [ Continue Reading ]
MADEST KNOWN UNTO THEM THY HOLY SABBATH. — Every word here, as well as the prominence given to this among the other “commandments,” must be noted as illustrating the importance of this ordinance in the covenant of chapter 10 and throughout the book.... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAD FROM HEAVEN. — A change of phrase, which our Lord consecrated for ever (John 6).... [ Continue Reading ]
DEALT PROUDLY. — Like the Egyptians themselves (Nehemiah 9:10). It is remarkable that the same word is used as in the Hebrew of Exodus 18:11 and Deuteronomy 1:43.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEIR REBELLION. — Rather, _appointed a captain to return to their bondage in Egypt._ This is the reading of some MSS., followed by the Septuagint, and is in harmony with Numbers 14:4, though there the appointment is only proposed. A GOD READY TO PARDON. — _A God of pardons;_ only in Daniel 9:9... [ Continue Reading ]
THY GOOD SPIRIT. — Probably a reference to Numbers 11:17; Numbers 11:25. The epithet given to the Spirit is in Psalms 143:10. But His teaching function occurs here only, and is a remarkable anticipation of the New Testament.... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVIDE THEM INTO CORNERS. — Strict usage of the term would require: _Thou didst divide unto them [these nations] in their boundaries._ AND THE LAND. — There is a double reference to Sihon, king of Heshbon. This and Bashan were taken as the earnest of the possession of Canaan.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR ENEMIES WHO VEXED THEM. — The phraseology in this and the following verse shows that the Book of Judges is carefully remembered in the prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
Here begins the prayer proper. KINGS OF ASSYRIA. — “The rod of God’s anger” (Isaiah 10:5). Pul, Tiglath-pileser, Shalmaneser, Sargon, Sennacherib, Esar-haddon, are traced in the sacred record as successive scourges.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR KINGS. — Note that the prophets are omitted in this enumeration.... [ Continue Reading ]
YIELDETH MUCH INCREASE. — In money and kind a very large amount was sent by Syria to the Persian treasury. OVER OUR BODIES, AND OVER OUR CATTLE. — For military service; but the priests do not omit themselves. IN GREAT DISTRESS. — Not so much under the Persian yoke as in the remembrance of God’s ju... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF ALL THIS. — On the ground of this confession, and to prove our sincerity. SEAL UNTO IT. — On the sealed [document]. Each party impressed his seal on moist clay, which was then hardened. Sometimes these seals were attached to the document by separate strings. In Nehemiah 11, “those who se... [ Continue Reading ]