Nehemiah 9:17

_THOU ART THE LORD THE GOD, WHO DIDST CHOOSE ABRAM, AND BROUGHTEST HIM FORTH OUT OF UR OF THE CHALDEES, AND GAVEST HIM THE NAME OF ABRAHAM;_ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THESE VERSES....

4-38 The summary of their prayers we have here upon record. Much more, no doubt, was said. Whatever ability we have to do any thing in the way of duty, we are to serve and glorify God according to the utmost of it. When confessing our sins, it is good to notice the mercies of God, that we may be the more humbled and ashamed. The dealings of the Lord showed his goodness and long-suffering, and the hardness of their hearts. The testimony of the prophets was the testimony of the Spirit in the prophets, and it was the Spirit of Christ in them. They spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and what they said is to be received accordingly. The result was, wonder at the Lord's mercies, and the feeling that sin had brought them to their present state, from which nothing but unmerited love could rescue them. And is not their conduct a specimen of human nature? Let us study the history of our...

Verse 17. _AND IN THEIR REBELLION APPOINTED A CAPTAIN_] This clause, read according to its order in the Hebrew text, is thus: _And appointed a captain to return to their bondage in their_ _rebellion_. But it is probable that במרים _bemiryam, in their_ _rebellion_, is a mistake for במצרים _bemitsrayim, in Egypt_. This is the reading of _seven_ of _Kennicott's_ and _De Rossi's_ MSS., the _Neapolitan_ edition of the _Hagiographa_, and the _Septuagint_. It is also the reading in Numbers 14:4. The clause should undoubtedly be read, _They appointed a captain to return to their bondage in_ EGYPT....

IN THEIR REBELLION - The Septuagint and several maunscripts have “in Egypt” (the words in the original differing by one letter only), and translate - “And appointed a captain to return to their bondage in Egypt.” Compare the margin reference. The appointment of a leader is regarded here as made, whereas we are only told in the Book of Numbers that it was proposed....

EXPOSITION SOLEMN FAST KEPT, WITH CONFESSION OF SINS; AND VOLUNTARY COVENANT WITH GOD ENTERED INTO BY THE PEOPLE, AND SEALED TO BY THE PRINCES, PRIESTS, AND LEVITES (Nehemiah 9:1.). When the law was first read to them on the opening day of the seventh month, the people had shown strong feelings of compunction, an earnest desire to return to God by the thorny way of repentance. In checking this feeling on that particular day, Ezra and Nehemia

CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The public humiliation and confession (Nehemiah 9:1)_ 2. The great confession and prayer (Nehemiah 9:6) Nehemiah 9:1. Two days after the feast of tabernacles had been concluded this humiliation and confession of sin took place. The assembled congregation fasted, with sackcloth and earth upon them. Separation was next. Evil confessed must mean evil put away. They separated themselves from all strangers, and after their confession they worshipped the Lord. Here again is the right order of a spiritual revival. Reading, hearing and believing the Word always comes first; humiliation, self-judgment, confession and true worship follow....

THE FAST AND A NATIONAL CONFESSION. All that took place, as described in this section, was the result of the reading of the Law. The command to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles having been observed, there followed a spontaneous outburst of self-condemnation on the part of the people, who were conscience-stricken on account of having hitherto neglected to observe the Law; they had clearly been desirous of expressing their sorrow before (see Nehemiah 8:9), but it would have been inappropriate during the feast. Fasting and prayerful confession were fitly followed (see next section) by a solemn act of resolution of amendment. Nehemiah 9:1. the twenty and fourth day: the second day after the celebration of the feast, _i.e._ in the seventh month (see...

AMONG. with. APPOINTED. 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....

_in their rebellion appointed a captain_, &c. Based on Numbers 14:4, and perhaps representing a tradition that the words -And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt" were partially carried into effect. The R.V. marg. runs, -The Sept. has, _And appointed a captain to return to their bondage in Egypt_." See Numbers 14:4. The Sept. (ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ) read b'mizraim for b'miryam. Another proposed rendering instead of -appointed a captain" is -turned their attention," or -directed their thoughts," literally -set their head." _a God ready to pardon_ R.V. marg. -Heb. _a God of forgivenesses_". The word for -forgivenesses" is found only in Daniel 9:9;...

5. God blesses Israel even during her rebellion in the Wilderness. TEXT, NEHEMIAH 9:16-21 16 But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Thy commandments. 17 And they refused to listen, And did not remember Thy wondrous deeds which Thou hadst performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But Thou art a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness; And Thou didst not forsake them, 18 Even when they made for themselves A calf of molten metal And said, -This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt; And committed great blasphemies, 19. Thou, in Thy great compassion, Didst not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not