Nehemiah 9:30

_THEIR CHILDREN ALSO MULTIPLIEDST THOU AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN, AND BROUGHTEST THEM INTO THE LAND, CONCERNING WHICH THOU HADST PROMISED TO THEIR FATHERS, THAT THEY SHOULD GO IN TO POSSESS IT._ 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 30. _MANY YEARS DIDST THOU FORBEAR_] It is supposed that Nehemiah refers here principally to the _ten tribes_. And many years did God bear with them; not less than _two hundred and_ _fifty-four_ years from their separation from the house of _David_, till their captivity and utter dispersion under _Shalmaneser_; during the whole of which time God invariably warned them by his prophets; or, as it is here said, _by thy Spirit in thy prophets_, which gives us the true notion of _Divine inspiration_. God's Spirit was given to the prophets; and they testified to the people, _according_ as they were _taught_ and _influenced_ by _this_ _Spirit_....

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...

IN. by the hand of; "hand" put by Fig, _Metonymy_ (of Cause), App-6, for the ministry or agency of the prophets....

The long-suffering of Jehovah 30. _forbear them_ R.V. BEAR WITH THEM. The -many years" here spoken of contain the brief reference to the earlier monarchic period. -Bear with;" literally -protract," -extend" (LXX. ἥλκυσας. Vulg. -protraxisti"), as perhaps Jeremiah 31:3, marg. -Have I continued loving-kindness unto thee." _by thy spirit in thy prophets_ Cf. Zechariah 7:12, -The words which the Lord of hosts had sent by his spirit by the hand of the former prophets." The words do not affirm the Personality of the Divine Spirit, but the Divine revelation to the mind of man, which was spiritual. The Spirit is the agent, the prophets are the channels of Divine communication. Cf. 1 Kings 22:24;

7. Disobedience, punishment, and repentance characterize the period of judges and kings. TEXT, NEHEMIAH 9:26-31 26 But they became disobedient and rebelled against Thee, And cast Thy law behind their backs And killed Thy prophets who had admonished them. So that they might return to Thee, And they committed great blasphemies. 27 Therefore Thou didst deliver them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them, But when they cried to Thee in the time of their distress_,_ Thou didst hear from heaven, and according to Thy great compassion Thou didst give them deliverers who delivered them from the hand of their oppressors. 28 But as soon as they had rest, they did evil again before Thee; Therefore Thou didst abandon them to the hand of their enemies, so that they ruled over them. When they

THE RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT 4. Stairs] lit. 'ascent': probably the pulpit of wood mentioned in Nehemiah 8:4. BANI.. BANI] One of the two names is probably an error for 'Binnui': cp. Nehemiah 12:8....