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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 9:4-38

We have here an account how the work of this fast-day was carried on. 1. The names of the ministers that were employed. They are twice named (Neh. 9:4, 5), only with some variation of the names. Either they prayed successively, according to that rule which the apostle gives (1 Cor. 14:31; You may all prophesy one by one), or, as some think, there were eight several congregations at some distance from each other, and each had a Levite to preside in it. 2. The work itself in which they employed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 9:36

Behold, we are servants this day ,.... For though they had leave to return to their land, and rebuild their city and temple, yet they were still in subjection to the kings of Persia: and for the land thou gavest unto our fathers, to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it ; though the rightful owners and proprietors of it by the gift of God to their ancestors, to hold it and enjoy the good of it, and yet were obliged to pay tribute for it to the kings... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 9:36

Behold , we are servants - They had no king of their own: and were under the government of the kings of Persia, to whom they paid a regular tribute. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 9:1-38

The solemn fast of assembled Israel. Notice three features in the people's religious life. 1 . Their confession of sin. 2 . Their external reformation. 3 . Their solemn adoption of the written word of God as the law of their life. Take these as representative, universal. I. HUMILIATION AND CONFESSION . 1 . Public and united as well as private and solitary. Great impressiveness in numbers. The heart needs the stimulus of contact with great waves of feeling. There... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 9:2-38

Appeal It has been remarked that there is no prayer in this lengthy address to God. And the absence of direct supplication is certainly very noticeable. But it must be remembered that we may make our appeal to God in more ways than by directly asking him for the blessings we desire at his hand. The comparative and almost complete absence of formal petition from this address suggests to us that we may go far towards winning our cause by— I. PRESENTING THE SOUL BEFORE GOD IN ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 9:32-38

A sorrowful appeal to the Divine compassion. The conclusion of the public united confession. It contains— I. AN APPROPRIATE INVOCATION . Similar to that of Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 1:5 ), and which would be felt as suitable after the preceding recital of the Divine proceedings. II. AN APPEAL TO THE DIVINE PITY . In view of— 1 . The greatness of their past troubles (verse 32). "Let not all the trouble seem little." "Do not regard it as too little to require notice... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 9:36

We are servants this day . i.e. we have now no kingdom, we are slaves—the Persian is our master. As we would not be God's servants, we are handed over to him. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 9:36

Nehemiah 9:36. Behold, we are servants in the land In that land wherein heretofore, under thee, and by thy favour, we were rightful lords and owners. God had, indeed, marvellously restored them to their own country; yet the marks of his displeasure for their sins still remained very visible: for they were tributary unto others, and not free owners and proprietors of the land which God had given to their fathers. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 9:1-38

Israel’s confession and oath (9:1-10:39)Two days after the end of the Feast of Tabernacles (which lasted from the fifteenth day to the twenty-second day of the month; see 8:18; Leviticus 23:34), the people reassembled for another reading of the law. After this came a time of confession and worship led by the Levites (9:1-5).The prayer began by exalting God as the great Creator, and by praising him for choosing Abraham and making his covenant with him (6-8). God was faithful to his people... read more

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