Nehemiah 9:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 9:4

Nehemiah 9:4. They stood upon the stairs Upon such stairs or pulpits as the Levites usually stood upon when they taught the people. But they stood upon several pulpits, each of them teaching that part of the congregation which was allotted him, or praying or blessing God with them. And cried with a loud voice Thereby testifying their deep sense of their sins and miseries, and their fervent and importunate desire of God’s mercy. 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Nehemiah 9:4

stairs = platform. Omit the comma. Bani, and Chenani. Some codices, with Septuagint, read "sons of Chenani". read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 9:4

4. Then stood up upon the stairs—the scaffolds or pulpits, whence the Levites usually addressed the people. There were probably several placed at convenient distances, to prevent confusion and the voice of one drowning those of the others. cried with a loud voice unto the Lord—Such an exertion, of course, was indispensably necessary, in order that the speakers might be heard by the vast multitude congregated in the open air. But these speakers were then engaged in expressing their deep sense of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Nehemiah 9:1-4

The preparations for prayer 9:1-4Two days after the solemn assembly (Nehemiah 8:18), the people were still mourning over their sins (Nehemiah 9:1). This was a genuine spiritual revival. In obedience to God’s Law the people broke off forbidden alliances with non-Jews (cf. Deuteronomy 23:3-8). They also confessed their ancestors’ sins as well as their own, listened to the reading of the Law, and worshipped God (Nehemiah 9:2-3). Seven Levites led the people in confession and worship (Nehemiah... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Nehemiah 9:1-38

2. The prayer of the people ch. 9The people were not content to go about their business as usual after hearing the Word of God read. They realized they needed to hear more and to get right with God more completely. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 9:1-38

The Renewal of the Covenant4. 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 12:8.6. Thou, etc.] Before this LXX inserts ’And Ezra said.’ The prayer that follows first recalls God’s early mercies to the nation, the unworthy return made for such, the divine forbearance, the people’s renewed offences, and their consequent punishment; it next acknowledges the justice of the chastisement... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Nehemiah 9:4

(4) 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 10:9-10).Their God.—When the people are called upon (Nehemiah 9:5), it is “your God”; hence these eight Levites offered a prayer which is not inserted. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Nehemiah 9:1-38

The Variedness of the Divine Benevolence Nehemiah 9:19 I. 'Thy manifold mercies' does not mean the same as 'thy many mercies'. Mercies may be numerous and yet not manifold. I may distribute bread amid a whole multitude in a wilderness. In this case my mercies have been numberless; but they have not been manifold. They have been all of one kind donation. Manifold mercy is mercy which takes different forms. It is like manifold architecture; it can build in opposite ways. II. I think there are... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 9:1-38

THE RELIGION OF HISTORYNehemiah 9:1-38AFTER the carnival-Lent. This Catholic procedure was anticipated by the Jews in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. The merry feast of Tabernacles was scarcely over, when, permitting an interval of but a single day, the citizens of Jerusalem plunged into a demonstration of mourning-fasting, sitting in sackcloth, casting dust on their heads, abjuring foreign connections, confessing their own and their fathers’ sins. Although the singular revulsion of feeling may... read more

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