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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 9:34

Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law ,.... All ranks of men, from the highest to the lowest, had shown no regard, nor yielded obedience to the holy law of God: nor hearkened unto thy commandments, and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them ; moral and ceremonial, which were a testification of the will of God to them, and a testimony against them if they observed them not. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 9:34

Neither have our kings - In this verse he acknowledges that the kings, princes, priests, and fathers, had broken the law: but the prophets are left out; for they continued faithful to God, testifying by his Spirit against the crimes of all; and this even at the risk of their lives. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 9:1-35

Confession. The feast of tabernacles, held in such wise as Israel had not known since the days of Joshua ( Joshua 8:17 ), concluded, "according unto the manner" of that festival, with a " solemn assembly" on the eighth day ( Joshua 8:18 )—"the last day, that great day of the feast" ( John 7:37 ). After one day's interval, when nothing unusual was done, "on the twenty-fourth day of the month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting" (verse l), and a very great day was... 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 9:34

Thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them . i.e. the testimony borne by the prophets (see Nehemiah 9:30 ). 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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