Matthew Poole and continuators on Nehemiah 9

1 NOW in the twenty and fourth day of this month , the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloths, and with earth upon them.

The next day but one after the feast of Tabernacles, which begun on the 14th day, and ended on the 22 day, Levit. 23. for their consciences having then been fully awakened by the law read to them, and their hearts being full of grief for their great sins, which they were not allowed to express in that time of publick joy and triumph, now when that was past, they resume their former thoughts and passions, and recalling their sins to mind, set apart a day for solemn fasting and humiliation.

2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers , and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers .

From all familiar, and unnecessary society with the heathens, and particularly from those strange Women whom some of them had married. For though Ezra had done this formerly, Ezra 10. as far as he had knowledge of the persons faulty, and power to redress their faults, yet, it seems, there were some criminals, who were either without his knowledge, or out of his power: or, these were some new delinquents that since that time had fallen into the same errour, and shewed the truth of their repentance, by the forsaking of their beloved sins, and dearest relations. See again, Nehe. 13. 3.

Which they confess partly as one cause of their present sufferings: and partly because they by their practises had justified their fathers sins, and made them their own.

Marginal references: Ezra 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. 11. Chap. 13. [illegible: 1+ letters]0.; Heb. [illegible: 1 word] of a [illegible: 1 word].

3 And they stood up in their places, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God, one fourth part of the day , and another fourth part they confessed , and worshipped the LORD their God .

So as they did before, giving them the sense of what they read, of which, see on ch. 8. 7, 8.

To wit, for three hours; for there were accounted 12 hours in their day, Iohn 11. 9. Probably they began after the morning sacrifice, at which, divers religious people used to be present, but now they were all assembled together upon this great occasion: and they continued their work from that time till the evening sacrifice, with which they closed the work of the day.

Both Gods mercies, as appears from the matter of the following prayer, and their own sins, as is expressed, v. 2. this day being chiefly set apart for that work.

Partly by the acknowledgment and adoration of his wonderful mercy in forgiving their sins, and saving them from the deserved judgments which they either felt or feared, and giving them his law, and the knowledge thereof: and partly by imploring his further grace and mercy to them.

4 Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites , Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.

Or, upon the scaffold, &c. i. e. Upon such stairs, or rather scaffolds, or pulpits, as the Levites used to stand upon, when they taught the people. But you must not think that all the persons here named stood in one place, and uttered the following words together; which would have caused great confusion in their speeches, by which means but few of the people could have distinctly heard, or understood them, but that they stood upon several pulpits, each of them either teaching of that part of the Congregation which was allotted to him, or praying, or blessing God with them.

Thereby testifying their deep sense of their sins and miseries, and their servent, and importunate desire of Gods mercy.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word].

5 Then the Levites, Jeshua and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah▪ Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said , stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever ; and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

All the following words. Either therefore they all used the same words, being composed, and agreed upon by Ezra and themselves; or they all prayed in the same manner, and to the same purpose having agreed among themselves concerning the matter of their confessions and prayers. And these are the words which one of them used; and it is implied that the rest of their prayers were of the same nature.

From day to day, as long as you live, and to all eternity.

6 Thou, even thou art LORD alone, thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are therein, the seas and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all, and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

Either 1. The stars, which after their manner worship and praise God, as all the creatures do after their manner, of which, see Psal. 148. or rather 2. The Angels who are so called, as 1 King. 22. 19. Luke 2. 13. who do worship God truly and properly. And it is most usual, and reasonable to understand all words properly, where there is no need of a figurative interpretation. And if this were understood of metaphorical, and objective worshipping of God, there seems to be no reason to appropriate that to the host of Heaven, to wit, the stars, seeing the hosts of sea and earth do in that sense worship God no less than the stars do, namely, in giving Angels and men matter and occasion of worshipping and praising of God.

Marginal references: Gen. 1. 1.; Deut. 10. 14.; Gen. 2. 1.

7 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.

Out of the midst of all his nation and family. When thou didst pass by, and neglect the rest of them, suffering them to walk on in their idolatrous and destructive courses; thou didst chuse, and single out him to serve and glorify thee, to be Father of all the faithful, the progenitor of the Messias, and the person in whom, not we only, but all nations should be blessed, and to enjoy thee to all eternity.

Marginal references: Gen. 11. [illegible: 1 word]. & 12. 1.; Gen. 17. [illegible: 1+ letters].

8 And foundest his heart faithful before thee ▪ and madest a covenant with him, to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words, for thou art righteous.

When thou madest that admirable trial of his faith and obedience in requiring him to offer up his onely son Isaac, thou didst find out, and discover his faithfulness, which was well known to thee before, and also was wrought in him by thy grace.

Marginal references: Gen. 15. [illegible: 1+ letters].; Gen. 12. 7▪ & 15. 18. 17. 7, 8.

10 And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them : so didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.

Treating thy people with great scorn and contempt, like slaves and beasts.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 14.

11 And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters .

i. e. The deep waters, such as these were, into which, when a stone is thrown, there is no hopes of seeing it again.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1+ letters]. 8. [illegible: 1 word]. 12. & [illegible: 1+ letters] chapter. [illegible: 1 word]. 14. [illegible: 1 word].; [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1+ letters]5.

13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws : good statutes and commandments.

Not such laws as some of the heathen laws were, which taught them fallhood, superstition, Idolatry, and other errours, but such as discover the truth, and the true mind and will of God, and the true and onely way to life.

Both in themselves, and to us also, being useful to reach, and comfort, and save us.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 19. [illegible: 1 word]. 1.; [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].

14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath ▪ and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

That holy and blessed Sabbath-day which thou didst bless and [illegible: 1 word] to [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]n paradise Gen. 2. 3. commanding him, and in him, all his posterity to observe it, which yet almost all people and Nations have quite forgotten, yea so far as to mock at them, Lam. 1. 7. thou didst graciously reveal unto thy people, reviving that ancient law by another particular law about it given to us in the wilderness.

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly , and hardned their neck, and hearkned not to thy commandments.

Notwithstanding all these singular and wonderful mercies: which he hither to recounted to aggravate their sins, which he now comes to confess; and to lead them to a sincere and ingenuous grief and repeutance for their sins, not onely for the mischief which they brought upon themselves, but for the injury and indignity which they offered to God.

i. e. Sinned presumptuously, and with contempt of God, as scorning to submit their wills to Gods.

17 And refused to obey , neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them: but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain , to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, flow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not▪

Persisted in their disobedience after many admonitions, and invitations to repentance.

i. e. designed, proposed, and resolved to do so, Numb. 14. 4. and therefore they are said to do so as Abraham is said to have offered up Isaac, Heb. 11. 17. because he intended, and attempted to do it.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] a [illegible: 1 word]; [illegible: 1 word]. 14. [illegible: 1 word].; [illegible: 1 word] God [illegible: 1 word].; [illegible: 1 word] 34. 6. [illegible: 1 word]. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. 18.

19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies, forsookest them not in the wilderness : the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.

Where if thou hadst left them without thy conduct and comfort, they had been utterly lost and undone.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 13. [illegible: 1 word]. 14. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]. 1[illegible: 1+ letters].

20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit , to instruct them, and with-heldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

Which thou didst graciously and plentifully impart unto Moses, and then unto the seventy Elders, Numb. 11. 17, 25, 26. to the end that they might be able to direct and govern thy people wisely, and in thy fear.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 11.; [illegible: 1 word] 16.; [illegible: 1 word] 12. [illegible: 1 word]. 17. 6.

21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their cloths waxed not old, and their feet swelled not .

Of which, see the notes on Deut. 8. 4.

Marginal references: Deut. 2. 7.; Deut. 8. 4.

22 Moreover, thou gavest them kingdoms, and nations, and didst divide them into corners : so they possessed the land of Sihon and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

Or, into a corner. But the singular number is very commonly put for the plural. This is understood, either, 1. Of the Israelites, to whom God divided by lot the Kingdoms and Nations last mentioned, and gave them all the corners, or sides or quarters (for all these the word signifies) of their land. Or, rather 2. Of the heathen Nations, whom God in a great measure destroyed and the remainders of them he dispersed into corners; that whereas before the Israelites came, they had large habitations and dominions, now they were cooped up into corners, some of them into one Town or city, and some into another, in the several corners of their land, as indeed we find them afterward, whilest the Israelites dwelt in a large place, and had the possession of their whole land, some few and small parcels excepted. Compare Deut. 31. 26. where the like phrase is used in the same sense.

Marginal references: Numb. 21. 21. &c.

25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and olive-yards, and fruit-trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness .

i. e. In all these comforts and blessings which by thy great goodness they obtained and enjoyed. f i. e. Neglected and despised them, would not regard nor observe them, whereas they should have had them continually before their eyes, to direct and govern them. Compare Psal. 50. 17. Ezek. 23. 35.

Marginal references: Or, cisterns.; Heb. trees of food.; Deut. 32. 15.

26 Nevertheless, they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, & cast thy law behind their backs , and slew thy prophets, which testified against them, to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

Of which see on Levit. 18. 5. Ezek. 20. 11. Rom. 10. 5. Gal. 3. 12.

Marginal references: 1 Kin. 14. 9.; 1 Kin. 19. 10.

29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkned not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments (which if a man do, he shall live in them ) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck , and would not hear.

Of which see on Levit. 18. 5. Ezek. 20. 11. Rom. 10. 5. Gal. 3. 1[illegible: 1+ letters].

i. e. Would not submit to thy yoke, like stubborn oxen.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] gave a withdrawing [illegible: 1+ letters]oulder.

30 Yet many years didst thou forbear them , and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets : yet would they not give ear : therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.

i. e. Thou didst delay to bring upon them these judgments which thou hadst threatned and they had deserved, and didst wait for their repentance.

By thy prophets who spake to them by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit, whom therefore they should have obeyed.

i. e. Would not obey, them nor would they vouchsafe so much as to hear them.

Marginal references: Heb. protract over them.; 2 Kin. 17. 13.; Heb. in the hand of thy prophets.; 2 Chr. 36. 15.

32. Now there ore our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy : let not all the trouble seem little before thee that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests▪ and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people since the time of the kings of Assyria , unto this day.

i. e. Covenanted mercy or thy covenant of mercy and peace▪ Or he adds mercy, because the covenant in its self was not a sufficient ground of hope, because they having so basely broken it, God was discharged from keeping it, and therefore they fly to Gods free and rich mercy for relief.

Do not thou account it small and insufficient for our punishment, and that it is fit to continue and encrease it.

Strictly and properly so called; for from them was the beginning of all the calamities both of Iudah and of Israel, as appears, from 2. Kings 15. 19. and 18. 13. Or, the kings of Babylon, so called, a Chron. 33. 11.

Marginal references: Exod. 3[illegible: 1+ letters]. 6, 7.; Heb. weariness.; Heb. that hath found us.

35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them , neither turned they from their wicked works.

i. e. Which thou didst lay open to their view and possession removing their enemies and all impediments out of the way.

36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers, to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it .

In that land wherein heretofore under thee and by thy favour we were rightful lords and owners.

37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us , because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattel , at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

We plow and sow and labour, and thou givest thy blessing to our indeavors; and yet in a great measure this is not for our selves, as formerly it was, but for our kings, to whom we pay great & heavy tributes for these things: of which see Ezra 6. 8. and 7. 24.

Pressing or foreing both us and our beasts to go and do what they please.

38 And because of all this , we make a sure covenant ▪ and write it, and our princes, Levites, and priests seal unto it.

Because all this misery lies upon us for our sins, we do heartily repent of them & resolve to forsake them.

Or, we faithfully promise and engage our selves to future obedience.

Marginal references: Heb. are at the sealing, or, sealed.