Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 9:3

And they stood up in their place, 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 worshiped the LORD their God.

3. stood up ] Literally, ‘arose.’

in their place ] cf. Neh 8:7. The people appear to have continued standing where they were for six hours, listening for three hours and worshipping three hours.

and read ] the people read. By this we should understand that the people’s religious representatives, the Levites, read while the people listened. For ‘the book of the law,’ cf. Neh 8:3.

one fourth part] R.V. a fourth part, i.e. a quarter of the day as opposed to the night; i.e. 3 hours. The time of day is not told us. We may conjecture 9.0 a.m. 12.0, and 12.0 3.0 p.m. to have been the two quarters.

the Lord their God ] Characteristic of this section, cf. Neh 9:4-5; Neh 9:7, Neh 10:29; Neh 10:34.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 3. One fourth part of the day] As they did no manner of work on this day of fasting and humiliation, so they spent the whole of it in religious duties. They began, says Calmet, on the first hour, and continued these exercises to the third hour; from the third they recommenced, and continued till the sixth hour; from the sixth to the ninth; and from the ninth, to the twelfth or last hour.

1. They heard the law read, standing;

2. They prostrated themselves, and confessed their sins;

3. They arose to praise God for having spared and dealt thus mercifully with them.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Read in the book of the law; so as they did before, giving them the sense of what they read; of which See Poole “Neh 8:7“, See Poole “Neh 8:8“.

One fourth part of the day, to wit, for three hours; for there were accounted twelve hours in their day, Joh 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.

Another fourth part they confessed, both Gods mercies, as appears from the matter of the following prayer, and their own sins, as is expressed Neh 9:2, this day being chiefly set apart for that work.

Worshipped the Lord their God; 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.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

3. they . . . read in the book ofthe lawTheir extraordinary zeal led them to continue this asbefore.

one fourth part of thedaythat is, for three hours, twelve hours being theacknowledged length of the Jewish day (Joh11:9). This solemn diet of worship, which probably commenced atthe morning sacrifice, was continued for six hours, that is, till thetime of the evening sacrifice. The worship which they gave to theLord their God, at this season of solemn national humiliation,consisted in acknowledging and adoring His great mercy in theforgiveness of their great and multiplied offenses, in deliveringthem from the merited judgments which they had already experienced orwhich they had reason to apprehend, in continuing amongst them thelight and blessings of His word and worship, and in supplicating theextension of His grace and protection.

Ne9:4-38. THE LEVITESCONFESS GOD’SMANIFOLD GOODNESS,AND THEIR OWNWICKEDNESS.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And they stood up in their place,…. In the outward court of the temple, where men used to stand when they prayed and confessed their sins: and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God; that they might the better know the mind and will of God, and do their duty: this they did

one fourth part of the day; the space of three hours, from sun rising, or six o’clock in the morning, to the time of the morning sacrifice, which was about nine o’clock:

and another fourth part they confessed; the goodness of God to them, and the sins they had been guilty of:

and worshipped the Lord their God; bowed down before him in prayer and supplication, and so spent three hours more, which reached to noon or twelve o’clock; and from thence to three o’clock, about the time of the evening sacrifice, and from thence to sun setting, or six o’clock, and so spent the whole day in the above exercises alternately.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(3) One fourth part.Both day and night were divided into four parts. All orders standing in their respective place, the reading occupied the morning and the worship the afternoon. It is the latter which is now made prominent, as the former had been prominent in the preceding chapter.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

3. Read in the law In the same manner, probably, as on the first day of the month. Neh 8:1-8.

One fourth part of the day About three hours, reckoning from the twelve hours of the labourer’s day. The first part of the day was devoted to the reading of the law; the second part to confession of sins and worship.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

(3) And they stood up in their place, 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.

The order of the fast is here stated. Reading and prayer divided the service. When we have by meditation, and the diligent perusal of God’s, word, informed ourselves of God’s mind; prayer by faith in Jesus sweetly follows.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Neh 9:3 And they stood up in their place, 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.

Ver. 3. And they stood up in their place ] The people stood, for reverence’ sake, to the word read. See Neh 8:5 . Or the ministers stood up in their pulpits, where they represent God himself as his ambassadors; and should therefore lay down all self-respects and aims at the pulpit door; and be fully of his mind, who said, I would not be found speaking or doing aught that I thought Christ would not approve of, if he were corporally present. (Ecolamp.)

And read in the book ] Giving the sense of that they read; and applying it close to men’s consciences. This was preaching indeed; for as every sound is not music, so neither is every pulpit discourse preaching. Cura pastoralis est ars artium et scientia scientiarum, saith one, It is a matter of great skill to divide the word aright. See Neh 8:8 .

One fourth part of the day ] i.e. For three hours: from nine o’clock to twelve. This warranteth our preaching fast sermons; though prayer be the chief business of such a day. See Jer 36:6-7 .

And another fourth part ] sc. From twelve to three: thus besides the ordinary morning and evening sacrifices, they divided the day between preaching and prayer, as those did, Act 6:4 . And as the priests of old taught Jacob God’s judgments, and put incense before the Lord, Deu 33:10 . The Jews at this day boast that they divide the day (even the working day) into three parts; the first, ad Tephillah, they spend in prayer; the second, ad Torah, in reading the law; the third, ad Malachah, in their worldly business. But you are not bound herein to believe them.

They confessed ] Not without supplication for pardon, and power to do better.

And worshipped the Lord their God ] Inwardly and outwardly, giving him his due glory, and resting upon him by a lively faith in the gracious promises; being fully persuaded of this, that, together with the forgiveness of sin, they should have those particular blessings which they sued for, so far as might stand with God’s glory and the good of their souls.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

the book of the law. See App-47.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

they stood: Neh 8:4, Neh 8:7, Neh 8:8

one fourth: Neh 8:3

Reciprocal: Lev 16:21 – confess over Deu 31:11 – shalt read Jos 8:34 – he read 2Ki 22:13 – great 2Ki 23:2 – he read 2Ch 17:7 – to teach 2Ch 30:22 – taught Ezr 7:25 – teach ye Neh 13:1 – they read Dan 9:4 – made Joe 1:14 – the elders Luk 23:41 – we indeed Act 20:7 – and continued Jam 1:19 – let

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Neh 9:3. They stood up and read in the book of the law That is, the Levites stood up in a place built for them, and read the law as they did before, interpreting the sense of what they read. One fourth part of the day To wit, for three hours; for there were reckoned twelve hours in their day. Probably they began to read after the morning sacrifice, at which time divers religious people used to be present, and continued reading till the sixth hour, that is, till midday; and another fourth part Namely, from midday to the time of the evening sacrifice; they confessed Both Gods mercies, as appears from the following prayer, and their own sins, as is expressed Neh 9:2, this day being chiefly set apart for the work of confession and humiliation; and worshipped the Lord their God Partly by their acknowledgment and adoration of his wonderful mercy, in forgiving their sins, and saving them from the judgments which they had deserved, and for giving them his law, and the knowledge thereof; and partly, by imploring his further grace and mercy to them. The work of a fast-day is good work; and we should endeavour to make a days work, a good days work, of it.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

9:3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God [one] fourth part of the day; and [another] fourth part they {b} confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.

(b) They confessed their sins, and used prayers.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes