Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 9:25

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

25. strong cities ] R.V. fenced cities. Cf. Deu 9:1; Jos 14:12, e.g. Jericho, Ai, and Hebron, but it was a long time before all the cities were reduced. Thus Jerusalem held out until David’s reign. (Cf. Jdg 1:8; Jdg 1:21.)

a fat land ] i.e. fat soil, ‘adamah.’ In Num 13:20 the country (‘erec’) is spoken of as ‘fat’ or ‘lean.’ Cf. Deu 8:7-9 for a fuller description of the land’s fatness.

full of all goods ] R.V. full of all good things.

wells digged ] R.V. cisterns hewn out.

The description is almost literally borrowed from Deu 6:10-11, ‘great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, and houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and cisterns hewn out, which thou hewedst not, vineyards and olive-yards, which thou plantedst not, and thou shalt eat and be full; then beware lest thou forget the Lord.’ A poetical description of the material blessings, into the inheritance of which the Israelites passed, is given in Deu 32:13-14.

became fat ] Cf. Deu 32:15, ‘Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked,’ of the ill effects of luxury and prosperity.

delighted themselves ] The Hebrew word occurs only here in the O. T. = ‘they luxuriated.’ It is from the same root as ‘Eden.’ LXX. .

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Became fat. – i. e., grew proud, or wanton – a phrase only occurring here, in the margin reference, and in Jer 5:28.

Delighted themselves – Rather, luxuriated. The word in the original does not occur elsewhere; but cognate terms make the sense clear.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 25. Became fat, and delighted themselves] They became effeminate, fell under the power of luxury, got totally corrupted in their manners, sinned against all the mercies of God, and then were destroyed by his judgments. We have an old nervous saying, “War begets poverty, poverty begets peace, peace begets affluence, affluence begets luxury and corruption of manners; and hence civil broils, foreign wars, and desolations.” A sensible Roman historian has said the same: “Imperium facile iis artibus retinetur, quibus initio partum est: verum ubi pro LABORE, DESIDIA; pro continentia et aequitate, LIBIDO atque SUPERBIA invasere: fortuna simul cum moribus IMMUTATUR.”

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

i.e. In all these comforts and blessings, which by thy great goodness they obtained and enjoyed.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And they took strong cities,…. Such as, in an hyperbolical way, are said to be walled up to heaven, De 1:28

and a fat land; of a good and fruitful soil, abounding with all good things, De 8:7

and possessed houses full of all goods; ready built and furnished for them, both with good provisions and good furniture:

wells digged; to supply them with water:

vineyards, and olive yards, and fruit trees in abundance; which they planted not:

and they did eat, and were filled, and became fat; in body, though in mind became wanton and wicked; they made their hearts fat, or stupid, as Aben Ezra interprets it, see De 32:15

and delighted themselves in thy great goodness; not in praising the Lord for it, and using it to his honour and glory, but indulged themselves to luxury and intemperance; though it may be understood of a lawful pleasure in the enjoyment of the great affluence they were brought into, which last agrees with what follows.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Neh 9:25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

Ver. 25. And they took strong cities ] With no great ado: like as towns are said to come in to Timotheus’ (the Athenian general’s) toils while he slept. This he ascribed to his own prowess and policy (Plut. in Sulla), often interlacing this proud speech, Herein fortune had no part; and from thenceforth never prospered in anything he undertook.

And a fat land ] Flowing with plenty of dainties; though Strabo spitefully slandered it as craggy and barren.

And possessed houses full of all goods ] Of all pleasant and precious substance; for the Canaanites were great merchants, Isa 23:8 Hos 12:7 Eze 17:4 .

Wells digged ] A great commodity in that hot country.

Vineyards, and oliveyards ] A singular help to housekeeping.

So they did eat, and were filled ] They had enough of everything, and did eat while eating was good; as they say Queen Elizabeth did seldom eat but one dish, rose ever with an appetite, and lived about seventy years. King Edward VI was wont to call her his sweet sister Temperance.

And delighted themselves in thy great goodness ] They lived in God’s good land, but not by God’s good laws; the refreshing they found by his best creatures was none other but such as his, who “warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire,” Isa 44:16 .

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

fat land = rich soil.

wells digged. Hebrew. bor, cisterns hewed. See note on Gen 21:19.

delighted themselves = made their Eden. Hebrew. ‘anag. Hithp. pret. only here.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

strong: Num 13:27, Num 13:28, Deu 3:5, Deu 6:10-12, Deu 9:1-3

a fat land: Neh 9:35, Deu 8:7-10, Deu 32:13, Eze 20:6

wells: or, cisterns

fruit trees: Heb. trees of food

did eat: Deu 32:15, Psa 65:11, Isa 6:10, Jer 5:27, Jer 5:28, Hos 13:6

and became fat: They became effeminate, fell under the power of luxury, got totally corrupted in their manners, sinned against all the mercies of God, and then were destroyed by His judgments.

delighted: 1Ki 8:66, Jer 31:14, Hos 3:5, Rom 2:4

Reciprocal: Exo 33:19 – all my goodness Num 13:20 – whether it be Deu 31:20 – eaten Jos 24:11 – the men 2Ch 6:41 – thy saints Psa 78:56 – General Pro 30:9 – I be full Isa 63:7 – the great goodness Jer 2:7 – brought Hos 2:7 – for Joe 2:26 – ye shall Joh 6:12 – they Act 14:17 – filling Jam 5:1 – ye

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Neh 9:25-26. And delighted them in thy great goodness In all those comforts and blessings which, by thy great goodness, they obtained and enjoyed. Nevertheless they cast thy law behind their backs They neglected and despised thy laws, would not regard nor observe them; whereas they ought to have had them continually before their eyes, to direct and govern them in all their ways. The good things they enjoyed in the land which God had given them, made them wanton and forgetful of God and his commandments. And slew thy prophets Of which see the margin.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments