Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 9:30
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.
30, 31. The long-suffering of Jehovah
30. forbear them ] R.V. bear with them. The ‘many years’ here spoken of contain the brief reference to the earlier monarchic period. ‘Bear with;’ literally ‘protract,’ ‘extend’ (LXX. . Vulg. ‘protraxisti’), as perhaps Jer 31:3, marg. ‘Have I continued loving-kindness unto thee.’
by thy spirit in thy prophets ] Cf. Zec 7:12, ‘The words which the Lord of hosts had sent by his spirit by the hand of the former prophets.’ The words do not affirm the Personality of the Divine Spirit, but the Divine revelation to the mind of man, which was spiritual. The Spirit is the agent, the prophets are the channels of Divine communication. Cf. 1Ki 22:24; 1Pe 1:10-11; 2Pe 1:21.
the people of the lands ] R.V. the peoples of the lands. i.e. the heathen, Ezr 9:1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 30. Many years didst thou forbear] It is supposed that Nehemiah refers here principally to the ten tribes. And many years did God bear with them; not less than two hundred and fifty-four years from their separation from the house of David, till their captivity and utter dispersion under Shalmaneser; during the whole of which time God invariably warned them by his prophets; or, as it is here said, by thy Spirit in thy prophets, which gives us the true notion of Divine inspiration. God’s Spirit was given to the prophets; and they testified to the people, according as they were taught and influenced by this Spirit.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Didst thou forbear them, i.e. thou didst delay to bring upon them those judgments which thou hadst threatened, and they had deserved, and didst wait for their repentance.
By thy spirit in thy prophets; by thy prophets, who shake to them by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, whom therefore they should have obeyed.
Yet would they not give ear, i.e. would not obey them, nor would they vouchsafe so much as to hear them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Yet many years didst thou forbear them,…. Throughout the reigns of several kings, such was God’s longsuffering towards them: or, “thou didst draw upon them”; that is, his mercy, as Jarchi interprets it; he drew it out of his heart, and prolonged it towards them:
and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets; who reproved and admonished them, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit of God in them, who spoke in his name, and what he suggested to them:
yet they would not give ear; to what the prophets said, and the Spirit of God in them:
therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands: people that were lords of many countries, as the Assyrians and Chaldeans.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
30. Forbear them Margin, protract over them. An elliptical expression for prolonging one’s mercy or kindness. Compare the fuller form in Psa 36:10; Psa 109:12; Jer 31:3.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Neh 9:30 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.
Ver. 30. Yet many years didst thou forbear them ] Heb. Protract over them; or, draw out thy lovingkindness toward them to the utmost.
And testifiedst against them
Yet would they not hear
Therefore gavest thou them
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
in = by the hand of; “hand” put by Fig, Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the ministry or agency of the prophets.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
many years: Psa 86:15, Rom 2:4, 2Pe 3:9
forbear them: Heb. protract over them
testifiedst: 2Ki 17:13, 2Ch 36:15, Jer 7:25, Jer 25:4
by thy spirit: Neh 9:20, Isa 63:10, Act 7:51, Act 28:25, 1Pe 1:11, 2Pe 1:21
thy prophets: Heb. the hand of thy prophets
therefore: Isa 5:5, Isa 5:6, Isa 42:24, Jer 40:2, Jer 40:3, Jer 44:22, Lam 2:17, Zec 7:13
Reciprocal: Gen 6:3 – My 2Ki 17:15 – testimonies 2Ki 21:9 – they hearkened 2Ki 21:10 – General 2Ch 33:10 – General Ezr 9:7 – for our iniquities Neh 9:34 – thy testimonies Psa 50:7 – testify Isa 28:10 – For precept Isa 30:9 – will not Isa 48:9 – defer Jer 4:17 – because Jer 7:13 – and I spake Jer 34:14 – but Jer 35:14 – but ye Jer 42:19 – admonished you Eze 2:2 – General Hos 11:2 – they called Hos 12:10 – have also Amo 2:4 – because Hag 2:5 – so Zec 1:4 – unto Zec 7:12 – lest Mat 21:34 – he sent Mar 12:5 – and him Mar 12:36 – by Luk 13:34 – and ye Luk 20:10 – sent Rom 11:2 – of Elias Gal 5:3 – testify Eph 4:17 – testify 1Th 4:8 – who 1Th 5:19 – the Spirit Heb 10:15 – General 1Pe 3:19 – By which
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 9:30. Many years didst thou forbear them Thou didst delay to bring upon them those judgments which thou hadst threatened, and they had deserved, and didst wait for their repentance. And testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets Who spake to them by thy divine inspiration, whom therefore they ought to have obeyed. Yet would they not give ear That is, would not obey them, or even vouchsafe so much as to hear them. Therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands At last God delivered them into the hands of the Chaldeans, who are called the people of the lands, because they got possession of all the neighbouring countries, which God put under their power, as he had other countries beyond the Euphrates.