Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 9:36
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:
36, 37. Israel’s present humiliation: her children slaves, her land subject to foreign kings, who oppress it
36. servants ] i.e. subject to Persian supremacy. Cf. Ezra’s very similar words in his confession, Ezr 9:9.
for the land ] R.V. as for the land.
behold, we are servants ] Repeated for emphasis. Israel who should have been mistress of the promised land is a bondservant in it.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 36. Behold, we are servants] They had no king of their own: and were under the government of the kings of Persia, to whom they paid a regular tribute.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In that land wherein heretofore, under thee, and by thy favour, we were rightful lords and owners.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
36. Behold, we are servants thisdayNotwithstanding their happy restoration to their nativeland, they were still tributaries of a foreign prince whose officersruled them. They were not, like their fathers, free tenants of theland which God gave them.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Behold, we are servants this day,…. For though they had leave to return to their land, and rebuild their city and temple, yet they were still in subjection to the kings of Persia:
and for the land thou gavest unto our fathers, to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it; though the rightful owners and proprietors of it by the gift of God to their ancestors, to hold it and enjoy the good of it, and yet were obliged to pay tribute for it to the kings of Persia, all excepting priests and Levites; see Ezr 6:8.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Neh 9:36 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:
Ver. 36. Behold, we are servants this day ] This is twice here bewailed, as a singular unhappiness. They that live under the Turkish slavery feel it so. Poor Greece, that was once Sol et sal gentium, terrarum flos, et fons literarum, the sun and salt of the nations, the flower of countries, and the font of literature, is now — vel Priamo miseranda manus even [is become] the wretched hand to Priam.
Princess of nations, queen of provinces
She was, that now thus tributary is, Lam 1:1 .
Out of Greece and other countries that had sometime received the faith of Christ, the Turkish tyrants draw with them to the wars great multitudes of wretched people, whom they call Asape. These carry all the baggage; these carry wood and water for other soldiers of better account; these serve instead of pioneers to cast up trenches, and raise bulwarks; and when battle is to be given, if it be in a plain field, these have then weapons put into their hands, and are thrust into the forefront of the battle, to blunt the enemy’s swords: but if a city is to be besieged, these serve as fit matter to fill the ditches with their dead bodies, or to make bridges for other soldiers to pass over upon. And if they shrink to attempt anything they are commanded, then are they more cruelly used by their commanders than by their enemies. And this the Ottoman kings count good policy.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
for = as to.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Deu 28:48, 2Ch 12:8, Ezr 9:9
Reciprocal: Lev 25:14 – General Deu 28:33 – The fruit Ezr 9:7 – into the hand Neh 1:3 – in great Jer 25:18 – as it Lam 5:5 – labour Eze 11:9 – and deliver Eze 17:14 – the kingdom Joe 2:17 – that Luk 20:16 – shall give Joh 8:33 – and were
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 9:36. Behold, we are servants in the land In that land wherein heretofore, under thee, and by thy favour, we were rightful lords and owners. God had, indeed, marvellously restored them to their own country; yet the marks of his displeasure for their sins still remained very visible: for they were tributary unto others, and not free owners and proprietors of the land which God had given to their fathers.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
9:36 Behold, we [are] servants this day, and [for] the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the {m} fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we [are] servants in it:
(m) That is, to be the Lord’s.