Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 1:8
Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, [If] ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
8. Remember the word saying ] The reference here made is in general terms. No passage in the Pentateuch exactly agrees with it (cf. Neh 10:34). This may be shown by the words used in the first sentence. The Hebrew word for ‘I will scatter’ is only found in Deuteronomy in the Pentateuch: the Hebrew word for ‘transgress’ only occurs once in Deuteronomy (Deu 32:51), but in quite a different context from the threat of dispersion.
The threat of dispersion is found in the Pentateuch in Lev 26:33; Deu 4:27; Deu 28:64; Deu 30:3. The promise of restoration is given in Deu 4:29 and in Deu 30:4-5 (Lev 26:40-42). The passage most resembling the words here given is Deu 30:1-5. On ‘transgress,’ see note on Ezr 9:4.
scatter abroad among the nations ] Cf. Jer 9:16; Eze 11:16; Eze 12:15; Eze 20:23; Eze 22:15; Eze 36:19.
In the original the position of the personal pronouns is very emphatic, Ye transgress, I scatter.
For the appeal to the Lord to ‘remember,’ cf. Psa 106:4.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. Thy servant Moses] See the parallel places in the margin, and the notes there Le 26:33 (note), De 4:25-27 (note), De 28:64 (note). Though in an enemy’s country, and far from the ordinances of God, Nehemiah did not forget the law: he read his Bible well, and quotes correctly.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses,…. To publish and declare to the children of Israel,
De 28:64,
saying, if ye transgress; the law of God:
I will scatter you abroad among the nations; as now they had been among the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Medes, and Persians.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Neh 1:8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, [If] ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
Ver. 8. Remember, I beseech thee, the word ] It befalleth not the Lord to forget or remember (to speak properly), for all things are present with him. Nevertheless metaphorically God is said to do both; as when, being provoked by the horrid sins of the Jews, he so punished them as if he had forgotten that they were his people, or that he had ever made them any promises. And in this case God gives his prophets and praying people leave to be his remembrancers, Isa 62:6-7 . Ye that are the Lord’s remembrancers, keep not silence, and give him no rest till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. This Nehemiah doth here most vigorously, and sped accordingly; let us do likewise. Cast the labouring Church into God’s everlasting arms, and remind him of his promises burden him with them, as that martyr said; put them into suit, they are nigh the Lord day and night, 1Ki 8:59 . Say, remember thy word unto thy servant, whereupon thou hast caused me to trust, Psa 119:49 . And in the want of other rhetoric urge this, with repetition, Lord, thou hast promised, thou hast promised, &c. He loves to be urged with his word, to be used upon his bond, &c.
The word that thou commandest, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
If. This word is clearly implied in Hebrew Compare Deu 4:25, &c.
transgress. Hebrew. ma’al. App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Remember: Psa 119:49, Luk 1:72
If ye transgress: Lev 26:33-46, Deu 4:25-27, Deu 28:64, Deu 32:26-28, 1Ki 9:6, 1Ki 9:7
Reciprocal: Deu 4:27 – General 1Ki 8:33 – turn again 2Ch 6:24 – shall return Neh 9:14 – Moses Est 3:8 – scattered abroad Job 7:7 – remember Isa 14:1 – the Lord Isa 24:1 – scattereth Jer 9:16 – scatter Lam 5:1 – Remember Eze 5:10 – the whole Eze 14:6 – Repent Eze 20:43 – shall ye Eze 22:15 – scatter Eze 39:28 – and have Hos 2:15 – I will Hos 5:15 – till Mal 3:7 – Return unto me