Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 9:19
Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.
19. the pillar of the cloud ] R.V. the pillar of cloud. In the original the construction is ‘As for the pillar of cloud, it departed not, &c.’
from them ] R.V. from over them. More literally.
and the way ] The LXX. and Vulg. omit the ‘and,’ as if the clause stood in apposition to the one preceding; even retaining the copula, that is a possible explanation of the words.
According to the Eng. translation ‘and the way’ is an accusative, having a verb to govern it, supplied by Zeugma from the clause ‘to shew them light.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 19. The pillar of the cloud departed not from them] mealeyhem, “from over them.” I have already had occasion to observe that this miraculous cloud, the symbol of the Divine presence, assumed three different positions while accompanying the Israelitish camp:
1. As a cloud in the form of a pillar, it went before them when they journey, to point out their way in the wilderness.
2. As a pillar of fire, it continued with them during the night, to give them light, and be a rallying point for the whole camp in the night season.
3. As an extended cloud, it hovered over them in their encampments, to refresh them with its dews, and to keep them from the ardours of the sun.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Thou forsookest them not in the wilderness; where, if thou hadst left them without thy conduct and comfort, they had been utterly lost and undone.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness,…. Where no supply could be had, if he had cast them off, see Ne 9:17,
the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; which, if it had, they would have been scorched by the heat of the sun:
neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go; or otherwise they would have lost their way, and not have known which way to have gone.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Neh 9:19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.
Ver. 19. Yet thou in thy manifold mercies ] Nothing else could have kept him from turning them off, and saying to them, as once Jephthah did, Jdg 11:7 , “Behold, ye have thrust me out; and do ye come unto me in your distress? Go, cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation,” Jdg 10:14
Forsookest them not in the wilderness
The pillar of cloud departed not
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
manifold mercies. Compare Neh 9:27 and Psa 106:45.
departed not. Compare Exo 13:21, Exo 13:22.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
in thy: Neh 9:27, 1Sa 12:22, Psa 106:7, Psa 106:8, Psa 106:45, Isa 44:21, Lam 3:22, Eze 20:14, Eze 20:22, Dan 9:9, Dan 9:18, Mal 3:6
the pillar: Neh 9:12, Exo 13:21, Exo 13:22, Exo 40:38, Num 9:15-22, Num 14:14, Isa 4:5, Isa 4:6, 1Co 10:1, 1Co 10:2
Reciprocal: Exo 40:36 – when Num 9:16 – General Num 9:21 – abode Num 10:34 – General Deu 32:10 – found Psa 25:6 – for they Psa 31:3 – lead Psa 78:14 – General Psa 105:39 – spread Psa 136:16 – General Isa 63:7 – mention Eze 20:17 – mine Hos 3:1 – according