Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 9:34

Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.

34. neither have our kings ] The construction is the same as in Neh 9:19 ; Neh 9:32, ‘As for our kings, they have not.’

kept thy law ] Literally ‘done thy law,’ i.e. carried into practice the Divine teaching. Cf. Neh 9:14 ; Neh 9:29.

nor hearkened ] Cf. Zec 1:4, ‘But they (your fathers) did not hear nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord.’

didst testify against them ] Probably with special reference to Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28-30.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 34. Neither have our kings] In this verse he acknowledges that the kings, princes, priests, and fathers, had broken the law: but the prophets are left out; for they continued faithful to God, testifying by his Spirit against the crimes of all; and this even at the risk of their lives.

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

Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law,…. All ranks of men, from the highest to the lowest, had shown no regard, nor yielded obedience to the holy law of God:

nor hearkened unto thy commandments, and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them; moral and ceremonial, which were a testification of the will of God to them, and a testimony against them if they observed them not.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(34) Our kings.Note that the prophets are omitted in this enumeration.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

Neh 9:34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.

Ver. 34. Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, &c. ] But as there hath been a general defection, so a well-deserved desolation, wherein we have all justly shared.

Nor hearkened to thy commandments ] And that because they testified against their contrary practices. This wicked men cannot away with, they hate him that reproveth in the gate, as Ahab did Micaiah. None but the gracious can say, Let the righteous smite me, be the reproof never so well tempered. No sugar can bereave a pill of its bitterness. Now the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meats, Job 12:11 . And ungodly men (as they write of some creatures) have fel in aure, and must get their ears cured ere they can be in case to hear God’s commandments and his testimonies. It is said of Gerson, that he loved a friendly reprover; and of Queen Anne Bullen, that she not only was willing to be admonished, but also required her chaplains freely and plainly to tell her of whatsoever was amiss. Scilicet Christus voluit aliquando etiam reginam in coelum vehere, as Luther once said of Elizabeth, queen of Denmark. These kings and princes of Israel were nonsuch.

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

nor hearkened: Jer 29:19

thy testimonies: Neh 9:30, 2Ki 17:15

thou didst: Deu 31:21, 2Ki 17:13

Reciprocal: Ezr 9:15 – thou art righteous Isa 1:5 – the whole Jer 14:7 – for our Jer 44:17 – as we Lam 1:5 – for Eze 11:12 – General Eze 22:6 – the princes Eze 44:10 – the Levites Dan 9:5 – have sinned Dan 9:6 – our kings Gal 5:3 – testify

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

9:34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst {l} testify against them.

(l) That you would destroy them, unless they would return to you, as in Neh 9:26.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes