Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 9:35

For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

35. they ] emphatic, i.e. the kings and princes; as distinguished from ‘thou’ and ‘we,’ used emphatically in Neh 9:33.

in their kingdom ] Perhaps with a slight touch of irony, since ‘their kingdom’ was itself God’s gift to Israel. The use of the word shows that the ‘kings’ and ‘princes’ of Neh 9:34 are especially referred to.

goodness ] Material blessings generally as in Neh 9:25.

fat land ] Cf. Neh 9:25.

wicked works ] The word so translated is used with especial reference to idolatry. Cf. Jer 35:15, ‘Amend your doings,’ Zec 1:6, ‘According to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.’

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 35. For they have not served thee in their kingdom] Instead of bemalcutham, “in THEIR kingdom,” bemalcuthecha, in THY kingdom,” is the reading of two of Kennicott’s MSS.; as also of the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic. This is most likely to be the true reading.

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

Which thou gavest before them, i.e. which thou didst lay open to their view and possession, removing their enemies and all impediments out of the way.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

For they have not served thee in their kingdom,…. When in it, whether of Israel or of Judah, and when in the most flourishing circumstances:

and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them; amidst all the prosperity and affluence of good things they enjoyed, which was an obligation upon them to serve the Lord;

and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them; the land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk, which lay open for them, their enemies being driven out before them, see Ne 9:25,

neither turned they from their wicked works; their idolatries more especially.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(10:1)

are the fathers who were not brought to repentance by God’s goodness. , in their independent kingdom. , Thy much good, i.e., the fulness of Thy goodness, or “in the midst of Thy great blessing” (Bertheau). The predicate , the wide, extensive country, is derived from Exo 3:8. In Neh 9:36., the prayer that God would not lightly regard the trouble of His people, is supported by a statement of the need and affliction in which they still are. They are bondmen in the land which God gave to their fathers as a free people, bondmen of the Persian monarchs; and the increase of the land which God appointed for His people belongs to the kings who rule over them. The rulers of the land dispose of their bodies and their cattle, by carrying off both men and cattle for their use, e.g., for military service. like Neh 9:24.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

Neh 9:35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

Ver. 35. For they have not served thee in their kingdom ] As David did, who held it his highest honour to be the servant of the Lord, Psa 36:1-12 ; and as those three famous Christian emperors, Constantine, Valentinian, and Theodosius, who styled themselves The vassals of Jesus Christ (Socrat.).

And in thy great goodness that thou gavest them ] In the abundance of all things, Deu 28:47 , they should have considered, the more wages the more work; and that thus to requite the Lord was to come under the censure of a foolish people and unwise, Deu 32:6 , yea, of idle and evil servants, Mat 25:26 .

And in the large and fat land ] “But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked”; fulness bred forgetfulness; saturity, security, Deu 32:15 ; therefore he was worthily pent up and pined in a strange land, where he had liberty little enough, and prisoner’s pittance.

Neither turned they from their wicked works ] They quarrel not with their faults, but with their friends that reprove them; they turn not to him from whom they had deeply revolted. Their impenitence maketh their sins mortal, says St John, 1Jn 5:16 ; immortal, saith St Paul, Rom 2:5 ; they die in their sins, as did those Jews in the Gospel, and perish for ever, Joh 8:21 .

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

wicked. Hebrew. ra’a. App-44.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

For they: Deu 28:47, Jer 5:19, Rom 3:4, Rom 3:5

in their kingdom: Instead of bemalkuthom, “in their kingdom,” bemalkuthecha, “in thy kingdom,” is the reading of two of Dr. Kennicott’s manuscripts, LXX, Syriac, and Arabic.

thy great: Neh 9:25

fat land: Deu 8:7-10, Deu 31:21, Deu 32:12-15

Reciprocal: Num 13:20 – whether it be Deu 28:48 – serve Deu 31:20 – waxen fat Isa 63:7 – the great goodness Hos 13:6 – to

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Neh 9:35. For they served thee not in the land which thou gavest them That is, which thou didst lay open to their view and possession; removing their enemies, and all impediments, out of the way. Neither turned they from their wicked works They not only all acted wickedly, from the highest to the lowest, but would not be reclaimed. Thus they acknowledge the justice of God in all the punishments he had inflicted on them, though heavy and of long continuance.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments