And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey.
We have here an account how the work of this fast-day was carried on. 1. The names of the ministers that were employed. They are twice named (Neh 9:4, Neh 9:5), only with some variation of the names. Either they prayed successively, according to that rule which the apostle gives (Co1 14:31, You may all prophesy one by one), or, as some think, there were...
Commenting on Nehemiah 9:4-38
And testifiedst against them,.... By sending prophets to them, to admonish them of their sins, and remind them of their duty: that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law; to regard it, and walk according it: yet they dealt proudly; with an haughty air rejected the counsel of God: and hearkened not unto thy commandments; yielded not obedience to them: but sinned against thy...
THE LEVITES CONFESS GOD'S MANIFOLD GOODNESS, AND THEIR OWN WICKEDNESS. (Neh. 9:4-38) Then stood up upon the stairs--the scaffolds or pulpits, whence the Levites usually addressed the people. There were probably several placed at convenient distances, to prevent confusion and the voice of one drowning those of the others.
Commenting on Nehemiah 9:4-38