Albert Barnes Commentary Nehemiah 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
Nehemiah 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
Nehemiah 9
"Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them." — Nehemiah 9:1 (ASV)
The festival lasted from the 15th day of the 7th month to the first. The 22nd day was a day of solemn observance (Nehemiah 8:18). One day seems to have been allowed the people for rest; and then the work of repentance, for which they had shown themselves ready (Nehemiah 8:9), was taken in hand, and a general fast was proclaimed.
"Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, [and] Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto Jehovah their God." — Nehemiah 9:4 (ASV)
The Septuagint and the Vulgate remove the comma after "stairs." The "stairs (or scaffold) of the Levites" is to be understood as an elevated platform from which they could better address and lead the people .
"Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, [and] Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Jehovah your God from everlasting to everlasting; and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise." — Nehemiah 9:5 (ASV)
Stand up - The people had knelt to confess and to worship God (Nehemiah 9:3). They were now to take the proper attitude for praise. Compare throughout with the marginal references.
"Thou art Jehovah, even thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee." — Nehemiah 9:6 (ASV)
The host of heaven worships you—that is, the angels. See 1 Kings 22:19; Psalms 103:21.
"and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and forsookest them not." — Nehemiah 9:17 (ASV)
In their rebellion - The Septuagint and several manuscripts have “in Egypt” (the words in the original differing by one letter only), and translate - “And appointed a captain to return to their bondage in Egypt.” Compare the marginal reference. The appointment of a leader is regarded here as made, whereas we are only told in the Book of Numbers that it was proposed.
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