Charles Ellicott Commentary Nehemiah 9
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Nehemiah 9
Charles Ellicott 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)
In the twenty and fourth day. —After one day of rest, the people assembled with all the tokens of sorrow, even to dust on the head (1 Samuel 4:12): the external signs and the internal spirit were one.
"And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers." — Nehemiah 9:2 (ASV)
The seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers. —The change to “seed” has here a deep propriety. They carefully avoided the many aliens among them throughout this fast.
And stood and confessed. —It must be remembered that these verses give the programme of what is afterwards filled up: the very praise for which they “stood” was filled with confession.
"And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day; and [another] fourth part they confessed, and worshipped Jehovah their God." — Nehemiah 9:3 (ASV)
One fourth part. — Both day and night were divided into four parts. All orders standing in their respective place, the reading occupied the morning and the worship the afternoon. It is the latter which is now made prominent, as the former had been prominent in the preceding chapter.
"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)
Stairs, of the Levites. — The scaffold of the Levites, without the comma: the steps of ascent to the pulpit of Ezra (Nehemiah 8:2).
Bani, and Chenani. — Probably, Binnui and Haman (Nehemiah 10:9–10).
Their God. — When the people are called upon (Nehemiah 9:5), it is your God; hence these eight Levites offered a prayer which is not inserted.
"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)
Hashabniah. —Not found elsewhere. No reason is given why this company is somewhat different from the former; the Septuagint arbitrarily omits all names after Kadmiel. Similarly, they insert “and Ezra said” before Nehemiah 9:6. The psalm was perhaps composed by Ezra, but uttered by the Levites in the name of the congregation.
Stand up and bless ... Blessed be. —Or, let them bless.
Thou, even thou, art Lord alone. —The three phrases mark how the address to the people glides into direct adoration of God.
Thy glorious name. —Literally found again in Psalms 72:19 alone.
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