John Gill Commentary


John Gill Commentary
"And they took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit-trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness." — Nehemiah 9:25 (ASV)
And they took strong cities
Such as, in an hyperbolical way, are said to be walled up to heaven, (Deuteronomy 1:28)
and a fat land ;
of a good and fruitful soil, abounding with all good things, (Deuteronomy 8:7Deuteronomy 8:8)
and possessed houses full of all goods ;
ready built and furnished for them, both with good provisions and good furniture:
wells digged ;
to supply them with water:
vineyards, and olive yards, and fruit trees in abundance ;
which they planted not:
and they did eat, and were filled, and became fat ;
in body, though in mind became wanton and wicked; they made their hearts fat, or stupid, as Aben Ezra interprets it, see (Deuteronomy 32:15) (Isaiah 6:10)
and delighted themselves in thy great goodness ;
not in praising the Lord for it, and using it to his honour and glory, but indulged themselves to luxury and intemperance; though it may be understood of a lawful pleasure in the enjoyment of the great affluence they were brought into, which last agrees with what follows.