John Gill Commentary Nehemiah 9:28

"But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee; therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies," — Nehemiah 9:28 (ASV)

But after they had rest

From their enemies, enjoyed their liberty, and were in prosperity:

they did evil again before thee ;

relapsed into idolatry:

therefore you left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they
had the dominion over them ;

as the Philistines had for the space of forty years, (Judges 13:1) ,

yet when they returned and cried to you, you heard them from
heaven, and many times you delivered them, according to your
mercies ;

this was their case frequently in the times of the judges; they sinned and fell into the hands of their enemies, then they repented, and cried to God for help, and he had compassion upon them, and saved them.