John Gill Commentary Nehemiah 9:29

"and testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law. Yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thine ordinances, (which if a man do, he shall live in them,) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear." — Nehemiah 9:29 (ASV)

And testified against them
By sending prophets to them, to admonish them of their sins, and remind them of their duty:

that you might bring them again to your law ;
to regard it, and walk according it:

yet they dealt proudly ;
with an haughty air rejected the counsel of God:

and hearkened not to your commandments ;
yielded not obedience to them:

but sinned against your judgments ;
transgressed his laws, which were so just, righteous, reasonable, and equitable:

which if a man do, he shall live in them ;
or by them, in the land of Canaan, see (Leviticus 18:5) ,

and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear ;
like oxen, that wriggle and struggle, and draw back, and will not admit the yoke upon them.