Discovery BoxNehemiah 9:16-17 
Context9:16 “But they – our ancestors 1 – behaved presumptuously; they rebelled 2 and did not obey your commandments. 9:17 They refused to obey and did not recall your miracles that you had performed among them. Instead, they rebelled and appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt. 3 But you are a God of forgiveness, merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and unfailing in your loyal love. 4 You did not abandon them,
Nehemiah 9:26
Context9:26 “Nonetheless they grew disobedient and rebelled against you; they disregarded your law. 5 They killed your prophets who had solemnly admonished them in order to cause them to return to you. They committed atrocious blasphemies.
Nehemiah 9:28-30
Context9:28 “Then, when they were at rest again, they went back to doing evil before you. Then you abandoned them to 6 their enemies, and they gained dominion over them. When they again cried out to you, in your compassion you heard from heaven and rescued them time and again. 9:29 And you solemnly admonished them in order to return them to your law, but they behaved presumptuously and did not obey your commandments. They sinned against your ordinances – those by which an individual, if he obeys them, 7 will live. They boldly turned from you; 8 they rebelled 9 and did not obey. 9:30 You prolonged your kindness 10 with them for many years, and you solemnly admonished them by your Spirit through your prophets. Still they paid no attention, 11 so you delivered them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. 12
1 tn Heb “and our fathers.” The vav is explicative.
2 tn Heb “they stiffened their neck” (so also in the following verse).
3 tc The present translation follows a few medieval Hebrew
4 tc The translation follows the Qere reading חֶסֶד (khesed, “loyal love”) rather than the Kethib reading וְחֶסֶד (vÿkhesed, “and loyal love”) of the MT.
5 tn Heb “they cast your law behind their backs.”
6 tn Heb “in the hand of” (so KJV, ASV); NAB “to the power of.”
7 tn Heb “if a man keep.” See note on the word “obey” in Neh 1:5.
8 tn Heb “they gave a stubborn shoulder.”
9 tn Heb “they stiffened their neck.”
10 tn The Hebrew expression here is elliptical. The words “your kindness” are not included in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
11 tn Heb “did not give ear to.”
12 tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”
