Discovery BoxNehemiah 9:9-14 
Context9:9 “You saw the affliction of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cry at the Red Sea. 1 9:10 You performed awesome signs 2 against Pharaoh, against his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that the Egyptians 3 had acted presumptuously 4 against them. You made for yourself a name that is celebrated to this day. 9:11 You split the sea before them, and they crossed through 5 the sea on dry ground! But you threw their pursuers 6 into the depths, like a stone into surging 7 waters. 9:12 You guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and with a pillar of fire by night to illumine for them the path they were to travel.
9:13 “You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You provided them with just judgments, true laws, and good statutes and commandments. 9:14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath; you issued commandments, statutes, and law to them through 8 Moses your servant.
1 tn Heb “the Sea of Reeds.” Traditionally this is identified as the Red Sea, and the modern designation has been used in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “signs and wonders.” This phrase is a hendiadys. The second noun functions adjectivally, while the first noun retains its full nominal sense: “awesome signs” or “miraculous signs.”
3 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Egyptians) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Or “arrogantly” (so NASB); NRSV “insolently.”
5 tn Heb “in the midst of.”
6 tn Heb “those who pursued them.”
7 tn Heb “mighty.”
8 tn Heb “by the hand of.”
