Discovery BoxNehemiah 9:28-31 
Context9:28 “Then, when they were at rest again, they went back to doing evil before you. Then you abandoned them to 1 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, 2 will live. They boldly turned from you; 3 they rebelled 4 and did not obey. 9:30 You prolonged your kindness 5 with them for many years, and you solemnly admonished them by your Spirit through your prophets. Still they paid no attention, 6 so you delivered them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. 7 9:31 However, due to your abundant mercy you did not do away with them altogether; you did not abandon them. For you are a merciful and compassionate God.
1 tn Heb “in the hand of” (so KJV, ASV); NAB “to the power of.”
2 tn Heb “if a man keep.” See note on the word “obey” in Neh 1:5.
3 tn Heb “they gave a stubborn shoulder.”
4 tn Heb “they stiffened their neck.”
5 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.
6 tn Heb “did not give ear to.”
7 tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”
