In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land which You had sworn to give them. In their hungerThis phrase highlights the physical and spiritual needs of the Israelites during their wilderness journey. The Hebrew root for "hunger" (רָעָב, ra'av) not only refers to physical hunger but also symbolizes a deeper spiritual longing. Historically, the Israelites' journey through the desert was marked by a dependence on God for sustenance, reflecting the broader human condition of needing divine provision. You gave them bread from heaven
The "bread from heaven" refers to manna, a miraculous provision from God. The Hebrew word for "bread" (לֶחֶם, lechem) is often used in the Old Testament to signify sustenance and life. Manna is a type of Christ, the Bread of Life, as seen in John 6:31-35. This provision underscores God's faithfulness and His ability to meet the needs of His people in miraculous ways. in their thirst
The thirst of the Israelites is both a literal and metaphorical expression of their need for God. The Hebrew word for "thirst" (צָמָא, tsama) can also imply a deep spiritual yearning. This thirst is a reminder of the human soul's longing for the living water that only God can provide, as Jesus later explains in John 4:13-14. You brought them water from the rock
This phrase recalls the miraculous event at Horeb, where God instructed Moses to strike the rock to provide water for the people (Exodus 17:6). The "rock" (צוּר, tsur) is a symbol of Christ, as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10:4, where he identifies the rock as Christ Himself. This act of provision is a powerful testament to God's ability to provide life-giving sustenance in the most barren circumstances. You told them to go in and possess the land
This command reflects God's promise and faithfulness to the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Hebrew word for "possess" (יָרַשׁ, yarash) implies taking ownership and settling in the land. This directive is not just about physical occupation but also about spiritual inheritance and fulfillment of God's promises. that You had sworn to give them
The phrase emphasizes the certainty and reliability of God's promises. The Hebrew word for "sworn" (שָׁבַע, shava) indicates a solemn oath, underscoring the unbreakable nature of God's covenant. This assurance of God's faithfulness is a cornerstone of the Israelites' identity and a source of hope for believers today, reminding us that God's promises are sure and steadfast. Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe central figure in this verse, God is depicted as the provider and sustainer of the Israelites, fulfilling His promises and meeting their needs. 2. IsraelitesThe people of God who were delivered from Egypt and sustained in the wilderness. They are the recipients of God's provision and promises. 3. Bread from HeavenRefers to the manna that God provided for the Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness (Exodus 16). 4. Water from the RockAn event where God miraculously provided water for the Israelites from a rock, as recorded in Exodus 17 and Numbers 20. 5. Promised LandThe land of Canaan, which God had sworn to give to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Teaching Points God's Faithfulness in ProvisionGod consistently provides for the needs of His people, both physically and spiritually. Just as He provided manna and water, He meets our needs today. Trust in God's PromisesThe Israelites were called to trust in God's promise of the Promised Land. We, too, are called to trust in God's promises for our lives, knowing He is faithful. Obedience to God's CommandsGod instructed the Israelites to possess the land. Obedience to God's commands is crucial in experiencing His blessings. Spiritual SustenanceThe manna and water symbolize spiritual sustenance. Jesus, the Bread of Life, and the Living Water, fulfills our deepest spiritual needs. Gratitude for God's ProvisionRecognizing God's provision should lead to gratitude and worship. Reflect on how God has provided for you and respond with thankfulness. Bible Study Questions 1. How does God's provision of manna and water in the wilderness demonstrate His faithfulness to the Israelites, and how can this encourage us in our current circumstances? 2. In what ways can we apply the lesson of trusting in God's promises, as the Israelites were called to do with the Promised Land, to our own lives? 3. How does the concept of spiritual sustenance, as seen in the provision of manna and water, relate to Jesus being the Bread of Life and Living Water? 4. What are some practical ways we can show gratitude for God's provision in our daily lives? 5. How can the account of God's provision in the wilderness inspire us to obey His commands and trust in His guidance today? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 16 and Numbers 11These passages describe the provision of manna, emphasizing God's faithfulness in providing for His people. Exodus 17 and Numbers 20These accounts detail the miraculous provision of water from the rock, highlighting God's power and care. Deuteronomy 8This chapter reflects on the lessons learned in the wilderness, including reliance on God and obedience to His commands. Psalm 78A psalm that recounts the history of Israel, including God's provision of manna and water, serving as a reminder of His faithfulness. People Abram, Amorites, Bani, Bunni, Canaanites, Chenani, Egyptians, Ezra, Girgashite, Girgashites, Hashabniah, Hittites, Hodiah, Hodijah, Israelites, Jebusites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Levites, Og, Perizzites, Pethahiah, Pharaoh, Shebaniah, Sherebiah, SihonPlaces Assyria, Bashan, Egypt, Gate of Ephraim, Heshbon, Mount Sinai, Red Sea, UrTopics Bread, Bring, Broughtest, Command, Commanded, Commandedst, Drink, Enter, Forth, Gavest, Hadst, Hast, Heaven, Heavens, Heritage, Hunger, Lifted, Order, Orders, Possess, Possession, Promisedst, Provided, Rock, Sky, Swore, Sworn, Thirst, UpliftedDictionary of Bible Themes Nehemiah 9:15 1265 hand of God
4354 rock
4418 bread
4474 manna
5341 hunger
5580 thirst
8650 hands, lifting up Library The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength. Neh 9:10
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John Newton—Olney HymnsQuestions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
AND PROOF, THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath day.' London: Printed for Nath, Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1685. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. All our inquiries into divine commands are required to be made personally, solemnly, prayerful. To 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast' and obey 'that which is good,' is a precept, equally binding upon the clown, as it is upon the philosopher. Satisfied from our observations …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be Moral.
1. Because all the reasons of this commandment are moral and perpetual; and God has bound us to the obedience of this commandment with more forcible reasons than to any of the rest--First, because he foresaw that irreligious men would either more carelessly neglect, or more boldly break this commandment than any other; secondly, because that in the practice of this commandment the keeping of all the other consists; which makes God so often complain that all his worship is neglected or overthrown, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The "Fraternity" of Pharisees
To realise the state of religious society at the time of our Lord, the fact that the Pharisees were a regular "order," and that there were many such "fraternities," in great measure the outcome of the original Pharisees, must always be kept in view. For the New Testament simply transports us among contemporary scenes and actors, taking the then existent state of things, so to speak, for granted. But the fact referred to explains many seemingly strange circumstances, and casts fresh light upon all. …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Fragrant Spices from the Mountains of Myrrh. "Thou Art all Fair, My Love; There is no Spot in Thee. " --Song of Solomon iv. 7.
FRAGRANT SPICES FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF MYRRH. HOW marvellous are these words! "Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee." The glorious Bridegroom is charmed with His spouse, and sings soft canticles of admiration. When the bride extols her Lord there is no wonder, for He deserves it well, and in Him there is room for praise without possibility of flattery. But does He who is wiser than Solomon condescend to praise this sunburnt Shulamite? Tis even so, for these are His own words, and were …
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come The Personality of the Holy Spirit.
Before one can correctly understand the work of the Holy Spirit, he must first of all know the Spirit Himself. A frequent source of error and fanaticism about the work of the Holy Spirit is the attempt to study and understand His work without first of all coming to know Him as a Person. It is of the highest importance from the standpoint of worship that we decide whether the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, worthy to receive our adoration, our faith, our love, and our entire surrender to Himself, …
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit The Early Life of Malachy. Having Been Admitted to Holy Orders He Associates with Malchus
[Sidenote: 1095.] 1. Our Malachy, born in Ireland,[134] of a barbarous people, was brought up there, and there received his education. But from the barbarism of his birth he contracted no taint, any more than the fishes of the sea from their native salt. But how delightful to reflect, that uncultured barbarism should have produced for us so worthy[135] a fellow-citizen with the saints and member of the household of God.[136] He who brings honey out of the rock and oil out of the flinty rock[137] …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh The Prophecy of Obadiah.
We need not enter into details regarding the question as to the time when the prophet wrote. By a thorough argumentation, Caspari has proved, that he occupies his right position in the Canon, and hence belongs to the earliest age of written prophecy, i.e., to the time of Jeroboam II. and Uzziah. As bearing conclusively against those who would assign to him a far later date, viz., the time of the exile, there is not only the indirect testimony borne by the place which this prophecy occupies in …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Preface to the Commandments
And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God,' &c. Exod 20: 1, 2. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments? The preface to the Ten Commandments is, I am the Lord thy God.' The preface to the preface is, God spake all these words, saying,' &c. This is like the sounding of a trumpet before a solemn proclamation. Other parts of the Bible are said to be uttered by the mouth of the holy prophets (Luke 1: 70), but here God spake in his own person. How are we to understand that, God spake, …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Of Immediate Revelation.
Of Immediate Revelation. [29] Seeing no man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son revealeth him; and seeing the revelation of the Son is in and by the Spirit; therefore the testimony of the Spirit is that alone by which the true knowledge of God hath been, is, and can be only revealed; who as, by the moving of his own Spirit, he disposed the chaos of this world into that wonderful order in which it was in the beginning, and created man a living soul, to rule and govern it, so by …
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament The Holy War,
MADE BY SHADDAI UPON DIABOLUS, FOR THE REGAINING OF THE METROPOLIS OF THE WORLD; OR, THE LOSING AND TAKING AGAIN OF THE TOWN OF MANSOUL. THE AUTHOR OF 'THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.' 'I have used similitudes.'--Hosea 12:10. London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms in the Poultry; and Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1682. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Bunyan's account of the Holy War is indeed an extraordinary book, manifesting a degree of genius, research, and spiritual …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Ezra-Nehemiah
Some of the most complicated problems in Hebrew history as well as in the literary criticism of the Old Testament gather about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from these books, all that we know of the origin and early history of Judaism is inferential. They are our only historical sources for that period; and if in them we have, as we seem to have, authentic memoirs, fragmentary though they be, written by the two men who, more than any other, gave permanent shape and direction to Judaism, then …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Nehemiah 9:15 NIVNehemiah 9:15 NLTNehemiah 9:15 ESVNehemiah 9:15 NASBNehemiah 9:15 KJV
Nehemiah 9:15 Commentaries
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