And the Levites--Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani--stood on the raised platform and cried out in a loud voice to the LORD their God. And the LevitesThe Levites were members of the tribe of Levi, set apart for religious duties and service in the temple. Historically, the Levites were responsible for the spiritual leadership and instruction of the Israelites. Their role in this verse underscores the importance of spiritual leadership in guiding the people back to God. The Levites' involvement in this public act of repentance highlights their dedication to their divine calling and their role as mediators between God and the people. Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani
These names represent specific Levites who were actively participating in this significant moment of communal repentance. Each name carries its own meaning and history, often reflecting the character or the divine purpose associated with the individual. For instance, "Jeshua" means "The LORD is salvation," which is fitting for a leader calling the people back to God. The listing of these names emphasizes the personal commitment of these leaders to the spiritual renewal of the nation. stood on the stairs
The stairs likely refer to a raised platform or steps leading to a prominent place where the Levites could be seen and heard by the assembly. This physical elevation symbolizes their spiritual authority and the importance of their message. In a broader sense, it represents the elevation of God's Word and the call to repentance above the mundane concerns of daily life. and cried out with a loud voice
The act of crying out with a loud voice signifies urgency and earnestness in their appeal to God. It reflects the depth of their conviction and the seriousness of the situation. This public proclamation is a powerful expression of collective repentance and a call for divine intervention. The loud voice also ensures that the message reaches all the people, emphasizing the communal nature of this act of worship and repentance. to the LORD their God
This phrase underscores the personal relationship between the Israelites and Yahweh, their covenant God. The use of "their God" highlights the unique bond and the covenantal promises that God made with Israel. It is a reminder of God's faithfulness and the people's need to return to Him. The invocation of the LORD in this context is a plea for mercy, forgiveness, and restoration, acknowledging His sovereignty and grace. Persons / Places / Events 1. LevitesA group of Israelite men from the tribe of Levi, responsible for religious duties and assisting the priests in the temple. In this context, they lead the people in worship and confession. 2. Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, KenaniThese are specific Levites mentioned by name, highlighting their leadership role in the spiritual renewal of the people. 3. StairsLikely referring to a raised platform or steps where the Levites stood to address the assembly, symbolizing a position of authority and visibility. 4. Cried out with a loud voiceThis phrase indicates a public and earnest appeal to God, emphasizing the seriousness and sincerity of their prayer and confession. 5. The LORD their GodThe covenant name of God, Yahweh, emphasizing the personal and communal relationship between God and the Israelites. Teaching Points Role of Spiritual LeadersSpiritual leaders are called to guide the community in worship and confession, setting an example of earnestness and sincerity in seeking God. Public Confession and WorshipPublic acts of worship and confession can lead to communal renewal and a deeper relationship with God. The Levites' loud cry signifies the importance of collective repentance. Importance of Position and VisibilityThe Levites standing on the stairs symbolizes the importance of visibility and leadership in spiritual matters. Leaders must be seen and heard to effectively guide others. Covenant Relationship with GodThe use of "the LORD their God" underscores the personal and communal relationship with God, reminding believers of their covenant responsibilities. Bible Study Questions 1. What role do spiritual leaders play in guiding a community towards repentance and renewal, and how can we support them in this role? 2. How does public confession and worship impact both individual and communal spiritual growth? 3. In what ways can we ensure that our worship and prayers are earnest and sincere, as demonstrated by the Levites? 4. How does the concept of a covenant relationship with God influence our daily lives and decisions? 5. What practical steps can we take to make our faith visible and impactful in our communities, similar to the Levites standing on the stairs? Connections to Other Scriptures Ezra 3:10-11This passage describes the Levites' role in leading worship during the rebuilding of the temple, showing continuity in their function as spiritual leaders. Deuteronomy 27:14-15The Levites are instructed to proclaim blessings and curses, highlighting their role in guiding the people in covenant faithfulness. Psalm 81:1-2This psalm calls for loud and joyful worship, paralleling the Levites' loud cry to God in Nehemiah 9:4. 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 Ascent, Bani, Bunni, Chenani, Chena'ni, Cried, Cry, Crying, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Kad'mi-el, Kenani, Levites, Loud, Places, Platform, Shebaniah, Shebani'ah, Sherebiah, Sherebi'ah, Stairs, Stand, Steps, Stood, Voice, VoicesDictionary of Bible Themes Nehemiah 9:4 5553 stairways 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 9:4 NIVNehemiah 9:4 NLTNehemiah 9:4 ESVNehemiah 9:4 NASBNehemiah 9:4 KJV
Nehemiah 9:4 Commentaries
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