John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. But if ye return unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them , etc.] Return by repentance, and, as a proof of the genuineness of it, yield obedience to the commands of God, and continue therein: though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven ; that is, the uttermost parts of the earth, the most distant regions; so called, because at the extreme parts of the horizon, according to our apprehension, the heavens and earth touch each other; so that what is the uttermost part of the one is supposed to be of the other: yet will I gather them from thence and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there ; that is to Jerusalem where the temple was built, and his name was called upon.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Nehemiah's distress for the misery of Jerusalem, His prayer.
--Nehemiah was the Persian king's cup-bearer. When God has work to do he will never want instruments to do it with. Nehemiah lived at ease and in honour, but does not forget that he is an Israelite, and tha his brethren are in distress. He was ready to do them all the goo offices he could; and that he might know how best to do them kindness, he makes inquiries about them. We should inquire especiall concerning the state of the church and religion. Every Jerusalem of this side the heavenly one will have some defect, which will requir the help and services of its friends. Nehemiah's first application wa to God, that he might have the fuller confidence in his application to the king. Our best pleas in prayer are taken from the promise of God the word on which he has caused us to hope. Other means must be used but the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails most Communion with God will best prepare us for our dealings with men. When we have intrusted our concerns to God, the mind is set at liberty; i feels satisfaction and composure, and difficulties vanish. We know tha if the affair be hurtful, he can easily hinder it; and if it be goo for us, he can as easily forward it _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ושׁבתם7725 אלי413 ושׁמרתם8104 מצותי4687 ועשׂיתם6213 אתם853 אם518 יהיה1961 נדחכם5080 בקצה7097 השׁמים8064 משׁם8033 אקבצם6908 והבואתים935 אל413 המקום4725 אשׁר834 בחרתי977 לשׁכן7931 את853 שׁמי8034 שׁם׃8033
