John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites , etc.] On an ascent; an elevated place where the Levites used to stand when they sang at the time of sacrifice, and where they might be seen and heard by the people: Jeshua and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani ; who seem to be all Levites, (see Nehemiah 8:7), and cried with a loud voice unto the Lord their God ; praying with great fervency, and making bitter lamentation for the sins of the people and their own.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-38 - The summary of their prayers we have here upon record. Much more, n doubt, was said. Whatever ability we have to do any thing in the way of duty, we are to serve and glorify God according to the utmost of it When confessing our sins, it is good to notice the mercies of God, tha we may be the more humbled and ashamed. The dealings of the Lord showe his goodness and long-suffering, and the hardness of their hearts. The testimony of the prophets was the testimony of the Spirit in the prophets, and it was the Spirit of Christ in them. They spake as the were moved by the Holy Ghost, and what they said is to be receive accordingly. The result was, wonder at the Lord's mercies, and the feeling that sin had brought them to their present state, from whic nothing but unmerited love could rescue them. And is not their conduc a specimen of human nature? Let us study the history of our land, an our own history. Let us recollect our advantages from childhood, an ask what were our first returns? Let us frequently do so, that we ma be kept humble, thankful, and watchful. Let all remember that pride an obstinacy are sins which ruin the soul. But it is often as hard to persuade the broken-hearted to hope, as formerly it was to bring the to fear. Is this thy case? Behold this sweet promise, A God ready to pardon! Instead of keeping away from God under a sense of unworthiness let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. He is a God ready to pardon _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ויקם6965 על5921 מעלה4608 הלוים3881 ישׁוע3442 ובני1137 קדמיאל6934 שׁבניה7645 בני1138 שׁרביה8274 בני1137 כנני3662 ויזעקו2199 בקול6963 גדול1419 אל413 יהוה3068 אלהיהם׃430
