Bible Reading May 9 
Nehemiah 7:1--9:38
Context7:1 When the wall had been rebuilt and I had positioned the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 7:2 I then put in charge over Jerusalem 1 my brother Hanani and Hananiah 2 the chief of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many do. 7:3 I 3 said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem must not be opened in the early morning, 4 until those who are standing guard close the doors and lock them. 5 Position residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their guard stations and some near their homes.” 7:4 Now the city was spread out 6 and large, and there were not a lot of people in it. 7 At that time houses had not been rebuilt. 7:5 My God placed it on my heart to gather the leaders, 8 the officials, and the ordinary people so they could be enrolled on the basis of genealogy. I found the genealogical records 9 of those who had formerly returned. Here is what I found written in that record: 10
7:6 These are the people 11 of the province who returned 12 from the captivity of the exiles, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile. 13 They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his own city. 7:7 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.
The number of Israelite men 14 was as follows:
7:8 the descendants 15 of Parosh, 2,172;
7:9 the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;
7:10 the descendants of Arah, 652;
7:11 the descendants of Pahath-Moab (from the line 16 of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818;
7:12 the descendants of Elam, 1,254;
7:13 the descendants of Zattu, 845;
7:14 the descendants of Zaccai, 760;
7:15 the descendants of Binnui, 648;
7:16 the descendants of Bebai, 628;
7:17 the descendants of Azgad, 2,322;
7:18 the descendants of Adonikam, 667;
7:19 the descendants of Bigvai, 2,067;
7:20 the descendants of Adin, 655;
7:21 the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98;
7:22 the descendants of Hashum, 328;
7:23 the descendants of Bezai, 324;
7:24 the descendants of Harif, 112;
7:25 the descendants of Gibeon, 95;
7:26 The men of Bethlehem 17 and Netophah, 188;
7:27 the men of Anathoth, 128;
7:28 the men of the family 18 of Azmaveth, 42;
7:29 the men of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, 743;
7:30 the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
7:31 the men of Micmash, 122;
7:32 the men of Bethel 19 and Ai, 123;
7:33 the men of the other Nebo, 52;
7:34 the descendants of the other Elam, 1,254;
7:35 the descendants of Harim, 320;
7:36 the descendants of Jericho, 345;
7:37 the descendants of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721;
7:38 the descendants of Senaah, 3,930.
7:39 The priests:
the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family 20 of Jeshua), 973;
7:40 the descendants of Immer, 1,052;
7:41 the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247;
7:42 the descendants of Harim, 1,017.
7:43 The Levites:
the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel, through the line of Hodaviah), 74.
7:44 The singers:
the descendants of Asaph, 148.
7:45 The gatekeepers:
the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai, 138.
7:46 The temple servants:
the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth, 7:47 the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Sia, the descendants of Padon, 7:48 the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Shalmai, 7:49 the descendants of Hanan, the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar, 7:50 the descendants of Reaiah, the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, 7:51 the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzzah, the descendants of Paseah, 7:52 the descendants of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephussim, 7:53 the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur, 7:54 the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha, 7:55 the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah, 7:56 the descendants of Neziah, the descendants of Hatipha.
7:57 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:
the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Sophereth, the descendants of Perida, 7:58 the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel, 7:59 the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and the descendants of Amon.
7:60 All the temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon, 392.
7:61 These are the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer (although they were unable to certify 21 their family connection 22 or their ancestry, 23 as to whether they were really from Israel):
7:62 the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda, 642.
7:63 And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a woman from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). 7:64 They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but none were found. They were therefore excluded 24 from the priesthood. 7:65 The governor 25 instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult 26 the Urim and Thummim.
7:66 The entire group numbered 42,360, 7:67 not counting their 7,337 male and female servants. They also had 245 male and female singers. 7:68 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 7:69 (7:68) 27 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 7:70 Some of the family leaders 28 contributed to the work. The governor contributed to the treasury 1,000 gold drachmas, 29 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments. 7:71 Some of the family leaders gave to the project treasury 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver minas. 7:72 What the rest of the people gave amounted to 20,000 gold drachmas, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments.
7:73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all the rest of Israel lived in their cities.
When the seventh month arrived and the Israelites 30 were settled in their cities, 31 8:1 all the people gathered together 32 in the plaza which was in front of the Water Gate. They asked 33 Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had commanded Israel. 8:2 So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh month.) 8:3 So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from dawn till noon 34 before the men and women and those children who could understand. 35 All the people were eager to hear 36 the book of the law.
8:4 Ezra the scribe stood on a towering wooden platform 37 constructed for this purpose. Standing near him on his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Masseiah. On his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 8:5 Ezra opened the book in plain view 38 of all the people, for he was elevated above all the people. When he opened the book, 39 all the people stood up. 8:6 Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people replied “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
8:7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah – all of whom were Levites 40 – were teaching the people the law, as the people remained standing. 8:8 They read from the book of God’s law, explaining it 41 and imparting insight. Thus the people 42 gained understanding from what was read.
8:9 Then Nehemiah the governor, 43 Ezra the priestly scribe, 44 and the Levites who were imparting understanding to the people said to all of them, 45 “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the law. 8:10 He said to them, “Go and eat delicacies and drink sweet drinks and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. 46 Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
8:11 Then the Levites quieted all the people saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy. Do not grieve.” 8:12 So all the people departed to eat and drink and to share their food 47 with others 48 and to enjoy tremendous joy, 49 for they had gained insight in the matters that had been made known to them.
8:13 On the second day of the month the family leaders 50 met with 51 Ezra the scribe, together with all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to consider the words of the law. 8:14 They discovered written in the law that the LORD had commanded through 52 Moses that the Israelites should live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month, 8:15 and that they should make a proclamation and disseminate this message 53 in all their cities and in Jerusalem: 54 “Go to the hill country and bring back olive branches and branches of wild olive trees, myrtle trees, date palms, and other leafy trees to construct temporary shelters, as it is written.”
8:16 So the people went out and brought these things 55 back and constructed temporary shelters for themselves, each on his roof and in his courtyard and in the courtyards of the temple 56 of God and in the plaza of the Water Gate and the plaza of the Ephraim Gate. 8:17 So all the assembly which had returned from the exile constructed temporary shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not done so from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day. Everyone experienced very great joy. 57 8:18 Ezra 58 read in the book of the law of God day by day, from the first day to the last. 59 They observed the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly 60 as was required. 61
9:1 On the twenty-fourth day of this same month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting and wearing sackcloth, their heads covered with dust. 9:2 Those truly of Israelite descent 62 separated from all the foreigners, 63 standing and confessing their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors. 64 9:3 For one-fourth of the day they stood in their place and read from the book of the law of the LORD their God, and for another fourth they were confessing their sins 65 and worshiping the LORD their God. 9:4 Then the Levites – Jeshua, Binnui, 66 Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani – stood on the steps and called out loudly 67 to the LORD their God. 9:5 The Levites – Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah – said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God!”
“May you be blessed, O LORD our God, from age to age. 68 May your glorious name 69 be blessed; may it be lifted up above all blessing and praise. 9:6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, 70 along with all their multitude of stars, 71 the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You impart life to them all, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
9:7 “You are the LORD God who chose Abram and brought him forth from Ur of the Chaldeans. You changed his name to Abraham. 9:8 When you perceived that his heart was faithful toward you, you established a 72 covenant with him to give his descendants 73 the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites. You have fulfilled your promise, 74 for you are righteous.
9:9 “You saw the affliction of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cry at the Red Sea. 75 9:10 You performed awesome signs 76 against Pharaoh, against his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that the Egyptians 77 had acted presumptuously 78 against them. You made for yourself a name that is celebrated to this day. 9:11 You split the sea before them, and they crossed through 79 the sea on dry ground! But you threw their pursuers 80 into the depths, like a stone into surging 81 waters. 9:12 You guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and with a pillar of fire by night to illumine for them the path they were to travel.
9:13 “You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You provided them with just judgments, true laws, and good statutes and commandments. 9:14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath; you issued commandments, statutes, and law to them through 82 Moses your servant. 9:15 You provided bread from heaven for them in their time of hunger, and you brought forth water from the rock for them in their time of thirst. You told them to enter in order to possess the land that you had sworn 83 to give them.
9:16 “But they – our ancestors 84 – behaved presumptuously; they rebelled 85 and did not obey your commandments. 9:17 They refused to obey and did not recall your miracles that you had performed among them. Instead, they rebelled and appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt. 86 But you are a God of forgiveness, merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and unfailing in your loyal love. 87 You did not abandon them, 9:18 even when they made a cast image of a calf for themselves and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up from Egypt,’ or when they committed atrocious 88 blasphemies.
9:19 “Due to your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. The pillar of cloud did not stop guiding them in the path by day, 89 nor did the pillar of fire stop illuminating for them by night the path on which they should travel. 9:20 You imparted your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths; you provided water for their thirst. 9:21 For forty years you sustained them. Even in the desert they never lacked anything. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.
9:22 “You gave them kingdoms and peoples, and you allocated them to every corner of the land. 90 They inherited the land of King Sihon of Heshbon 91 and the land of King Og of Bashan. 9:23 You multiplied their descendants like the stars of the sky. You brought them to the land you had told their ancestors to enter in order to possess. 9:24 Their descendants 92 entered and possessed the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites who were the inhabitants of the land. You delivered them into their hand, together with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with as they pleased. 9:25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took possession of houses full of all sorts of good things – wells previously dug, vineyards, olive trees, and fruit trees in abundance. They ate until they were full 93 and grew fat. They enjoyed to the full your great goodness.
9:26 “Nonetheless they grew disobedient and rebelled against you; they disregarded your law. 94 They killed your prophets who had solemnly admonished them in order to cause them to return to you. They committed atrocious blasphemies. 9:27 Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who oppressed them. But in the time of their distress they called to you, and you heard from heaven. In your abundant compassion you provided them with deliverers to rescue them from 95 their adversaries.
9:28 “Then, when they were at rest again, they went back to doing evil before you. Then you abandoned them to 96 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, 97 will live. They boldly turned from you; 98 they rebelled 99 and did not obey. 9:30 You prolonged your kindness 100 with them for many years, and you solemnly admonished them by your Spirit through your prophets. Still they paid no attention, 101 so you delivered them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. 102 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.
9:32 “So now, our God – the great, powerful, and awesome God, who keeps covenant fidelity 103 – do not regard as inconsequential 104 all the hardship that has befallen us – our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people – from the days of the kings of Assyria until this very day! 9:33 You are righteous with regard to all that has happened to us, for you have acted faithfully. 105 It is we who have been in the wrong! 9:34 Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law. They have not paid attention to your commandments or your testimonies by which you have solemnly admonished them. 9:35 Even when they were in their kingdom and benefiting from your incredible 106 goodness that you had lavished 107 on them in the spacious and fertile land you had set 108 before them, they did not serve you, nor did they turn from their evil practices.
9:36 “So today we are slaves! In the very land you gave to our ancestors to eat its fruit and to enjoy 109 its good things – we are slaves! 9:37 Its abundant produce goes to the kings you have placed over us due to our sins. They rule over our bodies and our livestock as they see fit, 110 and we are in great distress!
9:38 (10:1) 111 “Because of all of this we are entering into a binding covenant 112 in written form; 113 our leaders, our Levites, and our priests have affixed their names 114 on the sealed document.”
[7:2] 1 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[7:2] 2 tn Some have suggested that “Hananiah” is another name for Hanani, Nehemiah’s brother, so that only one individual is mentioned here. However, the third person plural in v. 3 indicates two people are in view.
[7:3] 3 tc The present translation (along with most English versions) reads with the Qere, a Qumran text, and the ancient versions וָאֹמַר (va’omar, “and I said”) rather than the Kethib of the MT, which reads וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyo’mer, “and he said”).
[7:3] 4 tn Heb “until the heat of the sun.” The phrase probably means that the gates were to be opened only after the day had progressed a bit, not at the first sign of morning light (cf. KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, TEV, CEV). It is possible, however, that the Hebrew preposition עַד (’ad), here translated as “until,” has a more rare sense of “during.” If so, this would mean that the gates were not to be left open and unattended during the hot part of the day when people typically would be at rest (cf. NLT).
[7:3] 5 tn Presumably this would mean the gates were not to be opened until later in the morning and were to remain open until evening. Some, however, have understood Nehemiah’s instructions to mean that the gates were not to be left open during the hottest part of the day, but must be shut and locked while the guards are still on duty. See J. Barr, “Hebrew עַד, especially at Job i.18 and Neh vii.3,” JJS 27 (1982): 177-88.
[7:4] 6 tn Heb “wide of two hands.”
[7:4] 7 tn Heb “the people were few in its midst.”
[7:5] 8 tn Heb “nobles”; NCV “important men.”
[7:5] 9 tn Heb “the book of genealogy.”
[7:5] 10 tn Heb “in it”; the referent (the genealogical record) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[7:6] 11 tn Heb “the sons of”; KJV, ASV “the children of”; NAB “the inhabitants of.”
[7:6] 12 tn Heb “who were going up.”
[7:6] 13 tc One medieval Hebrew manuscript has “to Babylon.” Cf. Ezra 2:1.
[7:7] 14 tn Heb “the men of the people of Israel.” Some English versions translate as “the people from Israel” (NCV) or “the Israelite people” (NRSV), but “men” should be retained because the following numbers presumably include only adult males.
[7:8] 15 tn Heb “the sons of.”
[7:11] 16 tn Heb “to the sons of.”
[7:26] 17 map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.
[7:28] 18 tc The translation reads בְּנֵי (bÿne, “the sons of”) rather than the MT reading בֵית אַנְשֵׁי (’anshey vet, “men of the house of”). Cf. Ezra 2:24.
[7:32] 19 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[7:39] 20 tn Heb “to the house of.”
[7:61] 22 tn Heb “the house of their fathers.”
[7:61] 23 tn Heb “their seed.”
[7:64] 24 tn Heb “they were desecrated.”
[7:65] 25 tn The Hebrew term תִּרְשָׁתָא (tirshata’; KJV “Tirshatha”) is the official title of a Persian governor in Judea. In meaning it may be similar to “excellency” (cf. NAB). See further BDB 1077 s.v.; W. L. Holladay, Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon, 395; HALOT 1798 s.v.
[7:69] 27 tc Most Hebrew
[7:70] 28 tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.”
[7:70] 29 tn Heb “darics” (also in vv. 71, 72).
[7:73] 30 tn Heb “the sons of Israel.” So also in vv. 14, 17; 9:1.
[7:73] 31 tn The traditional understanding of the chapter and verse division here is probably incorrect. The final part of v. 73 is best understood as belonging with 8:1.
[8:1] 32 tn Heb “like one man.”
[8:3] 34 tn Heb “from the light till the noon of the day.”
[8:3] 35 tn Heb “all who could hear with understanding.” The word “children” is understood to be implied here by a number of English versions (e.g., NAB, TEV, NLT).
[8:3] 36 tn Heb “the ears of all the people were toward.”
[8:4] 37 tn Heb “a tower of wood.”
[8:5] 38 tn Heb “to the eyes.”
[8:5] 39 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the book) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[8:7] 40 tc The MT reads “and the Levites.” The conjunction (“and”) should be deleted, following the LXX, Aquila, and the Vulgate. That the vav (ו) of the MT is the vav explicativum (“even the Levites”) is unlikely here.
[8:8] 41 tn The exact meaning of the pual participle מְפֹרָשׁ (mÿforash) in this verse is uncertain. The basic sense of the Hebrew word seems to be “to make distinct.” The word may also have the sense of “to divide in parts,” “to interpret,” or “to translate.” The context of Neh 8:8 does not decisively clarify how the participle is to be understood here. It probably refers to the role of the Levites as those who explained or interpreted the portions of biblical text that had been publicly read on this occasion. A different option, however, is suggested by the translation distincte (“distinctly”) of the Vulgate (cf. KJV, ASV). If the Hebrew word means “distinctly” here, it would imply that the readers paid particular attention to such things as word-grouping and pronunciation so as to be sure that the listeners had every opportunity to understand the message that was being read. Yet another view is found in the Talmud, which understands translation of the Hebrew text into Aramaic to be what is in view here. The following explanation of Neh 8:8 is found in b. Megillah 3a: “‘And they read in the book, in the law of God’: this indicates the [Hebrew] text; ‘with an interpretation’: this indicates the targum; ‘and they gave the sense’: this indicates the verse stops; ‘and caused them to understand the reading’: this indicates the accentuation, or, according to another version, the Masoretic notes.” However, this ancient rabbinic view that the origins of the Targum are found in Neh 8:8 is debatable. It is not clear that the practice of paraphrasing the Hebrew biblical text into Aramaic in order to accommodate the needs of those Jews who were not at home in the Hebrew language developed this early. The translation of מְפֹרָשׁ adopted above (i.e., “explaining it”) understands the word to have in mind an explanatory function (cf. NAB, NCV, TEV, NLT) rather than one of translation.
[8:8] 42 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[8:9] 43 tc The unexpected reference to Nehemiah here has led some scholars to suspect that the phrase “Nehemiah the governor” is a later addition to the text and not original.
[8:9] 44 tn Heb “the priest, the scribe.”
[8:9] 45 tn Heb “the people.” The pronoun has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons, to avoid redundancy.
[8:10] 46 tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).
[8:12] 47 tn Heb “to send portions.”
[8:12] 48 tn The Hebrew text does not include the phrase “with others” but it has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[8:12] 49 tn Heb “to make great joy.”
[8:13] 50 tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.”
[8:13] 51 tn Heb “were gathered to”; NAB, NIV “gathered around”; NRSV “came together to.”
[8:14] 52 tn Heb “by the hand of.”
[8:15] 54 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[8:16] 55 tn The words “these things” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[8:17] 57 tn Heb “And there was very great joy.”
[8:18] 58 tn Heb “He”; the referent (Ezra) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[8:18] 59 tn Heb “the last day.”
[8:18] 60 tn Heb “on the eighth day an assembly.” The words “they held” have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[8:18] 61 tn Heb “according to the judgment.”
[9:2] 62 tn Heb “the seed of Israel.”
[9:2] 63 tn Heb “sons of a foreigner.”
[9:2] 64 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 9, 16, 23, 32, 34, 36).
[9:3] 65 tn Heb “confessing.” The words “their sins” are not present in the Hebrew text of v. 3, but are clearly implied here because they are explicitly stated in v. 2.
[9:4] 66 tc Heb “Bani.” The translation reads “Binnui” (so also NAB) rather than the MT reading “Bani.” Otherwise there are two individuals with the same name in this verse. The name “Binnui” appears, for example, in Neh 10:10.
[9:4] 67 tn Heb “in a great voice.”
[9:5] 68 tc The MT reads here only “from age to age,” without the preceding words “May you be blessed, O
[9:5] 69 tn Heb “the name of your glory.”
[9:6] 70 tn Heb “the heavens of the heavens.”
[9:6] 71 tn Heb “all their host.”
[9:8] 72 tn Heb “the” (so NAB).
[9:9] 75 tn Heb “the Sea of Reeds.” Traditionally this is identified as the Red Sea, and the modern designation has been used in the translation for clarity.
[9:10] 76 tn Heb “signs and wonders.” This phrase is a hendiadys. The second noun functions adjectivally, while the first noun retains its full nominal sense: “awesome signs” or “miraculous signs.”
[9:10] 77 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Egyptians) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[9:10] 78 tn Or “arrogantly” (so NASB); NRSV “insolently.”
[9:11] 79 tn Heb “in the midst of.”
[9:11] 80 tn Heb “those who pursued them.”
[9:14] 82 tn Heb “by the hand of.”
[9:15] 83 tn Heb “had lifted your hand.”
[9:16] 84 tn Heb “and our fathers.” The vav is explicative.
[9:16] 85 tn Heb “they stiffened their neck” (so also in the following verse).
[9:17] 86 tc The present translation follows a few medieval Hebrew
[9:17] 87 tc The translation follows the Qere reading חֶסֶד (khesed, “loyal love”) rather than the Kethib reading וְחֶסֶד (vÿkhesed, “and loyal love”) of the MT.
[9:19] 89 tn Heb “did not turn from them by day to guide them in the path.”
[9:22] 90 tn The words “of the land” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
[9:22] 91 tc Most Hebrew
[9:25] 93 tn Heb “they ate and were sated.” This expression is a hendiadys. The first verb retains its full verbal sense, while the second functions adverbially: “they ate and were filled” = “they ate until they were full.”
[9:26] 94 tn Heb “they cast your law behind their backs.”
[9:27] 95 tn Heb “from the hand of” (so NASB, NIV); NAB “from the power of.”
[9:28] 96 tn Heb “in the hand of” (so KJV, ASV); NAB “to the power of.”
[9:29] 97 tn Heb “if a man keep.” See note on the word “obey” in Neh 1:5.
[9:29] 98 tn Heb “they gave a stubborn shoulder.”
[9:29] 99 tn Heb “they stiffened their neck.”
[9:30] 100 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.
[9:30] 101 tn Heb “did not give ear to.”
[9:30] 102 tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”
[9:32] 103 tn Heb “the covenant and loyal love.” The expression is a hendiadys. The second noun retains its full nominal sense, while the first functions adjectivally: “the covenant and loyalty” = covenant fidelity.
[9:32] 104 tn Heb “do not let it seem small in your sight.”
[9:33] 105 tn Heb “you have done truth.”
[9:35] 107 tn Heb “given them.”
[9:36] 109 tn The expression “to enjoy” is not included in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[9:37] 110 tn Heb “according to their desire.”
[9:38] 111 sn Beginning with 9:38, the verse numbers through 10:39 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), with 9:38 ET = 10:1 HT, 10:1 ET = 10:2 HT, 10:2 ET = 10:3 HT, etc., through 10:39 ET = 10:40 HT. Beginning with 11:1 the verse numbers in the ET and HT are again the same.
[9:38] 112 tn Heb “we are cutting.”
[9:38] 113 tn Heb “and writing.”
[9:38] 114 tn Heb “our leaders, our Levites, and our priests on the sealed document.” The Hebrew text is elliptical here; the words “have affixed their names” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons. Cf. v. 2.
