Nehemiah 9:12

Neh 9:12 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.

Ver. 12. Moreover thou leddest them by day, &c.] This pillar of a cloud was miraculously moved with such variation as God thought fit, for the guiding of their journeys; much better than did or could Vibilia, that heathen fiction.

And in the night by a pillar of fire] Though they did not usually journey in the night, yet sometimes they did; and then this pillar of fire was their guide. God is with his at all assays, and is all in all unto them, Psa 121:4; see Isa 4:5-6.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Neh_9:12

Moreover Thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar.

The pillars of cloud and fire

The people who for forty years followed that fire-cloud have left footprints in the sands of time which serve us as an alphabet of life. The march of the Israelites is an allegory of the life of man. Like a providence palpable to the very eyes of man, the fire-cloud indexed that will of God which it is the longing of true hearts in every age to fulfil. This fire-cloud suggests--

I. That mans life on earth is a divinely-conducted discipline. The Israelites emerged from Egypt a huge bee-swarm of humanity making for another hive. From the dark superstitions of life and the coarse immoralities of antiquity they went into the wilderness to learn the rudiments of life. Outside the sphere of mans natural resources Israel had to learn faith in the supernatural environment of man, Their wilderness journey was the drill of a nation destined to be the vehicle of Divine revelation to a world. Our life on earth is mainly a prolonged and various discipline, and its significance lies in the finally resulting manhood. The main matter is not how long it takes us to cross this strip of earth, or how much we have while we travel, but what the journey makes of us as regards the naked, moral character of us all. Very suggestive, if you will ponder, is Israels inability to comprehend the meaning of a great deal of their march. Why they should lie still, and why move, were not always plain. We cannot readily comprehend the zigzag ways of life. Looking at our things, and not at our soul, we sometimes seem to be moving in a very resultless way--marking time rather than marching. Said a good and active man whose work is his life, By this sickness I have lost a month. How so? Through every day of his life henceforth he will carry a reverent thoughtfulness of God, and in all his character there will be the tinge of a mellow tenderness, the results of that lost months meditative realisations. Was the month lost, then? God leads and leaves us not where we would like to be, but where we have need to be. There is wisdom in every stage of lifes march and countermarch. Lifes roughest mile is ordered of the Lord, and its darkest place is illuminated by the pillar of fire. It is wisdom to store the lessons of experience. Child-like, we forget the back lessons. The teachings of sorrows school are forgotten in the playground of our joyfulness.

II. That throughout our life-journey we follow a God we never see. That fire-bordered cloud was not God. The cathedral window ablaze with its mingled glories hides the sun, while it is at the same time a many-coloured witness of his living radiance. Life leaves room for doubt, and gives worldliness its chance. Herein lies much of our probation. Those tokens of God which are evidence of things not seen are frequently familiarised into comparative powerlessness over the soul.

1. Some of the Israelites sinned under the very shadow of the pillar of fire. The sentiments of reverence and wonder are in danger of exile from the mind.

2. Nature, with its transformations of the seasons.

3. The Sabbath.

4. The house of God.

5. Prayer; our prayers may become like the winding of our watches--acts we do, scarcely sure whether they are done or not. We often see most of God in the night of experience.

III. That protection which Gods presence insures to those that follow him. Over the sleeping camp the cloud lay like a golden warrior-shield. Yet how slowly was Israel trained to courage! Every new danger created a coward hubbub in the camp. Their foes could do them no harm; but their imaginations were terrible to them as an army with banners. Their minds were made nervous by their own delusions. The Parisians have exhibited what they call a Panorama of the War. Climbing what appears to be a kind of tower, you seem to see the country around Paris alive with the grim activities of war. Nearest the spectator are placed real cannon and the like, and these shade off into painted forms beyond so perfectly as to produce an illusion like that of the painter who attracted the quick-eyed birds to his painted grapes. The illusion is wonderful, and you can all but smell the gunpowder. But there is no movement--the soldiers are still as stones, the bursting shell remains in the act of explosion, and the flame-flash continues from the cannon-mouth. That breaks the spell. It is but picture, after all. Thus we go at times up the tower of apprehension, and see besieging armies of trouble. Near to us are some real objects of fear, and from them we go on to paint a long perspective of morbid fancies, until life seems ringed round with innumerable foes. After awhile we find it is mostly picture--the very painting of our fear. Let the chief anxiety of all be to follow the great Leader of lifes pilgrimage. (Samuel Gregory.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

9:12-21 This prayer reminded the people of God’s miraculous direction of Israel in the wilderness (Exod 13:21-22), his personal appearance at Mount Sinai to reveal his covenant laws through Moses (see Exod 19–20), and his faithfulness in providing bread . . . and water (see Exod 16:4; 17:1-6). Despite all of that, Israel’s ancestors had been proud and stubborn and refused to obey (see Exod 32; Num 14:4). Yet in his grace, God remained faithful and had compassion (see Exod 34:6) and provided his Spirit to direct and teach them (cp. Exod 33:2; Num 11:17).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 12. By a cloudy pillar] See the notes on the parallel passages, both here and in the other verses.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

12–21. The Wilderness

12. in the day by a cloudy pillar] R.V. in a pillar of cloud by day.

in the night by a pillar of fire] R.V. in a pillar of fire by night. See for these words Exo_13:21-22; Num_14:14. And compare the poetical description in very similar words of Psa_78:14; Psa_105:39.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Moreover, thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar,.... The Israelites, to shelter them from the heat of the sun in a dry and barren wilderness:

and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go; through a trackless desert, see Exo 13:21.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Vers. 12-21. Israel in the desert.

The people now recount the mercies of God to their fathers in the desert, and confess the sins of which they were guilty there. After deliverance from Egypt, the desert had to be passed before Canaan could be reached; and there the people were instructed and organised, tried and proved, disciplined and chastised, and thus prepared for orderly settlement as a nation in the promised land.

I THE DIVINE FAVOURS BY WHICH THEY WERE DISTINGUISHED.

1. Miraculous guidance (vers. 12, 19).

2. Miraculous provisions (vers. 15, 20, 21).

3. Miraculous legislation (vers. 13, 14).

(1) How the laws were given. Partly by the voice of God from Sinai (ver. 13), chiefly by the mediation of Moses (ver. 14).

(2) Of what, they consisted. In general they are described as "right judgments and true laws," etc. (vers. 13, 14). In particular, the institution of the Sabbath is mentioned (ver. 14) one of the greatest and best gifts of God to them.

1. The gift of God"s "good Spirit" (ver. 20). Reference may be made to the Spirit of God as given to Moses, and to the seventy elders, (Num_11:17, Num_11:25) or even Bezaleel and Aholiab. (Exo_35:31-35) But looking at such passages as Psa_51:11 Psa_143:10, it is quite as possible that the enlightening influence of the Spirit on the minds and hearts of the people in general may be referred to.

2. The command to enter Canaan. Ver. 15, where "promisedst them" (lit. "saidst to them") should probably be "commandedst them." The command, however, virtually included a renewed promise. God had "sworn to give them" it; now they are bid to go in and take possession of it; implying that God would give them possession if they obeyed his call.

II THE GROSS INIQUITIES BY WHICH THEY DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES. Notwithstanding the wonderful manifestations of God amongst them, and his great kindness.

1. Proud and stubborn disobedience (vers. 16, 17).

2. Purpose to return to Egypt. (ver. 17; see Num_14:1-4) Just on the borders of the promised land they refused to advance into it, terrified by the report of most of the spies, and not exercising faith in his power who had wrought for them so mightily. Yea, they proposed to return to the land of bondage, and "appointed a captain to lead them thither.

3. Idolatry (ver. 18). A violation of the fundamental principle of their law.

III THE DIVINE FORBEARANCE, MERCY, AND CONSTANCY (vers. 17, 19, 20). They "wrought great provocations," and numbers of them were heavily punished; yea, all who came out of Egypt, except two, were forbidden to enter Canaan, and died in the wilderness; yet even these continued during their lives to enjoy Divine guidance and sustenance, so that "they lacked nothing." God showed himself "ready to pardon," etc. (ver. 17), and displayed his "manifold mercies," and did not forsake them. To the children he fulfilled the promises, the benefit of which the fathers had forfeited.

IV THE LONG DURATION OF HIS MIRACULOUS SUSTENANCE OF THEM (ver. 21). Lessons:

1. The goodness of God and the depravity of man. The history of Israel is full of both. So is all history. "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord," and also full of human wickedness. Each is rendered more conspicuous by the other; and the contrast makes one appear more glorious, the other more hideous.

2. As, after deliverance from Egypt, the desert had to be traversed before Canaan could be enjoyed, so is it in the Christian life. This world is a desert in comparison with heaven, and the journey through it is difficult and perilous. But it lies between conversion and heaven, and must be crossed.

3. Through this desert, however, God conducts his people. He guides, provides, protects, instructs, governs, and thus trains and prepares them for the promised inheritance. This is our comfort amid all the discomforts and dangers of the journey.

4. In ordinary mercies the agency of God is as real as in the miraculous. Our food, drink, clothing, etc. are as truly his gifts as the manna, etc. which he bestowed on Israel. His power, wisdom, and goodness are as really displayed in them, and both more extensively and more marvellously.

5. Amongst God"s best gifts are his revelations of himself and his laws; his crowning gift is his Spirit. Under the Christian dispensation all these are far superior to the similar blessings vouchsafed to Israel. Our responsibilities are, therefore, greater; our moral and spiritual state should be far higher, our thankfulness more ardent.

6. We have a promise of a better inheritance than Canaan, with a command to journey steadily towards it; let us beware lest we come short of it through unbelief and disobedience.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Connecting Statement:

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

You led them

Yahweh led the Israelites.

you came down

When God talks with his people, he is often described as "coming down" or "coming down from heaven." This is a descriptive way of saying that God appeared to that person. AT: "you appeared" or "you came down from heaven" (See: Idiom and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

righteous decrees and true laws, good statutes and commandments

Both of these double phrases describe the same thing, the law of Moses. (See: Parallelism)

translationWords

column

fire

light

Sinai

heaven

righteous

decree

true

law, laws

good

statute

command

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

by day every day.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.