Nehemiah 9:22

Neh 9:22 Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

Ver. 22. Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations] God gave them all; for he is the true proprietary, he pulleth down one, and setteth up another. This Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged (after he had been turned a grazing), and Charles V, emperor of Germany, who in twenty-eight battles in America, waged by Cortez and Pizarro, won twenty-eight kingdoms. And what a world of nations are swallowed up in the greatness of the Turkish empire! America hath the happiness to be out of their reach.

So they possessed the land of Sihon] God’s favours must not be mentioned in the lump only, and by wholesale; but particularly enumerated and celebrated.

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 9:22. And didst divide them into corners — That is, the heathen nations, whom God in a great measure destroyed, and the remainders of them he dispersed into corners; that whereas, before the Israelites came, they had large habitations, now they were cooped up, some in one town, and some in another, in the several corners of their land, while the Israelites dwelt in a large place, and had the possession of their whole land, some few and small parcels excepted.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Meaning, the heathen whom he drove out.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations--that is, put them in possession of a rich country, of an extensive territory, which had been once occupied by a variety of princes and people.

and didst divide them into corners--that is, into tribes. The propriety of the expression arose from the various districts touching at points or angles on each other.

the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon--Heshbon being the capital city, the passage should run thus: "the land of Sihon or the land of the king of Heshbon."

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 22. The land of Og king of Bashan.] It is most evident that Sihon was king of Heshbon. How then can it be said that they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon? The words the land of the king of Heshbon are wanting in two of De Rossi's MSS. In another MS. the words and the land of are wanting; so that the clause is read, They possessed the land of Sihon, king of Heshbon. The Septuagint has the same reading; the Arabic nearly the same, viz., the land of Sihon, the land of the king of Heshbon. The Syriac has, They possessed the land of Sihon, the land of the KINGS of Heshbon. The reading of the text is undoubtedly wrong; that supported by the MSS. and by the Septuagint is most likely to be the true one. Those of the Arabic and Syriac contain at least no contradictory sense. The and in the Hebrew and our version, distinguishes two lands and two kings; the land of Sihon and the land of the king of Heshbon: when it is most certain that only one land and one king can be meant: but the vau may be translated here as it often is, even: EVEN the land of the king of Heshbon.

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

(22) Divide them into corners.—Strict usage of the term would require: Thou didst divide unto them [these nations] in their boundaries.

And the land.—There is a double reference to Sihon, king of Heshbon. This and Bashan were taken as the earnest of the possession of Canaan.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

22–25. The Conquest of Palestine: Victory

22. The Conquest of the Transjordanic territory.

nations] R.V. peoples.

and didst divide them into corners] R.V. which thou didst allot after their portions. Marg. ‘Or, And didst distribute them into every corner’. The difficulty of rendering arises from the word ‘pêah’ = ‘a corner,’ or ‘edge,’ which the LXX. and Vulg. do not attempt to translate. Used of ‘a corner’ in such passages as Lev_19:9; Lev_19:27; Amo_3:12; it is found with a territorial signification, in Num_24:17 ‘the corners of Moab,’ Jos_15:5; Jos_18:14-15, ‘the north quarter,’ ‘the west quarter,’ ‘the south quarter,’ Jer_48:45 ‘the corner of Moab.’ It does not seem to occur anywhere in a technical sense for ‘a lot’ or ‘an appointed portion.’ ‘To allot according to corner,’ in the sense of ‘after their portions’ (as the R.V.), may give the meaning of the obscure phrase; but no satisfactory parallel to this use of ‘pêah’ occurs in the O. T. This being the case, it is probable that preference should be given to the R.V. marg. ‘into every corner,’ a translation which renders ‘pêah’ literally, and explains the Hebrew idiom by the insertion of the word ‘every.’

Sihon … Og] The victory over these kings at the battles of Jahaz and Edrei is described in Num_21:21-35. It made the children of Israel masters of the E. bank of the Jordan. Reference to the conquest of these two kings is frequent, e.g. Num_32:33; Deu_1:4; Deu_3:1, &c.; Jos_2:10; Psa_135:11; Psa_136:19-20. The territory of the two Amorite kings stretched from the river Jabbok in the S. to the Hauran Mts. in the N., and included the district of Argob. In later days it was divided into Iturea, Gaulanitis, Batanea, Trachonitis and Auranitis.

and the land of the king of Heshbon] R.V. even the land, &c. The ‘copula’ is used to define the previous words, cf. Neh_9:16 ‘they and our fathers.’ Neh_8:7. The LXX. omit ‘and the land’ (Σηὼν βασιλέως Ἐσεβών).

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 gavest them kingdoms and nations,.... The two kingdoms of Sihon and Og, and the seven nations of Canaan:

and didst divide them into corners; or "corner"; into every corner of the land of Canaan, so that they possessed the whole of it, a few cities excepted; Jarchi interprets it of one corner, that they might not be mixed with the people of the land, but be all together in one place; but Aben Ezra understands it of the Canaanites, of their being divided and scattered into corners, when they fled from the Israelites; but the former sense seems best:

so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon; or "eren", or "namely" (z), "the land of the king of Heshbon"; for Sihon was king of Heshbon, and so the land the same:

and the land of Og king of Bashan; those lands both lay on the other side Jordan, and were possessed by the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

(z) So Piscator, Patrick, Rambachius.

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

Thou didst divide them into corners - i. e., parts of the holy land; or as some prefer “thou didst distribute them on all sides.”

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Lots. Hebrew, "them (the Chanaanites, or as it is more commonly understood, the Israelites,) into corners." (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "by lot they possessed," &c. (Haydock) --- Sehon was king of Hesebon, Numbers xxi. 26. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Into corners, or, into a corner. But the singular number is very commonly put for the plural. This is understood, either,

1. Of the Israelites, to whom God divided by lot the

kingdoms and nations last mentioned, and gave them all the corners, or sides, or quarters (for all these the word signifies) of their land. Or rather,

2. Of the heathen nations, whom God in a great measure destroyed, and the remainders of them he dispersed into corners; that whereas before the Israelites came they had large habitations and dominions, now they were cooped up into corners, some of them into one town or city, and some into another, in the several corners of their land, as indeed we find them afterward; whilst thee Israelites dwelt in a large place, and had the possession of their whole land, some few and small parcels excepted. Compare Deu 32:26, where the like phrase is used in the same sense.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

22. Thou gavest them kingdoms and nations — Namely, the kingdoms and peoples of the land of Canaan.

Divide them into corners — Or, divide them according to borders. That is, thou didst divide those kingdoms (their territory) according to definite boundary lines. The conquered land was distributed among the Israelites according to their tribes, as is recorded in the Book of Joshua So Bertheau and Keil explain; but others, as Gesenius, refer the suffix to the Israelites, thus: thou didst distribute them (the Israelites) into various quarters.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Thou didst divide them into corners. i.e. "didst plant them in every corner of the Holy Land, them to possess the whole of it, ultimately, that is, not at first (see the comment on ver. 8). The land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon. The Levites must have known that Sihon was king of Heshbon, and (if the text is sound) must have expressed themselves as they did, by way of rhetorical amplification; perhaps, however, the van after "Sihon" is the mistake of a copyist.

Vers. 22-25. Canaan conquered and possessed.

Continuing the recital of the goodness of God to their nation, the people narrate how their fathers obtained possession of the promised land. All is ascribed to God.

I HE PRESERVED THE NATION to enter the land (ver. 23). Although those who left Egypt died, two excepted, in the desert, their children were multiplied "as the stars of heaven.

II HE CONQUERED THE COUNTRY, AND GAVE THEM POSSESSION OF IT. First, kingdoms east of the Jordan (ver. 22), then the rest of the land (ver. 24). Although the inhabitants were numerous and valiant, he subdued them; through his might they took even "strong cities" (ver. 25).

III THE LAND HE GAVE THEM WAS OF GREAT VALUE, AND AFFORDED THEM MUCH ENJOYMENT (ver. 25).

IV HE THUS FULFILLED HIS PROMISES (ver. 23).

Reflections:

1. The perpetuation of the nation of Israel reminds us of the perpetuity of the Church of Christ. Notwithstanding the death of successive generations of Christians, the ravages of error, worldliness, etc., its continuance is guaranteed by the promise, "The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

2. The fulfilment of the promise of Canaan, after so long a period, should assure us of the fulfilment of all the promises of God. "He is faithful that promised," and be is almighty to overcome all obstacles and opposition.

3. The possession of a good land should excite our gratitude and praise. Our land is superior to Canaan in many respects, supplied with all kinds of advantages which the labours of others have created for us; and, like later generations of Israelites, we inherit it without conquest, and with far less peril of invasion than they experienced. God is the Giver of all, and should ever be praised for all; and we should be concerned lest by godlessness and unrighteousness we forfeit our inheritance.

4. Christians are heirs of "a better country." Heaven is like Canaan, as the gift of God, according to his promises; as a "rest" after much wandering and unrest, and as abounding in whatever can minister to enjoyment, and cause its inhabitants to "delight themselves in God"s great goodness." But it is vastly superior, as a country never polluted by idolatry and wickedness; whose inhabitants are all holy; which no foe can invade, no sin, suffering, or death can enter; whose enjoyments are all pure, spiritual, and without peril; and from which is no expulsion. It is "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and which fadeth not away an eternal possession.

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

Divide - The Heathen nations, whom God in a great measure destroyed, and the remainders of them he dispersed into corners; that whereas before the Israelites came, they had large habitations, now they were cooped up, some in one town, and some in another, in the several corners of their land, while the Israelites dwelt in a large place, and had the possession of their whole land, some few and small parcels excepted.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Connecting Statement:

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

You gave them kingdoms

Yahweh gave the Israelites kingdoms.

gave them kingdoms and peoples

"enabled them to conquer kingdoms and peoples"

assigning to them every corner of the land

"enabling them to possess every part of the land"

Sihon ... Og

These are the names of kings. (See: How to Translate Names)

Heshbon ... Bashan

These are names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

translationWords

kingdom

people group

possess

king

Bashan

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

into a corner Heb. לְפֵאָה, like “to be to the side of one corner,” separate, not mingling with the nations of the lands.

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.