Nehemiah 9:35

35 They did not serve thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness which thou gavest them, and in the large and rich land which thou didst set before them; and they did not turn from their wicked works.

Nehemiah 9:35 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 9:35

For they have not served thee in their kingdom
When in it, whether of Israel or of Judah, and when in the most flourishing circumstances:

and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them;
amidst all the prosperity and affluence of good things they enjoyed, which was an obligation upon them to serve the Lord;

and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them;
the land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk, which lay open for them, their enemies being driven out before them, see ( Nehemiah 9:25 ) ,

neither turned they from their wicked works;
their idolatries more especially.

Nehemiah 9:35 In-Context

33 Yet thou hast been just in all that has come upon us, for thou hast dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly;

34 our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept thy law or heeded thy commandments and thy warnings which thou didst give them.

35 They did not serve thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness which thou gavest them, and in the large and rich land which thou didst set before them; and they did not turn from their wicked works.

36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that thou gavest to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves.

37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins; they have power also over our bodies and over our cattle at their pleasure, and we are in great distress."