Nehemiah 9:34

34 Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws.

Nehemiah 9:34 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 9:34

Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our
fathers, kept thy law
All ranks of men, from the highest to the lowest, had shown no regard, nor yielded obedience to the holy law of God:

nor hearkened unto thy commandments, and thy testimonies, wherewith
thou didst testify against them;
moral and ceremonial, which were a testification of the will of God to them, and a testimony against them if they observed them not.

Nehemiah 9:34 In-Context

32 “And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now.

33 Every time you punished us you were being just. We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved.

34 Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws.

35 Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness.

36 “So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land.