Nehemiah 9:28-31

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         28.  But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou 
        them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they 
        returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou 
        deliver them according to thy mercies;  29.  And testifiedst against them, that thou 
        mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy 
        commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in 
        them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.  30.  Yet 
        many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy 
        prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the 
        people of the lands.  31.  Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly 
        consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
      
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        	29.and withdrew the shoulder,Which is a sign taken from oxen that shrink at the yoke or 
        burden in (Zechariah 7:11). But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and 
        stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
      
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        	Verse 30. Many years didst thou forbear It is supposed that Nehemiah refers here 
        principally to the ten tribes. And many years did God bear with them; not less than two 
        hundred and fifty-four years from their separation from the house of David, till their 
        captivity and utter dispersion under Shalmaneser; during the whole of which time God 
        invariably warned them by his prophets; or, as it is here said, by thy Spirit in thy 
        prophets, which gives us the true notion of Divine inspiration. God's Spirit was given to 
        the prophets; and they testified to the people, accordingas they were taught and 
        influenced by this Spirit. 
      
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