Nehemiah 9:25

strong cities R.V. fenced cities. Cf. Deuteronomy 9:1; Joshua 14:12, e.g. Jericho, Ai, and Hebron, but it was a long time before all the cities were reduced. Thus Jerusalem held out until David's reign. (Cf. Judges 1:8; Judges 1:21.)

a fat land i.e. fat soil, -adamah." In Numbers 13:20 the country (-erec̣") is spoken of as -fat" or -lean." Cf. Deuteronomy 8:7-9 for a fuller description of the land's fatness.

fullof all goods R.V. full of all good things.

wells digged R.V. cisterns hewn out.

The description is almost literally borrowed from Deuteronomy 6:10-11, -great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, and houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and cisterns hewn out, which thou hewedst not, vineyards and olive-yards, which thou plantedst not, and thou shalt eat and be full; then beware lest thou forget the Lord." A poetical description of the material blessings, into the inheritance of which the Israelites passed, is given in Deuteronomy 32:13-14.

became fat Cf. Deuteronomy 32:15, -Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked," of the ill effects of luxury and prosperity.

delighted themselves The Hebrew word occurs only here in the O. T. = -they luxuriated." It is from the same root as -Eden." LXX. ἐνετρύφησαν.