Nehemiah 9 (résumé): The Israelites confess their sins

This chapter is a long detailed confession of sin by the people, confession for the sins of their ancestors, and praise to God. Initially the people fasted wearing sackcloth with dust on their heads, confessing their sins and that of their fathers. They read the book of the Law for a quarter of the day and confessed and worshiped for another quarter. Then some Levites told them to stand up and praise the Lord.

Then the people praised and exalted God as the sovereign giver of life. God is praised too as the God of Abram and as the God who delivered his people from Egypt. God is also worshiped as the giver of the Law and as the provider of food and water in the wilderness. They then confessed the stiff-neckedness of their forefathers but recognized the gracious forgiving compassion of God. God's compassion is exalted during 40 years in the desert. God is praised for giving his people Canaan and they ate to the full and were well nourished. Yet Israel confessed disobedience and rebellion, the killing of the prophets and blasphemy. However God heard their cry for help and compassion from heaven. Despite God's mercy they again practiced evil and God warned them to return to the Law, but as the people ignored God he had turned them over to neighbouring peoples. But the justice of God in everything was recognized together with God's faithfulness, and Israel despite this strayed far from God. Thus it is confessed that because of their disobedience  the Jews today are slaves in their own land. So the people made a binding agreement before God to change their wicked ways.