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.
For many years you were patient with them and warned them through your Spirit speaking through your prophets. But they wouldn't listen, so you allowed the people of other nations to conquer them.
God is incredibly patient, giving people many chances to turn back to him, but when they persistently refuse to listen, he allows consequences to follow.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of a prayer recited during Nehemiah's time when the Israelites were confessing their nation's long history of disobedience. It refers to the period before the Babylonian exile when God sent prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel to warn Israel and Judah about their sins, but the people ignored these warnings and were eventually conquered and exiled.
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