Nehemiah 9:17

And refused to obey ,.... Though exhorted, admonished, and threatened, such was their obstinacy:

neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them ; in delivering them at the Red sea, in raining manna about them, and giving them water out of the rock:

but hardened their necks ; see the preceding verse:

and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage ; they not only proposed it, but determined upon it, which is reckoned the same as if they had done it, see Numbers 14:4 ,

but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness ; as he had proclaimed his name before Moses, and as the whole of his conduct towards the people of Israel abundantly shewed, see Exodus 34:6

and forsookest them not ; when in the wilderness, where otherwise they must have perished, but still fed and protected them, notwithstanding their provocations.