Chapter 9

Starts on the 24th of Tishri, just a week or so after 8, and the people are wearing sackcloth and have earth on their heads.  Those of Israel separate themselves from foreigners and confess their sins and the sins of their fathers.  They read the book, they worship, and then the Levites lead them in further worship.  The revival is ongoing.   

The Levites begin a recitation of the history of the nation, beginning with Abram, from Ur of the Chaldees up until their present time.  This history comprises most of chapter 9. 

The nation is repentant before God, recounting several big rebellions and noting that there were repeated rebellions and chastisements, repentance, and repatriations, but that each repentance has been followed by further rebellion.  Even from the Assyrians until this time.  This verse, summarizing at the end of the prayer of the Levites:

35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. [Neh 9:35-36 ESV]

They have been brought back yet again, but even here in the land God gave Abraham, they are slaves.  Still under chastisement.  So they sign a sealed document, containing a firm covenant - the commitment of the princes, the Levites, and the priests, to follow God's law.  They are repentant.  Repentance is required for forgiveness, for restored blessings.  God's punishments are always just.  With Israel, punishment had been declared by God - His wrath unleashed - and He said over and over in Jeremiah that He would not relent, would not forego.  There will be no parole.  They were going to have to serve out their entire sentence this time.  The whole history recounted in 9 shows that God had forgiven the nation countless times, restored them, had set aside the rest of the chastisement, basically paroled them, and they repeatedly, consistently rebelled again, every single time.  This is why they were given double punishment this time.  And certainly by the time Jesus arrives, they have returned to their rebellious ways.

I think it is important that from the return from Babylon, there was never again a King of Israel.  The office of High Priest remained until 70 AD, but there was no King.  They were not technically a nation during the time between the return and 70 AD.  Though they are on the map today as a nation, no son of David sits on the throne of Israel.  They are still set aside.  They are only marking time.  The only Jews now preserved are those that are part of the New Covenant in the church. 

But their time will come.  In the Millennial, they will have both King and Priest again.