George Leo Haydock, on Neh 9:17

“And they would not hear, and they remembered not thy wonders which thou hadst done for them. And they hardened their necks, and gave the head to return to their bondage, as it were by contention. But thou, a forgiving God, gracious, and merciful, longsuffering, and full of compassion, didst not forsake them.”

“Their head. Or appointed a leader instead of Moses, (Numbers xiv. 4.; Menochius) or an idol, Exodus xxxii. 1. Septuagint, “they gave a beginning, or a chief to return.” Syriac, “their heart returned to their crimes.” (Calmet) — Protestants, “and in their rebellion appointed a captain to,” &c. They turned their back upon the promised land, and set their faces to return into Egypt. (Haydock) — Sinners are not deprived of free-will. (Worthington)”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.