These words recall Moses’ prayer on Mount Sinai after the Lord revealed to him his intent to destroy Israel because they had made for themselves a golden calf (Exodus 32:11; Deuteronomy 9:29). In response Moses reminded the Lord that his glorious reputation (achieved through the plagues and miracles leading up to delivering Israel from slavery to Pharaoh) would be damaged in the eyes of the nations (Exodus 32:12; Numbers 14:13–19; Deuteronomy 32:26–27; Isaiah 10:13). By now recalling those same words, Nehemiah is intimating that God’s reputation requires his fulfilling his promise to gather his exiles.
10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.