Comfort for penitents. "Neither be ye grieved." God's word grieves, yet soon says, " Be ye not grieved." I. TO WHOM THIS MAY BE SAID . 1. To true penitents. Such as mourn over sin with a "godly sorrow," and seek mercy through the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ; whether sinners first awakened, or Christians conscious of recent sin. 2. To all such. Even the chief of sinners, the worst of backsliders. II. ON WHAT GROUNDS IT MAY BE SAID . 1.... read more
To make great mirth . Or "great rejoicing," not "mirth" in the sense which the word now commonly bears. read more
The “sending of portions” to the poor is not distinctly mentioned in any but the later historical Scriptures (compare the margin reference). The practice naturally grew out of this injunction of the Law Deuteronomy 16:11, Deuteronomy 16:14. read more
Nehemiah 8:10. Eat the fat, and drink the sweet Feast before the Lord, as the duty of the day requires you to do. Send portions, &c. For the relief of your poor brethren, who otherwise must mourn while you rejoice. Concerning this duty and practice, see Deuteronomy 16:11; Deuteronomy 16:14; Esther 9:10. For this day is holy Being the first new moon in the year, and the feast of trumpets, (Leviticus 23:24,) and the beginning of this joyful month, in which so many days of thanksgiving... read more
Nehemiah 8:11-12. So the Levites stilled the people Whose passions, being once raised, could not very soon be composed. Saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy Cease from weeping and mournful cries, and turn your lamentations into thanksgivings. And the people went their way to eat, &c. Their weeping was stilled, and they complied with the directions that were given them. Because they understood the words that were declared to them Because they now knew God’s will, and their... read more
8:1-13:31 NEHEMIAH’S REFORMSFirst reading of the law (8:1-18)The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the sixth month (see 6:15). Israel’s mid-year meetings and festivals were held during the seventh month (Leviticus 23:24,Leviticus 23:27,Leviticus 23:34), so this was a fitting occasion to assemble the people to celebrate the completion of the rebuilt wall (see 7:73b, 8:1). (The same time of the year had been chosen for the dedication of the rebuilt altar more than ninety years... read more
is = it [is]. joy. Chaldee. hedvah. Occurs only here, 1 Chronicles 16:27 , and Ezra 6:16 . is = that [is]. strength = defence, or refuge. read more
The response of the people 8:9-12Conviction of their departure from God’s will fell on the people as they heard the Law read. Their initial reaction was to mourn and weep (Nehemiah 8:9). However, the Law specified that the Feast of Trumpets was to be a joyous occasion, so Nehemiah urged them to rejoice in the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10). This joy, as they thought about Yahweh, would strengthen and sustain them as a tonic. Eating the fat (Nehemiah 8:9) means eating the best parts. The exposition of... read more
The Reading of the Law by Ezra1. The street] RV ’the broad place’: and so in Nehemiah 8:3, Nehemiah 8:16. The water gate] This probably led to the spring of Gihon (the Virgin’s spring).2. Ezra] It has been argued in the note on Ezra 10:44 that the effort to fortify Jerusalem described in Ezra 4:6-23 was made whilst Ezra was present there, and that the failure of it destroyed for a time his influence among his countrymen. The interval that elapsed between the destruction of the newly-built walls... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said . Either Ezra or Nehemiah, but probably the former, to whom it appertained to give religious directions . Eat the fat and drink the sweet . i.e. "Go and enjoy yourselves, eat and drink of the best—let there be no fasting, nor even abstinence, on such a day as this." But at the same time send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared . Make the poor partakers of your joy. "The stranger, the fatherless, and the widow" should have their part in the feast ( Deuteronomy... read more