Nehemiah , which is the Tirshatha - This puts it out of doubt that, when the Tirshatha is mentioned, Nehemiah himself is intended, Tirshatha being the name of his office. Mourn not , nor weep - This is a holy day to God: a day appointed for general rejoicing in Him who has turned our captivity, restored to us his law, and again established among us his ordinances. read more
Eat the fat , and drink the sweet - Eat and drink the best that you have; and while ye are feeding yourselves in the fear of the Lord, remember those who cannot feast; and send portions to them, that the joy and the thanksgiving may be general. Let the poor have reason to rejoice as well as you. For the joy of the Lord is your strength - This is no gluttonous and drunken festival that enervates the body, and enfeebles the mind: from your religious feast your... read more
The word of life. The public reading and exposition of the law of Moses in the presence of all the people as soon as possible after their settlement in their cities and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. I. THE PEOPLE WANT , and must have, THE SCRIPTURES BOTH FAMILIARISED BY REPETITION AND EXPOUNDED , that they may "have the sense, and understand the reading." 1. As individuals. The law of God the true foundation on which the life must be built up. In that law... read more
The word of God and the ministry of man. One of the most affecting scenes depicted in Holy Writ here invites our thought Our imagination delights to dwell upon it. The sacred and beloved city of God is now secure, its walls are rebuilt, its gates replaced and shut; its inhabitants are no longer struggling with hope and fear,—a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other,—but rejoicing in their strength and peace; internal discords are now arranged, and brethren are dwelling together in... read more
PART II . ACCOUNT OF THE STATE OF RELIGION AMONG THE JEWS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF NEHEMIAH . read more
Religious instruction. "And when the seventh month came," etc. To the well-being of a people the labours of the religious teacher are as necessary as those of the statesman. Nehemiah having provided for the safety of the Jews against their enemies, Ezra, the priest and scribe, steps forward to instruct them in the law of God. Of the manner in which he did this, and the reception his instructions met with, we have a specimen in this narrative. I. The TIME of the meeting. "The first... read more
The word of God in a threefold relationship. I. THE WORD OF GOD AND POPULAR DESIRE . "And they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel." 1. The desire of the people for the word of God. 2. The attitude of the people toward the word of God. II. THE WORD OF GOD AND SPIRITUAL EMOTION . "This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard... read more
Joshua, Bani, Sherebiah , etc. Levitical families, not individual Levites (see Nehemiah 9:4 , Nehemiah 9:5 ; Nehemiah 10:10-13 ; Nehemiah 12:8 , etc.). And the Levites . i.e. "the rest of the Levites." Caused the people to understand the law . Expounding it, during pauses in the reading. The people stood in their place . Rather, " were in their place"—remained throughout the whole of the reading and exposition without quitting their places. It is not probable that they ... read more
They read in the book in the law of God distinctly . That is, so that every word could be distinctly heard. Compare Ezra 4:18 , where a cognate word is translated "plainly." And gave the sense . Translated the Hebrew words into the popular Aramaic or Chaldee . And caused them to understand the reading . Literal]y, "in the reading." In the course of the reading they caused the people to understand by explaining the meaning of each passage. read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 8:8
So they read in the book - For an explanation of this verse, see the observations at the end of the chapter, Nehemiah 8:17 ; (note). read more