George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:10
Wine. Hebrew and Septuagint, "things." Syriac and Arabic have simply, "drink." --- Portions. The Greeks styled them, Greek: merides; and the Latins, sportul'e6. The custom prevailed not only among the Jews, (Esther ix. 19.) but also among Christians and pagans. Moses frequently exhorts the people to invite the poor; (Deuteronomy xvi. 14.) and St. Paul blames the rich Corinthians, for giving no part of their feast to them, 1 Corinthians xi. 21. --- Strength. By this holy joy, we shall be... read more
Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Nehemiah 8:10-12
(10) Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. (11) So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. (12) And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that... read more