Nehemiah 8:3. He read therein, from the morning until mid-day In the Hebrew, the words are, from the light, that is, from the break of day, or the sun-rising, until noon: Then, it is likely, they went to take some refreshment, it being a festival, and a day of great rejoicing. read more
Nehemiah 8:4. Ezra stood upon a pulpit of wood To raise him higher than the people; that he might be better seen and heard by them all; whence, in the Hebrew, it is called a tower of wood: but it was not like our pulpits, made to contain only one or two persons, but large and long, that many might stand in it at once, as appears from so many as fourteen, here mentioned, standing in it. And beside him stood Mattithiah, &c. These stood with him, partly to declare their consent and... read more
Nehemiah 8:5-6. When he opened it, all the people stood up Either in reverence to God’s word, or that they might hear his words more distinctly. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God He blessed him as the great God, superior to all other powers whatsoever; and gave honour to him by praising his perfections, and praying for his favour. And all the people answered, Amen! Amen! In token of their concurrence with him, both in the praises and prayers. With lifting up their hands In... read more
Nehemiah 8:7. The Levites caused the people to understand the law As well the words, which, being Hebrew, needed to be translated into the Chaldee or Syriac language, now the common language of that people; who, together with their religion, had also, in a great part, lost their language; as also the meaning of them: they expounded the mind and will of God in what they read, and applied it to the people’s present condition. The people stood in their place That is, in their several places... read more
Nehemiah 8:8. So they read in the book of the law To wit, Ezra and his companions, successively. And gave the sense The meaning of the Hebrew words, which they expounded in the common language And caused them to understand the reading Or that which they read, namely, the Holy Scriptures; the action being put for the object, as hearing for the thing heard, and fearing for the thing feared. So they gave them both a translation of the Hebrew words, into the Chaldee or Syriac, and an... read more
Nehemiah 8:9. This day is holy unto the Lord your God Namely, as a day of feasting and thanksgiving to God, and rejoicing in his mercies; for otherwise even days of fasting were holy to God in general, though not in the sense here meant. Mourn not, nor weep Be not sorry, Nehemiah 8:10. Hold your peace: neither be ye grieved, Nehemiah 8:11. Every thing is beautiful in its season. As we must not be merry, when God calls to mourning; so we must not afflict ourselves, and be swallowed... 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
Nehemiah 8:13. On the second day were gathered to him the chief of the fathers, the priests, &c. Thus manifesting both humility and serious godliness, in that they chose rather to confess their ignorance, in order that they might be instructed, than vainly to pretend to more knowledge than they had, and were more careful to learn and practise their duty than to preserve their reputation with the people. To understand the words of the law That they might obtain a more perfect knowledge... read more
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Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 8:2
Nehemiah 8:2. Upon the first day of the seventh month This was the feast of trumpets, which is called a sabbath, and on which they were to have a holy convocation, Leviticus 23:24. And it was on this day the altar was set up, after their return from captivity; in remembrance of which they had probably kept it ever since, with more than ordinary solemnity. read more