So the Levites stilled all the people ,.... Made them quiet and easy, being backed by the governor: saying, hold your peace ; refrain from weeping and mourning: for the day is holy ; a festival, set apart for joy and gladness: neither be ye grieved ; inwardly; as they were not to show any signs of sorrow outwardly, so they were not to cherish grief inwardly. 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
Penitence turned into praise. I. ALL TRUE REJOICING MUST BE FOUNDED ON RECONCILIATION WITH GOD . 1. The righteousness of God in his law, while it condemns man, and makes the people to weep when they see their sin in its light, is yet declared not for condemnation, but for reconciliation. 2. The true ministers of God will proclaim mercy, not judgment, as the substance of their message. "This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep." There is a... read more
Religious emotion. The scene through which the redeemed and now secured nation was passing was fruitful of excitement. Everything conspired to affect the minds and stir the souls of the people. Large multitudes are soon wrought into intense feeling, and all that the assembled Israelites were then seeing, hearing, and doing,—this, taken with all they. recalled of old scenes and past glories, and these experiences and recollections mingled with reviving hopes of future freedom,—all together... read more
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
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
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 8:9-12
We may here observe, I. How the people were wounded with the words of the law that were read to them. The law works death, and speaks terror, shows men their sins, and their misery and danger because of sin, and thunders a curse against every one that continues not in every part of his duty. Therefore when they heard it they all wept (Neh. 8:9): it was a good sign that their hearts were tender, like Josiah's when he heard the words of the law. They wept to think how they had offended God, and... read more