Nehemiah 9:1

THE DAY OF PENITENCE AND PRAYER, Nehemiah 9:1-37.

1. The twenty and fourth day Two days after the close of the feast of tabernacles.

With fasting Or, in fasting; in this way they observed the day. After the seven days’ feast came one day’s fast. They had left off weeping to observe the joyful feasts, (chap. Nehemiah 8:9,) now they return again to sorrow.

With sackcloth Black garments made usually of goats’ hair, (Revelation 6:12,) and used as a penitential garb by mourners when in great distress.

Earth… them Another sign of bitter humiliation and grief. Comp. Joshua 7:5: 1 Samuel 4:12; 2 Samuel 1:2; Job 2:12. In the history of Israel each period, however short, of prosperity and joy seems to have had its dark background of adversity and sadness.