Nehemiah 8:9

9 Nechemyah, who was the governor, and Ezra the Kohen the Sofer, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the LORD your God; don't mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Nehemiah 8:9 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 8:9

And Nehemiah which is the Tirshatha
Or governor, as Zerubbabel had been, and now Nehemiah, see ( Ezra 2:63 )

and Ezra the priest and scribe;
see ( Nehemiah 8:1 Nehemiah 8:2 ) ,

and the Levites that taught the people;
see ( Nehemiah 8:7 )

said unto all the people, this day is holy unto the Lord your God;
being both the new moon and the feast of blowing of trumpets:

mourn not, nor weep;
which was unsuitable to a festival, and especially such an one as this, in which trumpets were to be blown, and gladness to be shown, ( Numbers 10:10 )

for all the people wept when they heard the words of the law;
perceiving they had not kept it, but had broke it in many instances, and so liable to the wrath and judgment of God in case of disobedience.

Nehemiah 8:9 In-Context

7 Also Yeshua, and Bani, and Sherevyah, Yamin, `Akkuv, Shabbetai, Hodiyah, Ma`aseyah, Kelita, `Azaryah, Yozavad, Hanan, Pelayah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place.

8 They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

9 Nechemyah, who was the governor, and Ezra the Kohen the Sofer, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the LORD your God; don't mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

10 Then he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord: neither be you grieved; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your shalom, for the day is holy; neither be you grieved.