Nehemiah 8:9

9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe , and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, 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 Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly , and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe , and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep . For all the people wept , when they heard the words of the law.

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 .

Footnotes

• [a]. the Tirshatha: or, the governor