Nehemiah 8:9

This Day Is Holy

9 And Nehemiah, who was ¹the governor, and Ezra ²the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ³“This day is holy to the Lord your God; ⁴do not mourn or weep. ” For all the people wept as 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, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places.

8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep. ” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. ”

11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved. ”

Cross References

• 1. 8:9 ch. 7:65, 70; 10:1; Ezra 2:63
• 2. 8:9 ch. 12:26
• 3. 8:9 ver. 2; Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1
• 4. 8:9 [Eccles. 3:4]