John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And Nehemiah which is the Tirshatha , etc.] Or governor, as Zerubbabel had been, and now Nehemiah, (see Ezra 2:63) and Ezra the priest and scribe ; (see Nehemiah 8:1,2), 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9-12 - It was a good sign that their hearts were tender, when they heard the words of the law. The people were to send portions to those for who nothing was prepared. It is the duty of a religious feast, as well a of a religious fast, to draw out the soul to the hungry; God's bount should make us bountiful. We must not only give to those that offe themselves, but send to those out of sight. Their strength consisted i joy in the Lord. The better we understand God's word, the more comfor we find in it; the darkness of trouble arises from the darkness of ignorance.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 נחמיה5166 הוא1931 התרשׁתא8660 ועזרא5830 הכהן3548 הספר5608 והלוים3881 המבינים995 את853 העם5971 לכל3605 העם5971 היום3117 קדשׁ6918 הוא1931 ליהוה3068 אלהיכם430 אל408 תתאבלו56 ואל408 תבכו1058 כי3588 בוכים1058 כל3605 העם5971 כשׁמעם8085 את853 דברי1697 התורה׃8451
