Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.
We may here observe, I. How the people were wounded with the words of the law that were read to them. The law works death, and speaks terror, shows men their sins, and their misery and danger because of sin, and thunders a curse against every one that continues not in every part of his duty.
Commenting on Nehemiah 8:9-12
And Nehemiah which is the Tirshatha,.... Or governor, as Zerubbabel had been, and now Nehemiah, see Ezr 2:63 and Ezra the priest and scribe; see Neh 8:1, and the Levites that taught the people; see Neh 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...
THE PEOPLE COMFORTED. (Neh 8:9-15) This day is holy unto the Lord . . . mourn not, nor weep--A deep sense of their national sins, impressively brought to their remembrance by the reading of the law and its denunciations, affected the hearts of the people with penitential sorrow.
Commenting on Nehemiah 8:9-15