9 Then 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 were weeping when they heard the words of the law . 10 Then he said to them, "Go , eat of the fat , drink of the sweet , and send portions to him who has nothing prepared ; for this day is holy to our Lord . Do not be grieved , for the joy of the Lord is your strength ." 11 So the Levites calmed all the people , saying , "Be still , for the day is holy ; do not be grieved ." 12 All the people went away to eat , to drink , to send portions and to celebrate a great festival , because they understood the words which had been made known to them.
13 Then on the second day the heads of fathers' households of all the people , the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law . 14 They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month . 15 So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem , saying , " Go out to the hills , and bring olive branches and wild e olive branches , myrtle branches , palm branches and branches of other leafy trees , to make booths , as it is written ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 8:9-15
Commentary on Nehemiah 8:9-12
(Read Nehemiah 8:9-12)
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 whom nothing was prepared. It is the duty of a religious feast, as well as of a religious fast, to draw out the soul to the hungry; God's bounty should make us bountiful. We must not only give to those that offer themselves, but send to those out of sight. Their strength consisted in joy in the Lord. The better we understand God's word, the more comfort we find in it; the darkness of trouble arises from the darkness of ignorance.
Commentary on Nehemiah 8:13-18
(Read Nehemiah 8:13-18)
They found written in the law about the feast of tabernacles. Those who diligently search the Scriptures, find things written there which they have forgotten. This feast of tabernacles was a representation of the believer's tabernacle state in this world, and a type of the holy joy of the gospel church. The conversion of the nations to the faith of Christ, is foretold under the figure of this feast, Zechariah 14:16. True religion will render us strangers and pilgrims upon earth. We read and hear the word acceptably and profitably, when we do according to what is written therein; when what appears to be our duty is revived, after it has been neglected. They minded the substance; else the ceremony had been of no use. They did it, rejoicing in God and his goodness. These are the means which the Spirit of God crowns with success, in bringing the hearts of sinners to tremble and to become humbled before God. But those are enemies to their own growth in holiness, who always indulge sorrow, even for sin, and put away from them the consolations tendered by the word and Spirit of God.