Nehemiah 8:9

¶ 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.

And Nehemiah {H5166}, which is the Tirshatha {H8660}, and Ezra {H5830} the priest {H3548} the scribe {H5608}, and the Levites {H3881} that taught {H995} the people {H5971}, said {H559} unto all the people {H5971}, This day {H3117} is holy {H6918} unto the LORD {H3068} your God {H430}; mourn {H56} not, nor weep {H1058}. For all the people {H5971} wept {H1058}, when they heard {H8085} the words {H1697} of the law {H8451}.

Nechemyah the Tirshata, 'Ezra the cohen and Torah-teacher and the L'vi'im who taught the people said to all the people, "Today is consecrated to ADONAI your God; don't be mournful, don't weep." For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the Torah.

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.

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

Commentary

Nehemiah 8:9 captures a pivotal moment of spiritual revival in post-exilic Jerusalem, as the community, having returned from Babylonian captivity and rebuilt the city walls, encounters the Word of God in a profound way. This verse highlights the compassionate leadership of Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites who guide the people through an emotional and transformative experience.

Context

This verse follows the powerful public reading of the Law (Torah) by Ezra the priest and scribe, described in Nehemiah 8:1-8. For generations, the people had neglected God's commands, and hearing the Law read and explained caused a deep conviction among them. The setting is the first day of the seventh month, which was the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23-25), a day designated as holy to the LORD. Nehemiah, serving as the Tirshatha (a Persian title for governor), along with Ezra and the Levites, recognized the people's sorrow but redirected their focus towards the sanctity and joy of the day.

Key Themes

  • The Power of God's Word: The Law, when clearly proclaimed and understood, brought the people to a realization of their sin and a deep sense of repentance. This demonstrates the transformative power of divine truth.
  • Repentance and Conviction: The people's weeping was a natural and appropriate response to hearing God's holy standards and recognizing their own failures. It signifies a genuine spiritual awakening and sorrow for sin.
  • The Sanctity of the Day: Despite the genuine sorrow, the leaders declared the day "holy unto the LORD." This emphasizes that certain times are set apart for God's glory and a spirit of reverence and joy should prevail, even amidst a process of repentance.
  • Shifting from Mourning to Joy: The command to "mourn not, nor weep" indicates a divine intention for God's people to move from sorrow over sin to the joy found in His forgiveness and presence. This theme is further elaborated in Nehemiah 8:10.

Linguistic Insights

  • Tirshatha: This is a Persian loanword, indicating Nehemiah's role as the Persian-appointed governor. It signifies his administrative and political authority over the province of Judah.
  • Holy (Hebrew: qodesh): The word implies being "set apart" or "consecrated" for a special purpose, specifically for God. Declaring the day holy meant it was to be treated with reverence and celebrated in a manner befitting its divine dedication.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 8:9 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Embrace God's Word: Just as the Law impacted the Israelites, diligent engagement with the Bible can bring conviction, leading to necessary repentance and spiritual growth.
  • Balance Conviction with Grace: While sorrow over sin is a vital step in true repentance, believers are not meant to remain in perpetual mourning. God's grace and forgiveness allow for a transition to joy and celebration of His goodness.
  • The Joy of the Lord: The ultimate goal of repentance is not perpetual sorrow, but renewed fellowship and joy in God. This joy provides strength for living righteously and serving Him.
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Cross-References

  • Nehemiah 7:70 (6 votes)

    And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.

  • Nehemiah 7:65 (6 votes)

    And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood [up] a priest with Urim and Thummim.

  • Deuteronomy 12:12 (5 votes)

    And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that [is] within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.

  • Nehemiah 8:2 (4 votes)

    And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

  • Deuteronomy 16:11 (4 votes)

    And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that [is] within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that [are] among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

  • Deuteronomy 12:7 (3 votes)

    And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.

  • Leviticus 23:24 (3 votes)

    Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first [day] of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.