12 And all the people go to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great joy, because they have understood concerning the words that they made known to them.
And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, giving the people understanding in the law, and the people, `are' on their station, and they read in the book, in the law of God, explaining -- so as to give the meaning, and they give understanding to the convocation.
The opening of Thy words enlighteneth, Instructing the simple.
And they said one to another, `Was not our heart burning within us, as he was speaking to us in the way, and as he was opening up to us the Writings?'
Thy words have been found, and I eat them, And Thy word is to me for a joy, And for the rejoicing of my heart, For Thy name is called on me, O Jehovah, God of Hosts.
For wisdom cometh into thy heart, And knowledge to thy soul is pleasant, Thoughtfulness doth watch over thee, Understanding doth keep thee,
A Song of the Ascents. In Jehovah's turning back `to' the captivity of Zion, We have been as dreamers. Then filled `with' laughter is our mouth, And our tongue `with' singing, Then do they say among nations, `Jehovah did great things with these.' Jehovah did great things with us, We have been joyful.
My lips do utter praise, For Thou dost teach me Thy statutes.
The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.
I have inherited Thy testimonies to the age, For the joy of my heart `are' they.
How sweet to my palate hath been Thy saying, Above honey to my mouth. From Thy precepts I have understanding, Therefore I have hated every false path!
Better to me `is' the law of Thy mouth Than thousands of gold and silver!
In Thy statutes I delight myself, I do not forget Thy word.
The precepts of Jehovah `are' upright, Rejoicing the heart, The command of Jehovah `is' pure, enlightening the eyes, The fear of Jehovah `is' clean, standing to the age, The judgments of Jehovah `are' true, They have been righteous -- together. They are more desirable than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; and sweeter than honey, Even liquid honey of the comb. Also -- Thy servant is warned by them, `In keeping them `is' a great reward.'
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Nehemiah 8
Commentary on Nehemiah 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
Ezra came up out of Babylon thirteen years before Nehemiah came, yet we have here a piece of good work which he did, that might have been done before, but was not done till Nehemiah came, who, though he was not such a scholar nor such a divine as Ezra, nor such a scribe in the law of his God, yet was a man of a more lively active spirit. His zeal set Ezra's learning on work, and then great things were done, as we find here, where we have,
Neh 8:1-8
We have here an account of a solemn religious assembly, and the good work that was done in that assembly, to the honour of God and the edification of the church.
Neh 8:9-12
We may here observe,
Neh 8:13-18
We have here,