12 And all the people went their way, to eat and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great rejoicing. For they had understood the words that were declared to them.
And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law; and the people [stood] in their place. And they read in the law of God distinctly out of the book, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading.
The entrance of thy words giveth light, giving understanding unto the simple.
And they said to one another, Was not our heart burning in us as he spoke to us on the way, [and] as he opened the scriptures to us?
Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy words were unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O Jehovah, God of hosts.
When wisdom entereth into thy heart and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul, discretion shall keep thee, understanding shall preserve thee:
{A Song of degrees.} When Jehovah turned the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing: then said they among the nations, Jehovah hath done great things for them. Jehovah hath done great things for us; [and] we are joyful.
My lips shall pour forth praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.
Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
How sweet are thy ùwords unto my taste! more than honey to my mouth! From thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false path.
The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
I delight myself in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.
The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever; the judgments of Jehovah are truth, they are righteous altogether: They are more precious than gold, yea, than much fine gold; and sweeter than honey and the dropping of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is thy servant enlightened; in keeping them there is 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,