Nehemiah 8:10

_THEN HE SAID UNTO THEM, GO YOUR WAY, EAT THE FAT, AND DRINK THE SWEET, AND SEND PORTIONS UNTO THEM FOR WHOM NOTHING IS PREPARED: FOR THIS DAY IS HOLY UNTO OUR LORD: NEITHER BE YE SORRY; FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

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....

Verse Nehemiah 8:10. _EAT THE FAT, AND DRINK THE SWEET_] Eat and drink the best that you have; and while ye are feeding yourselves in the fear of the Lord, remember those _who cannot feast_; and send _portions_ to them, that the joy and the thanksgiving may be general. Let the poor have reason to rejoice as well as you. _FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH._] This is no gluttonous and drunken festival that _enervates_ the body, and _enfeebles_ the mind: from your religious feast your bodies will acquire _strength_ and your minds power and fervour, so that you shall be able to DO HIS will, and to do it _cheerfully_. _Religious_ _joy_, properly tempered with continual dependence on the help of God, meekness of mind, and self-diffidence, is a powerful means of strengthening the soul. In such a state every duty

The “sending of portions” to the poor is not distinctly mentioned in any but the later historical Scriptures (compare the margin reference). The practice naturally grew out of this injunction of the Law Deuteronomy 16:11, Deuteronomy 16:14....

PART II. ACCOUNT OF THE STATE OF RELIGION AMONG THE JEWS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF NEHEMIAH. EXPOSITION RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE PEOPLE BY EZRA, AND CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES (Nehemiah 8:1.). It can scarcely be imagined that Ezra had been present in Jerusalem during the exciting scenes which have been enacted in the first part of this Book, an

II. THE SPIRITUAL REVIVAL CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The reading of the law before the water gate (Nehemiah 8:1)_ 2. A day of joy and not of mourning (Nehemiah 8:9) 3. The keeping of the feast of tabernacles (Nehemiah 8:13) Nehemiah 8:1. This interesting chapter gives the record of a gracious revival through the reading of the law. All the people gathered themselves together as one man in the street that was before the water gate, the place which suggests the cleansing and refreshing power of the Word. And as a united people they had but one desire, to hear the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded, to I

PART IV (Nehemiah 7:73_ b_ - Nehemiah 10:39). EZRA AND THE LAW. Nehemiah 7:73 b - Nehemiah 8:12. The Reading of the Law. Nehemiah 7:73 b. These words are repeated by mistake from Ezra 3:1. NEHEMIAH 8:1. _Cf._ Ezra 7:6. It is clear that we have here only part of the ori

SEND PORTIONS FOR WHOM NOTHING IS PREPARED. It was the direction of the law that the enjoyment of the great feasts should be extended to the poor, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow (Deuteronomy 16:11-14). Hence, it became customary to send portions to those who were not present as partakers. THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH. The joy of the Lord is. very different thing from frivolous mirth. It is. deep religious joy,. delight in his worship,. peaceful trust,. thankfulness for his mercies. Paul bids to "Rejoice in the Lord." It was not wrong that the Jews should mourn over their sins, but they were prohibited from marring. festive occasion with an expression of sorrow. Joy in the Lord strengthens the soul against the day of trial....

IS. it [is]. JOY. Chaldee. _hedvah._ Occurs only here, 1 Chronicles 16:27, and Ezra 6:16. is. that [is]. STRENGTH. defence, or refuge....

Nehemiah 7:73; Nehemiah 7:73. The Reading of the Law This verse begins a new section in the work. The style alters. The use of the first pers. sing. is resumed in Nehemiah 12:31. The Compiler has recourse to other material for this narrative. The thread of Nehemiah's Memoir, which was broken off at Nehemiah 7:5, is therefore not resumed. _and when the seventh month came_ R.V. AND WHEN THE SEVENTH MONTH WAS COME. The R.V. gives the right division of the verse. The second clause introduces a new section. Very similar words occur in Ezra 3:1 aft