Nehemiah 9:1

_NOW IN THE TWENTY AND FOURTH DAY OF THIS MONTH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE ASSEMBLED WITH FASTING, AND WITH SACKCLOTHES, AND EARTH UPON THEM._ Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month - i:e., on the second day after the close of the Feast of Tabernacles, which commenced on the 14th day and terminated on the 22nd day of Tisri, (Leviticus 23:1.) The day immediately after that feast, the 23rd, had been occupied in separating the delinquents from their unlawful wives, as well, perhaps, as in taking steps for keeping aloof in future from unnecessary contact with the pagan around them. For although this necessary measure of reformation had been begun formerly by Ezra (Ezra 10:1), and satisfactorily accomplished at that time-so far as he had information of the existing abuses, or possessed the

1-3 The word will direct and quicken prayer, for by it the Spirit helps our infirmities in prayer. The careful study of God's word will more and more discover to us our own sinfulness, and the plenteousness of his salvation; thus it calls us to mourn for sin, and to rejoice in him. Every discovery of the truth of God, should render us more unwearied in attendance on his sacred word, and on his worship....

CHAPTER IX _On the_ twenty-fourth _day of the_ seventh _month, the people hold_ _a solemn fast unto the Lord, and confess their sins_, 1-3. _The Levites give a general account of God's kindness and_ _forbearance to them and to their fathers; and acknowledge God's_ _mercies and judgments_, 4-37. _They make a covenant with the Lord_, 38. NOTES ON CHAP. IX Verse Nehemiah 9:1. _NOW IN THE TWENTY AND FOURTH DAY_] The _feast of_ _trumpets_ was on the _first_ day of this month; on the _fourteenth_ began the feast of tabernacles

The festival lasted from the 15th day of the 7th month to the first. The 22nd day was a day of solemn observance Nehemiah 8:18. One day seems to have been allowed the people for rest; and then the work of repentance, for which they had shown themselves ready Nehemiah 8:9, was taken in hand, and a general fast was proclaimed....

EXPOSITION SOLEMN FAST KEPT, WITH CONFESSION OF SINS; AND VOLUNTARY COVENANT WITH GOD ENTERED INTO BY THE PEOPLE, AND SEALED TO BY THE PRINCES, PRIESTS, AND LEVITES (Nehemiah 9:1.). When the law was first read to them on the opening day of the seventh month, the people had shown strong feelings of compunction, an earnest desire to return to God by the thorny way of repentance. In checking this feeling on that particular day, Ezra and Nehemia

CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The public humiliation and confession (Nehemiah 9:1)_ 2. The great confession and prayer (Nehemiah 9:6) Nehemiah 9:1. Two days after the feast of tabernacles had been concluded this humiliation and confession of sin took place. The assembled congregation fasted, with sackcloth and earth upon them. Separation was next. Evil confessed must mean evil put away. They separated themselves from all strangers, and after their confession they worshipped the Lord. Here again is the right order of a spiritual revival. Reading, hearing and believing the Word always comes first; humiliation, self-judgment, confession and true worship follow....

THE FAST AND A NATIONAL CONFESSION. All that took place, as described in this section, was the result of the reading of the Law. The command to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles having been observed, there followed a spontaneous outburst of self-condemnation on the part of the people, who were conscience-stricken on account of having hitherto neglected to observe the Law; they had clearly been desirous of expressing their sorrow before (see Nehemiah 8:9), but it would have been inappropriate during the feast. Fasting and prayerful confession were fitly followed (see next section) by a solemn act of resolution of amendment. Nehemiah 9:1. the twenty and fourth day: the second day after the celebration of the feast, _i.e._ in the seventh month (see...

THIS MONTH. In 404 B.C., not in 426 B.C. (Nehemiah 7:73). Same as Ezra 9:1. See App-58. CHILDREN. sons....

_in the twenty and fourth day of this month_ i. e. on the second day after the 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacles. _fasting_ Cf. Ezra 8:21; Ezra 10:6. _sackclothes_ R.V. SACKCLOTH. The symbol of sorrow, often of the sorrow of penitence, as in Daniel 9:3; Jonah 3:5; Jonah 3:8; 1 Chronicles 21:16. _earth upon them_ For the sign of mourning, earth or dust upon the head, cf. 1 S

IN THE TWENTY-AND-FOURTH DAY OF THIS MONTH— The feast of tabernacles being ended, a day was appointed for a solemn fast; when they assembled; confessed their sins; deprecated the judgments due to the iniquity of their fathers; acknowledged the omnipotence of God in creating and preserving all things; disclaimed all dependance upon that _host of heaven_ which they confessed to be the creatures of God, Nehemiah 9:6.; and enumerated his gracious mercies in their manifold deliverances from their enemies and persecutors....