First day — This was the feast of trumpets, which is called a sabbath, and on which they were to have an holy convocation, Leviticus 23:24. And it was on this day, the altar was set up, after their return from captivity; in remembrance of which they had probably kept it ever since, with more than or... [ Continue Reading ]
Understand — As well the words, which being Hebrew, now needed to be translated into the Chaldee or Syriack language, now, the common language of that people, who together with their religion, had also in a great part lost their language; as also the meaning of them: they expounded the mind and will... [ Continue Reading ]
They — Ezra and his companions successively. Sense — The meaning of the Hebrew words, which they expounded in the common language. Thy gave — So they gave them both a translation of the Hebrew words into the Chaldee, and an exposition of the things contained in them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wept — Out of a sense of their guilt and danger by reason of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Eat — Feast before the Lord. Send — For the relief of your poor brethren. Holy — Being the feast of trumpets, and the beginning of this joyful month, wherein so many days of thanksgiving were to be observed. Strength — Rejoicing in God in serving him with chearfulness, and thankfulness, which is you... [ Continue Reading ]
Levites — Chusing rather to confess their ignorance than vainly to pretend to more knowledge than they had: wherein they shew both humility, and serious godliness, that they were more careful to learn their duty than to preserve their reputation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mount — The mount of Olives, which was next Jerusalem, and stored with olive — branches, and probably with the rest: for these trees seem to have been planted hereabouts principally, for the use of the city in this very feast, which, though, long neglected, should have been celebrated every year. An... [ Continue Reading ]
Done so — So, as to the manner and circumstances. They never kept this feast so joyfully, having not only the same causes of rejoicing which they formerly had, but special causes to increase their joy; they never kept it so solemnly and religiously: for whereas at other times, only the first and las... [ Continue Reading ]