Nehemiah 8:9

Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites.

The conductors of the festivities of the day, are all named here together. Nehemiah is called the Tirshatha, the Persian title for governor, here for the first time, though in chapter 7:65 the term is used. Ezra is named in both his offices as. priest and scribe. The Levitical assistants who repeated the words spoken so that all the people might hear are named in verse 7.

This day is holy.

It was the day of. "Holy Convocation," the "feast of Trumpets." See verse 2. When the people heard the words of the law, and saw so vividly how they had sinned they wept, but they were restrained. It was not. day of mourning and weeping, but. joyous day. There are some who think that they can only worship God by tears, groans, and. long countenance. He is more delighted with our joys and thanksgivings than with our repinings and lamentations. How often in the Psalms is it enjoined to "make. joyful noise unto the Lord." The Savior rebuked the "sad countenance" of the hypocrites.