John Trapp on Nehemiah 8:11

Verſe 11. So the Levites ſtilled all the people] Made them hold their tongues, and forbear their groanes, and moanes, the expreſſions of their great grief conceived for their ſins; making a wayling like the Dragons, mourning as the owles, and ſaying, Look away from me, I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, &c. But theſe holy Levites did comfort them;Mic. 18. Iſai 22.4. and quiet them.

Saying, Hold your peace] Or, S'[illegible: 1 letter]: Peace and be ſtill.

For the day is holy] And God loves not the bread of mourners for a ſacrifice; is like as none might come into the Court of Perſia in mourning-weeds, Eſth. 4. ver. 4. See ver. 9.

Neither be ye grieved] It ſeems, their hearts were even leavened and ſowred with ſorrow, as Davids was, Pſal. 73.21.