John Trapp on Nehemiah 8:9

Verſe 9.Mr. Clarks Lives, Part. 2. pag. 31. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirſhata] Or Governour, See Ezra 2.63. He had Jovianus the Emperours wiſhed happineſſe, which was, that he might govern wiſe men, and that wiſe men might govern him.

And Ezra the Prieſt and Scribe] See ver. 3.

And the Levites that taught the people] That numerus nominum, id eſt, hominum mentioned, ver. 7. Men moſt happy in ſuch melting hearers. We now-adayes prevail as little, as Bede did, when he preached to an heap of ſtones.

This day is holy unto the Lord your God] Your mourning therefore, now is as much out of ſeaſon, as Sampſon's Wives weeping was at her wedding. All Gods worſhips were to be celebrated with joy, Deut. 12.7. and ſacrifices offered in mourning, were abomination, Hoſ. 9.4. See Mal. 2.13. with the Note.

Mourn not, nor weep] Sc. Under ſenſe of ſin, and fear of wrath. This they were called to at another time, Eſay 22.12. Jam. 4 9, 10. but every thing is beautiful in its ſeaſon, Eccleſ. 3.3.

For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law] For like cauſe as Joſiah did, 2 King. 22.11, 19. His tender heart was troubled and terrified by the menaces of Gods mouth uttered againſt his and the peoples ſins. Hence ſome inferre, that it was the Decalogue (together with the malediction) that was now read and applied: and that made them weep ſo faſt. Get thee Gods Law, (ſaith holy Bradford) as a glaſſe to look in—ſo ſhall you ſee your face foul-arrayed, and ſo ſhameful, mangy, pockey, and ſcabbed, that you cannot but be ſorry at the contemplation thereof—eſpecially if you look to the tag tied to Gods Law: which is ſuch,Serm. of Rep. pag. 20.26, 27. as cannot but make us caſt our curriſh tayles betwixt our legges, if we beleeve it. But oh faithleſſe hard hearts! O Jezebels gueſts, rocked and laid aſleep in her bed, &c.!