The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah — Section 89

EXPOSITION. day had ceased. Perhaps the time for pre- CHAPTER IX. paration which the selection of this "feast SOLEMN FAST XEPT, WITH CONFESSION of sorrow" would have allowed seemed too OF SINS ; O"D VOLUNTAJJ.Y COVENANT WITH short Perhaps it was thought undesirable GOD E:l\"TERED I:i-.'TO BY THE PEOPLE, AND to select for an extraordinary national act of SF.AI.ED TO BY THE PRINCES, PRIESTS, AND self-humiliation a day which already pos- LEVITES (eh. ix.). When the law wa.s first sessed its own routine, and possibly its own read to them on the opening da.y of the ritual, of repentance. In any case, the fact se,enth month, the people had shown strong was that the civil and ecclesiastical authori- feelings of compunction, an ea.rnest desire ties came to the determination not to make to return to God by the thorny way of re- any special use of the regular annual fast pentance. In checking this feeling on that day, but to leave the observance of that particular day, Ezra and Nehemiah had con- occasion to the people's natural bent, and fonned to prevalent ideas on the subject of appoint a different day-one which had no festival observance, but had not intended traditional customs attached to it-for the to thwart the popular desire for some dis- solemn act of penitence on which the heart tinct penitential action, some marked public of the nation was set. As the feast of taber- proceedings, which should at once furnish a nacles lasted from the 15th of Tisri to the vent to pent-up feeling, and serve a.s a start- 22nd, it was necessary either to select a day ing-point from which individuals, or even before that holy week or after it. A day the nation, might enter upon a new career. between the 10th and the 15th would have It is a very curious circumstance, and one not followed too close upon the day of atone- easy of explanation, that they did not fix on ment; a day, therefore, was appointed after the 10th of the month-the "great day of the festival was over. Not, however, the atonement" -aB the most appropriate day of very next day-the transition from joy to national humiliation and of generalself-ahe.se- sorrow would in that case have been too ment. The proximity of that occai;ion would abrupt-but the next day but one-the 24th natnrally and almost necessarily suggest it (eh. ix. 1). Then, the multitude that had to them, and nothing could well exceed its come up for the feast being still present, a intrinsic fitness. On that day, and that day great fast was kept-sackcloth was worn, only in the whole of the year, every soul wa.s dust was sprinkled on the head; for half the to afflict itself, and whatsoever soul did not day the vast assembly remained in the great do so was to be cut off and destroyed from court of the temple, listening to the words among the people (Levit xxiii 27-29). It of the law for three hours, and for three can scarcely be that the observance of ihe hours confessing their sins (vcr. 3) ; after OIi, JJ(. 1-38.] THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 93