And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
Then Nehemiah the governor, along with Ezra the priest and teacher, and the Levites who were instructing the people, said to everyone, 'This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Don't be sad or cry.' They said this because all the people were weeping when they heard the words of God's law.
The leaders told the people to stop crying and instead celebrate, because hearing God's law should be a joyful occasion, not a time for mourning.
📚 Historical Context
This scene takes place after the Jewish people returned from exile in Babylon and rebuilt Jerusalem's walls. Ezra was reading God's law aloud to the people for the first time in generations, and many wept as they realized how far they had strayed from God's commands. The leaders recognized this as a holy day of rediscovery, not condemnation.
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