George Leo Haydock, on Neh 8:10

“And he said to them: Go, eat fat meats, and drink sweet wine, and send portions to them that have not prepared for themselves: because it is the holy day of the Lord, and be not sad: for the joy of the Lord is our strength.”

“Wine. Hebrew and Septuagint, “things.” Syriac and Arabic have simply, “drink.” — Portions. The Greeks styled them, merides ; and the Latins, sportulæ. The custom prevailed not only among the Jews, (Esther ix. 19.) but also among Christians and pagans. Moses frequently exhorts the people to invite the poor; (Deuteronomy xvi. 14.) and St. Paul blames the rich Corinthians, for giving no part of their feast to them, 1 Corinthians xi. 21. — Strength. By this holy joy, we shall be encouraged to perform all our duties. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “Be not downcast, because he (the Lord) is our strength.” (Haydock)”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.