John Gill, on Neh 8:9

“And Nehemias (he is Athersatha) and Esdras the priest and scribe, and the Levites who interpreted to all the people, said: This is a holy day to the Lord our God: do not mourn, nor weep: for all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.”

“And Nehemiah which is the Tirshatha,.... Or governor, as Zerubbabel had been, and now Nehemiah, see Ezr 2:63 and Ezra the priest and scribe; see Neh 8:1, and the Levites that taught the people; see Neh 8:7 said unto all the people, this day is holy unto the Lord your God; being both the new moon and the feast of blowing of trumpets: mourn not, nor weep; which was unsuitable to a festival, and especially such an one as this, in which trumpets were to be blown, and gladness to be shown, Num 10:10 for all the people wept when they heard the words of the law; perceiving they had not kept it, but had broke it in many instances, and so liable to the wrath and judgment of God in case of disobedience.”

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