Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Nehemiah 9

The tenth day of the seventh month between the feast of trumpets (Nehemiah 8:2) and the feast of tabernacles (Nehemiah 9:14) was appointed to be the day of atonement; we have no reason to think but that it was religiously observed, though it is not mentioned. But here we have an account of an occasional fast that was kept a fortnight after that, with reference to the present posture of their affairs, and it was, as that, a day of humiliation. There is a time to weep as well as a time to laugh. We have here an account. I. How this fast was observed, Nehemiah 9:1-9:3. II. What were the heads of the prayer that was made to God on that occasion, wherein they made a thankful acknowledgment of God’s mercies, a penitent confession of sin, and a humble submission to the righteous hand of God in the judgments that were brought upon them, concluding with a solemn resolution of new obedience, Nehemiah 9:4-9:38. MHBCC 423.1