Conviction of their departure from God's will fell on the people as they heard the Law read. Their initial reaction was to mourn and weep (v. 9). However the Law specified that the Feast of Trumpets was to be a joyous occasion, so Nehemiah urged them to rejoice in the Lord (v. 10). This joy as they thought about Yahweh would strengthen and sustain them as a tonic. Since the Law forbade eating fat, Nehemiah probably meant that the people should eat and drink food appropriate at such a joyous feast (v. 9). The exposition of Scripture taught the Israelites God's will, convicted them of their short-comings, corrected their conduct, and fitted them for righteous living (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16). The text does not specify how much of the Law of Moses or what parts of it the people heard.
