The commemoration of God’s goodness was to result in joyous festivities, and no sacred food was to be eaten while in mourning. It was a day to delight in being part of God’s covenantal people. Once again we see that this assembly was not a spontaneous get-together but a planned event since the people had already prepared their foods. The instruction to share with those who had nothing prepared probably refers to the poor and the foreigners among them. Ezra concluded, Do not grieve, for the joy of