For, as the priests offered great sacrifices, the rejoicing was both universal and tremendous.

'For God had made them rejoice with great joy.' Not the men alone, but the wives and the children, so that 'The joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.' Women's tears, how often we read of them in the Bible! Rachel weeps over her children and will not be comforted, Hagar lifts up her voice and weeps over her son, Naomi weeps as she comes back to her desolate home, Hannah weeps as she kneels in the tabernacle court, the widow weeps as she follows her only son to the grave, and the company of women weep as Jesus of Nazareth is led out to the cross.
So many women's tears, so very few women's smiles; so much mourning and lamentation, so very little happiness and rejoicing.

But, on this day of dedication, the wives were as merry and glad as the husbands, and even the children took part in the general joy.
It is interesting to notice that the Book of Psalms was the national song-book of the Jewish nation, a large number of the Psalms having been composed for special occasions, in order to commemorate certain memorable days in the history of the nation.
One Psalm, namely Psalm cxlvii., was probably composed in the time of Nehemiah, in order that it might be sung at the dedication of the walls.
Ver.

1: 'Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
Ver.

2: 'The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.' Ver.