Nehemiah 8

1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.3 And he read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:6 and Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.8 And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto Jehovah your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye grieved; for the joy of Jehovah is your strength.11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.13 And on the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law.14 And they found written in the law, how that Jehovah had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month;15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.17 And all the assembly of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the ordinance.

Nehemiah 8

The People Respond to the Reading of the Law

1 all the people gathered togethert in the plaza which was in front of the Water Gate. They askedt Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had commanded Israel.2 So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh month.)

3 So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from dawn till noont before the men and women and those children who could understand.t All the people were eager to heart the book of the law.
4 Ezra the scribe stood on a towering wooden platformt constructed for this purpose. Standing near him on his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Masseiah. On his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.5 Ezra opened the book in plain viewt of all the people, for he was elevated above all the people. When he opened the book,t all the people stood up.

6 Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people replied “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah – all of whom were Levitess – were teaching the people the law, as the people remained standing.

8 They read from the book of God’s law, explaining itt and imparting insight. Thus the peoplet gained understanding from what was read.
9 Then Nehemiah the governor,s Ezra the priestly scribe,t and the Levites who were imparting understanding to the people said to all of them,t “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the law.

10 He said to them, “Go and eat delicacies and drink sweet drinks and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord.t Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
11 Then the Levites quieted all the people saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy. Do not grieve.”

12 So all the people departed to eat and drink and to share their foodt with otherst and to enjoy tremendous joy,t for they had gained insight in the matters that had been made known to them.
13 On the second day of the month the family leaderst met witht Ezra the scribe, together with all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to consider the words of the law.14 They discovered written in the law that the Lord had commanded throught Moses that the Israelites should live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month,

15 and that they should make a proclamation and disseminate this messaget in all their cities and in Jerusalem:s “Go to the hill country and bring back olive branches and branches of wild olive trees, myrtle trees, date palms, and other leafy trees to construct temporary shelters, as it is written.”
16 So the people went out and brought these thingst back and constructed temporary shelters for themselves, each on his roof and in his courtyard and in the courtyards of the templet of God and in the plaza of the Water Gate and the plaza of the Ephraim Gate.17 So all the assembly which had returned from the exile constructed temporary shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not done so from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day. Everyone experienced very great joy.t

18 Ezrat read in the book of the law of God day by day, from the first day to the last.t They observed the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assemblyt as was required.t