Nehemiah 8

Ezra Reads the Law

1And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of 1the Water Gate, and they 2asked 3Ezra the scribe to bring 4the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had 5given to Israel. 2Then 6Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on 7the first day of the seventh month. 3He read from it before the square which was in front of 8the Water Gate from 9early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand. 5Ezra opened 10the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people 11stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, “12Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; then 13they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. 8They read from the book, from the law of God, 14translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

“This Day Is Holy”

9Then Nehemiah, who was the 1516governor, and Ezra 17the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “18This day is holy to the Lord your God; 19do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. 10Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and 20send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12All the people went away to eat, to drink, 21to send portions and to 22celebrate a great festival, 23because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

Feast of Booths Restored

13Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law. 14They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel 24should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. 152526So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and 27in Jerusalem, saying, “28Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and 29wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” 16So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each 30on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at 31the Water Gate and in the square at 32the Gate of Ephraim. 17The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in 33them. The sons of Israel 34had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And 35there was great rejoicing. 1836He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they 37celebrated the feast seven days, and on 38the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.