Nehemiah 8

Ezra Reads the Law

1And all the people gathered as one person at the public 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. 3And he read from it before the public 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 10all 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; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left. 5Then Ezra opened 11the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people 12stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, “13Amen, Amen!” with the raising of their hands; then 14they kneeled down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and 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, 15translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

This Day Is Holy

9Then Nehemiah, who was the 1617governor, and Ezra 18the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “19This day is holy to the Lord your God; 20do 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 the festival foods, drink the sweet drinks, and 21send 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 22refuge.” 11So the Levites silenced all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12Then all the people went away to eat, drink, 23to send portions, and to 24celebrate a great feast, 25because 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 so that they might gain insight into the words of the Law. 14And they found written in the Law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel 26were to live in 27booths during the feast of the seventh month. 1528And that they were to proclaim and circulate a proclamation in all their cities and 29in Jerusalem, saying, “30Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and 31wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of other trees with thick branches, to make booths, as it is written.” 16So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each 32on his roof, and in their courtyards and in the courtyards of the house of God, and in the public square at 33the Water Gate, and in the square at 34the Gate of Ephraim. 17The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths. Indeed, the sons of Israel 35had not done so since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And 36there was very great rejoicing. 1837He read from the Book of the Law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they 38celebrated the feast seven days, and on 39the eighth day there was a festive assembly in accordance with the ordinance.