Nehemiah 8:10-17

10Then he said to them, “Go, eat the festival foods, drink the sweet drinks, and 1send 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 2refuge.” 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, 3to send portions, and to 4celebrate a great feast, 5because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

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 6were to live in 7booths during the feast of the seventh month. 158And that they were to proclaim and circulate a proclamation in all their cities and 9in Jerusalem, saying, “10Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and 11wild 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 12on his roof, and in their courtyards and in the courtyards of the house of God, and in the public square at 13the Water Gate, and in the square at 14the 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 15had not done so since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And 16there was very great rejoicing.