Nehemiah 8

Ezra Reads the Law to the People

1 All the people gathered as one in the square in front of the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel.

2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men, women, and everyone old enough to understand. It was the first day of the seventh month.

3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon in front of the men, women, and others who could understand. Everyone listened closely to the Book of the Law.

4 Ezra stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people. As he opened it, the people stood up.

6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God, and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

Levites Help Explain the Word

7 The Levites, Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, instructed the people in the Law while the people stood there.

8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so the people understood what was being read.

The People Are Moved to Tears

9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were teaching the people said to them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” Because all the people had been weeping as they l” stened to the words of the Law.

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and eat rich food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad, because the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

11 The Levites calmed all the people down and said, “Be still, because this day is holy. Do not be grieved.”

12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send food to others, and to celebrate with great joy, because they had understood the words that had been made known to them.

Rediscovering the Festival of Booths

13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to get deeper understanding of the words of the Law.

14 They found written in the Law that the LORD had commanded through Moses that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month.

15 They were to announce and spread this message in all their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out to the hills and bring back branches from olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”

16 So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves booths on their rooftops, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of God’s house, in the square by the Water Gate, and by the Ephraim Gate.

17 The entire assembly that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And their joy was very great.

18 Day after day, from the first to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, just like the law required.