Nehemiah 8:13-18

Feast of Booths Celebrated

13 On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law.
14 And they found it written in the Law that the LORD had commanded by Moses 1that the people of Israel should dwell in booths[a] during the feast of the seventh month,
15 and that they should proclaim it and 2publish it in all their towns and 3in Jerusalem, "Go out to the hills and bring 4branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written."
16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each 5on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at 6the Water Gate and in the square at 7the Gate of Ephraim.
17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day 8the people of Israel had not done so. And there was 9very great rejoicing.
18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, 10he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and 11on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.

Nehemiah 8:13-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 8

Ezra being desired to bring forth the book of the law, read it to the people and others, expounded it to them, Ne 8:1-8 and Nehemiah exhorted the people to express joy and gladness on this occasion, which they did, Ne 8:9-12 and observing the feast of tabernacles was in the law commanded to be observed, they kept it very strictly and joyfully, Ne 8:13-18.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Lev. 23:34, 40, 42
  • 2. Leviticus 23:4
  • 3. Deuteronomy 16:16
  • 4. [Leviticus 23:40]
  • 5. See 1 Samuel 9:25
  • 6. ver. 1, 3; Nehemiah 3:26
  • 7. Nehemiah 12:39; 2 Kings 14:13; 2 Chronicles 25:23
  • 8. [1 Kings 8:2; 2 Chronicles 7:9; 2 Chronicles 8:13; Ezra 3:4]
  • 9. [2 Chronicles 30:21]
  • 10. Deuteronomy 31:10, 11
  • 11. Leviticus 23:36; Numbers 29:35

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.