Nehemiah 8:17

17 The whole assembly that had come back from exile made booths and lived in them. From the time of Jeshua (son of Nun) to that day, the people of Israel had not done this. There was a big, joyful celebration.

Nehemiah 8:17 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 8:17

And all the congregation of them that were come again out of
captivity made booths
These came to Jerusalem, and made them booths there; for there only was this feast kept, see ( John 7:2 John 7:10 ) ,

and sat under the booths;
there they dwelt during the seven days of it, in commemoration of their ancestors dwelling in booths in the wilderness, see ( Leviticus 23:42 Leviticus 23:43 )

for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the
children of Israel done so;
Joshua observed it, when be had brought and settled the people of Israel in the land of Canaan; and it had been observed since, before this time, as appears from ( 1 Kings 8:2 1 Kings 8:65 1 Kings 8:66 ) ( Ezra 3:4 ) ; but not so, with such exactness, with such zeal and affection, with such a regard to the law of God, as to read it every day of the feast, as in the next verse, and with such joy and gladness; wherefore there is no reason to suspect a corruption in the text, as a learned man ^F23 does, who supposes that Joshua is put for Josiah:

and there was very great gladness;
that they were restored unto and settled in their land, had the book of the law, and the knowledge of it, and were directed and enabled to observe it.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F23 Delancy's Life of King David, vol. 1. p. 395. marg.

Nehemiah 8:17 In-Context

15 They should announce this command and send this message throughout all their cities and Jerusalem: "Go to the mountains, and get branches--olive and wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other thick-leaved branches--to make booths as it is written."

16 So the people went to get branches to make booths for themselves. Some made booths on their roofs, others in their courtyards, in the courtyards of God's temple, in the open area by Water Gate, or in the open area at Ephraim Gate.

17 The whole assembly that had come back from exile made booths and lived in them. From the time of Jeshua (son of Nun) to that day, the people of Israel had not done this. There was a big, joyful celebration.

18 Day by day, from the first day of the festival to the last day, Ezra continued to read from the Book of God's Teachings. The people celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, they had a closing festival assembly in accordance with the regulations.