Nehemiah 8:13-18

The Feast of Tabernacles

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 study the words of the Law. ¹

14 And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths ^[a] during the feast of the seventh month,

15 and that they should proclaim this message and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, ^[b] myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” ^[c]

16 And the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim.

17 The whole assembly that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua ^[d] son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing.

18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly, according to the ordinance.

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

• 1. (Leviticus 23:33–44; Zechariah 14:16–21)

Footnotes

• [a]. Or tabernacles or shelters; also in verses 15, 16, and 17
• [b]. Or pine; literally oil tree
• [c]. See Leviticus 23:37–40.
• [d]. Hebrew Jeshua, a variant of Joshua