Nehemiah 8:4-14

4 Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand.

5 Ezra opened ¹the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above * all the people; and when he opened it, all the people ²stood up.

6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "³Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then ⁴they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place.

8 They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

``This Day Is Holy"

9 Then Nehemiah, who was the ⁵governor, and Ezra ⁶the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "⁷This day is holy to the LORD your God; ⁸do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.

10 Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and ⁹send 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 strength."

11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved."

12 All the people went away to eat, to drink, ¹⁰to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, ¹¹because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

Feast of Booths Restored

13 Then on the second day the heads of fathers' households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law.

14 They found written in the law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel ¹²should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month.

Nehemiah 8:4-14 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. Nehemiah 8:3
• 2. Judges 3:20; 1 Kings 8:12-14
• 3. Nehemiah 5:13
• 4. Exodus 4:31
• 5. Nehemiah 7:65, 70
• 6. Nehemiah 12:26
• 7. Nehemiah 8:2
• 8. Deuteronomy 12:7, 12
• 9. Deuteronomy 26:11-13
• 10. Nehemiah 8:10
• 11. Nehemiah 8:7, 8
• 12. Lev 23:34, 40, 42

Footnotes

• [a] Or "explaining"
• [b] Heb "Tirshatha," a Persian title
• [c] Lit "make a great rejoicing"