Nehemiah 8:5-15

5 And Ezra opened the book before all the people; for he appeared over all the people; and when he had opened the book, all the people stood to hear. (And Ezra opened the book before all the people; for he was above all the people; and when he had opened the book, all the people stood up to hear him.)

6 And Ezra blessed the Lord God with great voice; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, raising up their hands. And they were bowed, and they worshipped God, lowly upon the earth. (And Ezra blessed the Lord God, the great God; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, and raised up their hands. And they bowed their heads, and then worshipped God, low upon the ground.)

7 And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, deacons, made silence in the people, for to hear the law. And the people stood in their degree. (And then Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, all Levites, expounded the Law to them. And all the people stood there in their places.)

8 And they read in the book of God's law distinctly, and openly, to understand it; and they understood, when it was read. (And they read from The Book of God's Law openly, and distinctly, and then expounded, or explained, it; and when it was read to the people in this way, they could understand it.)

9 Forsooth Nehemiah said, he is (the) Tirshatha, and Ezra, the priest and writer, and the deacons, expounding to all the people, This is a day hallowed to the Lord our God; do not ye mourn, and do not ye weep. For all the people wept, when it heard the words of the law. (And Nehemiah, he was the governor, and Ezra, the priest and writer/the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites, expounding the Law to all the people, said to them, This day is holy to the Lord our God; do not ye mourn, and do not ye weep. For all the people had wept, when they had heard the words of the Law.)

10 And he said to them, Go ye, and eat ye fat things, and drink ye wine made sweet with honey, and send ye parts to them, that made not ready to themselves, for it is an holy day of the Lord; do not ye be sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (And he said to them, Now go ye, and eat ye rich food, and drink ye mead, and send ye portions to those who cannot provide for themselves, for this day is holy to the Lord; do not ye be sorrowful, or sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.)

11 And the deacons made silence in all the people, and said, Be ye still, for this is an holy day, and make ye no sorrow. (And the Levites silenced all the people, and said, Be ye quiet, for this day is holy, and so do not ye be sad.)

12 Therefore all the people went for to eat, and (to) drink, and to send parts (and to send portions to the needy), and to make great gladness; for they understood the words, which he had taught them.

13 And in the second day, the princes of families, and all the peoples, priests, and deacons, were gathered to Ezra, the writer, that he should expound to them the words of the law. (And on the second day, the leaders of the families, and all the people, and the priests, and the Levites, were gathered before Ezra, the writer/the teacher of the Law, so that he could expound to them the words of the Law.)

14 And they found written in the law, that the Lord commanded in the hand of Moses, that the sons of Israel dwell in tabernacles in the solemn day(s), in the seventh month; (And they found written in the Law, that the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites should live in booths, or shelters, during the Feast of Tabernacles, that is, the Harvest Festival, in the seventh month;)

15 and that they (should) preach, and publish a voice in all their cities, and in Jerusalem; and say, Go ye out into the hill(s), and bring ye (back) boughs of the olive tree, and boughs of the fairest tree, the boughs of a myrtle tree, and the branches of a palm tree, and the boughs of a tree full of wood, that tabernacles be made of the boughs, as it is written (so that booths, or shelters, can be made out of the boughs, as it is written).

Nehemiah 8:5-15 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.