Nehemiah 8:17

17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and dwelt in the booths; for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing.

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Nehemiah 8:17 In-Context

15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their towns and in Jerusalem, "Go out to the hills and bring branches 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 on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of E'phraim.

17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and dwelt in the booths; for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing.

18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.