Nehemiah 8

1 et venerat mensis septimus filii autem Israhel erant in civitatibus suis congregatusque est omnis populus quasi vir unus ad plateam quae est ante portam Aquarum et dixerunt Ezrae scribae ut adferret librum legis Mosi quam praecepit Dominus Israheli

2 adtulit ergo Ezras sacerdos legem coram multitudine virorum et mulierum cunctisque qui poterant intellegere in die prima mensis septimi

3 et legit in eo aperte in platea quae erat ante portam Aquarum de mane usque ad mediam diem in conspectu virorum et mulierum et sapientium et aures omnis populi erant erectae ad librum

4 stetit autem Ezras scriba super gradum ligneum quem fecerat ad loquendum et steterunt iuxta eum Matthathia et Sema et Ania et Uria et Helcia et Maasia ad dextram eius et ad sinistram Phadaia Misahel et Melchia et Asum et Asephdana Zaccharia et Mosollam

5 et aperuit Ezras librum coram omni populo super universum quippe populum eminebat et cum aperuisset eum stetit omnis populus

6 et benedixit Ezras Domino Deo magno et respondit omnis populus amen amen elevans manus suas et incurvati sunt et adoraverunt Deum proni in terram

7 porro Hiesue et Baani et Serebia Iamin Accub Septhai Odia Maasia Celita Azarias Iozabed Anam Phalaia Levitae silentium faciebant in populo ad audiendam legem populus autem stabat in gradu suo

8 et legerunt in libro legis Dei distincte et adposite ad intellegendum et intellexerunt cum legeretur

9 dixit autem Neemias ipse est Athersatha et Ezras sacerdos scriba et Levitae interpretantes universo populo dies sanctificatus est Domino Deo nostro nolite lugere et nolite flere flebat enim omnis populus cum audiret verba legis

10 et dixit eis ite comedite pinguia et bibite mulsum et mittite partes ei qui non praeparavit sibi quia sanctus dies Domini est et nolite contristari gaudium enim Domini est fortitudo nostra

11 Levitae autem silentium faciebant in omni populo dicentes tacete quia dies sanctus est et nolite dolere

12 abiit itaque omnis populus ut comederet et biberet et mitteret partes et faceret laetitiam magnam quia intellexerant verba quae docuerat eos

13 et in die secundo congregati sunt principes familiarum universi populi sacerdotes et Levitae ad Ezram scribam ut interpretaretur eis verba legis

14 et invenerunt scriptum in lege praecepisse Dominum in manu Mosi ut habitent filii Israhel in tabernaculis in die sollemni mense septimo

15 et ut praedicent et divulgent vocem in universis urbibus suis et in Hierusalem dicentes egredimini in montem et adferte frondes olivae et frondes ligni pulcherrimi frondes myrti et ramos palmarum et frondes ligni nemorosi ut fiant tabernacula sicut scriptum est

16 et egressus est populus et adtulerunt feceruntque sibi tabernacula unusquisque in domate suo et in atriis suis et in atriis domus Dei et in platea portae Aquarum et in platea portae Ephraim

17 fecit ergo universa ecclesia eorum qui redierant de captivitate tabernacula et habitaverunt in tabernaculis non enim fecerant a diebus Iosue filii Nun taliter filii Israhel usque ad diem illum et fuit laetitia magna nimis

18 legit autem in libro legis Dei per dies singulos a die primo usque ad diem novissimum et fecerunt sollemnitatem septem diebus et in die octavo collectum iuxta ritum

Nehemiah 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

The reading and expounding the law. (1-8) The people called upon to be joyful. (9-12) The feast of tabernacles, The joy of the people. (13-18)

Verses 1-8 Sacrifices were to be offered only at the door of the temple; but praying and preaching were, and are, services of religion, as acceptably performed in one place as in another. Masters of families should bring their families with them to the public worship of God. Women and children have souls to save, and are therefore to acquaint themselves with the word of God, and to attend on the means of grace. Little ones, as they come to reason, must be trained up in religion. Ministers when they go to the pulpit, should take their Bibles with them; Ezra did so. Thence they must fetch their knowledge; according to that rule they must speak, and must show that they do so. Reading the Scriptures in religious assemblies is an ordinance of God, whereby he is honoured, and his church edified. Those who hear the word, should understand it, else it is to them but an empty sound of words. It is therefore required of teachers that they explain the word, and give the sense of it. Reading is good, and preaching is good, but expounding makes reading the better understood, and preaching the more convincing. It has pleased God in almost every age of the church to raise up, not only those who have preached the gospel, but also those who have given their views of Divine truth in writing; and though many who have attempted to explain Scripture, have darkened counsel by words without knowledge, yet the labours of others are of excellent use. All that we hear must, however, be brought to the test of Scripture. They heard readily, and minded every word. The word of God demands attention. If through carelessness we let much slip in hearing, there is danger that through forgetfulness we shall let all slip after hearing.

Verses 9-12 It was a good sign that their hearts were tender, when they heard the words of the law. The people were to send portions to those for whom nothing was prepared. It is the duty of a religious feast, as well as of a religious fast, to draw out the soul to the hungry; God's bounty should make us bountiful. We must not only give to those that offer themselves, but send to those out of sight. Their strength consisted in joy in the Lord. The better we understand God's word, the more comfort we find in it; the darkness of trouble arises from the darkness of ignorance.

Verses 13-18 They found written in the law about the feast of tabernacles. Those who diligently search the Scriptures, find things written there which they have forgotten. This feast of tabernacles was a representation of the believer's tabernacle state in this world, and a type of the holy joy of the gospel church. The conversion of the nations to the faith of Christ, is foretold under the figure of this feast, ( Zechariah 14:16 ) . True religion will render us strangers and pilgrims upon earth. We read and hear the word acceptably and profitably, when we do according to what is written therein; when what appears to be our duty is revived, after it has been neglected. They minded the substance; else the ceremony had been of no use. They did it, rejoicing in God and his goodness. These are the means which the Spirit of God crowns with success, in bringing the hearts of sinners to tremble and to become humbled before God. But those are enemies to their own growth in holiness, who always indulge sorrow, even for sin, and put away from them the consolations tendered by the word and Spirit of God.

Chapter Summary

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.