Nehemiah 8

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 8 of 13

¹ ¶ And all the people gathered as one man into the plaza before the Water Gate. And they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.

² And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the congregation, both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.

³ And he read in it before the plaza which was in front of the Water Gate, from the morning until the middle of the day, before the men and the women, and those understanding. And the ears of all the people listened to the Book of the Law.

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Chapter Summary

1 The religious manner of reading and hearing the law. 13 The forwardness of them to hear and be instructed. 16 They keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

Key Hebrew Words

תּוֹרָה the Law H8451 · TWOT 910d

בִּין understand, discern H995 · TWOT 239

קָרָא read aloud H7121 · TWOT 2063

סֻכָּה booth H5521 · TWOT 1492d

שִׂמְחָה joy, rejoicing H8057 · TWOT 2268b

קָדוֹשׁ holy H6918 · TWOT 1990b

People & Context

Ezra

Priest and scribe who reads the Book of the Law of Moses to the assembled people from the wooden platform

Nehemiah

The governor (Tirshatha) who comforts the weeping people and declares the day holy to Jehovah

Jeshua

Levite who, with others, helps the people understand the Law as it is read

Joshua (son of Nun)

Recalled as the last leader under whom Israel had kept the Feast of Booths in this manner

Timeline

Ezra Reads the Law

All the people gather at the plaza before the Water Gate, and Ezra the scribe reads the Book of the Law of Moses from morning until midday while the Levites help the people understand.

Nehemiah 8:1-8

Rejoicing over the Holy Day

Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites instruct the weeping people to stop mourning and instead eat, drink, and rejoice because they understood the words of the Law and the day is holy.

Nehemiah 8:9-12

Celebration of the Feast of Booths

On the second day, leaders study the Law and discover the command to dwell in booths. The people gather branches, build booths, and celebrate the feast for seven days.

Nehemiah 8:13-18

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