NehemiahChapter 8

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¹At that time all the people gathered together in the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses. This was the Law the LORD had given to Israel. ²So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law out to the crowd. Men and women were there, and all who were old enough to listen and understand. ³Ezra faced the square in front of the Water Gate. He read the Law out loud from early morning until noon. The men and women and all who could understand were there. And all the people listened closely to the Book of the Law. ⁴Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden stand that had been built for this day. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. At his left side stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. ⁵Ezra opened the book where all the people could see it. He was standing up above them all. As he opened it, all the people stood up. ⁶Then Ezra praised the LORD, the great God. All the people lifted their hands and said, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down low with their faces to the ground. They worshiped the LORD. ⁷The people stayed standing in their places. And the Levites taught them the Law. These Levites were Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah. ⁸They read from the Book of the Law of God. They explained it and made the meaning clear, so that the people could understand what was being read. ⁹Then Nehemiah the governor spoke to all the people. So did Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were teaching them. They said, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not be sad or cry." For all the people were crying as they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰Nehemiah told them, "Go and eat rich food and drink sweet drinks. Send some to people who have nothing ready. Today is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." ¹¹The Levites calmed all the people down. They said, "Be still, for today is holy. Do not be sad." ¹²Then all the people went off to eat and drink. They sent food to others, and they had a great celebration. For now they understood the words that had been explained to them. ¹³On the second day of the month, the leaders of all the families gathered around Ezra the scribe. The priests and Levites came too. They wanted to study the words of the Law. ¹⁴The LORD had given the Law through Moses. In it they found what was written about the feast of the seventh month. The Israelites were to live in shelters during the feast. ¹⁵They were also to send out this message in all their towns and in Jerusalem: "Go out to the hill country. Bring back branches from olive trees, wild olive trees, myrtle trees, palm trees, and other leafy trees. Use them to make shelters, as it is written." ¹⁶So the people went out and brought back branches. They made shelters on their own roofs and in their courtyards. They made them in the courtyards of the house of God. They made them in the square by the Water Gate and in the square by the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷The whole group that had come back from exile made shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not celebrated like this since the days of Joshua son of Nun. And there was great joy. ¹⁸Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days. On the eighth day they held a special gathering, as the Law said to do.