CHAPTER 8
At that time all
the people
gathered
together
at
the square
before
the Water
Gate,
and they asked
Ezra
the scribe
to bring
the Book
of the Law
of Moses
that
the LORD
had commanded
Israel.
On the first
day
of the seventh
month,
Ezra
the priest
brought
the Law
before
the assembly
of men
and
women
and all
who could listen
and understand.
So Ezra read
it aloud
from
daybreak
until
noon
as he faced
the square
before
the Water
Gate,
in front of
the men
and women
and those who could understand.
And all
the people
listened attentively to
the Book
of the Law.
Ezra
the scribe
stood
on
a high wooden
platform
built
for this occasion.
At his
right side
stood
Mattithiah,
Shema,
Anaiah,
Uriah,
Hilkiah,
and Maaseiah,
and at his left
were Pedaiah,
Mishael,
Malchijah,
Hashum,
Hash-baddanah,
Zechariah,
and Meshullam.
Ezra
opened
the book
in full view
of all
the people,
since
he was
standing above
them all,
and as he opened it,
all
the people
stood up.
Then Ezra
blessed
the LORD,
the great
God,
and with their hands
uplifted,
all
the people
said,
“Amen,
Amen!”
Then they bowed down
and worshiped
the LORD
with their faces
to the ground.
The Levites—
Jeshua,
Bani,
Sherebiah,
Jamin,
Akkub,
Shabbethai,
Hodiah,
Maaseiah,
Kelita,
Azariah,
Jozabad,
Hanan,
and Pelaiah—
explained
the law
to the people
as they stood in
their places.
So they read
from the Book
of the Law
of God,
explaining it
and giving
insight,
so that the people could understand
what was being read.
Nehemiah
the governor,
Ezra
the priest
and scribe,
and the Levites
who were instructing
the people
said
to all of them,
“This
day
is holy
to the LORD
your God.
Do not
mourn
or weep.”
For
all
the people
were weeping
as they heard
the words
of the Law.
Then Nehemiah told
them,
“Go
and eat
what is rich,
drink
what is sweet,
and send out
portions
to those who have nothing
prepared,
since
today
is holy
to our Lord.
Do not
grieve,
for
the joy
of the LORD
is
your strength."
Then all
the people
began to eat
and drink,
to send out
portions,
and
to rejoice
greatly,
because
they understood
the words
that
had been made known
to them.
On the second
day of the month,
the heads
of all
the families,
along with the priests
and Levites,
gathered
around
Ezra
the scribe
to study
the words
of the Law.
And they found
written
in the Law,
which
the LORD
had commanded
through
Moses,
that
the Israelites
were to dwell
in booths
during the feast
of the seventh
month.
So they proclaimed
this message
and spread it
throughout
their towns
and in Jerusalem,
saying,
“Go out
to the hill country
and bring back
branches
of olive,
wild olive,
myrtle,
palm,
and other leafy
trees,
to make
booths,
as it is written.”
And the people
went out,
brought back branches,
and made
booths
on
their own
rooftops,
in their courtyards,
in the court
of the house
of God,
and in the squares
by the Water
Gate
and
by the Gate
of Ephraim.
The whole
assembly
who had returned
from
exile
made
booths
and lived
in them.
From the days
of Joshua
son
of Nun
until
that
day,
they
had not
celebrated
like this.
And there was great
rejoicing.
Day
after day,
from
the first
day
to
the last,
Ezra read
from the Book
of the Law
of God.
The Israelites kept
the feast
for seven
days,
and on the eighth
day
they held an assembly,
according to the ordinance.