Nehemiah 8

Nehemiah 8:1 all the people gathered[1] at the square before the Water Gate. They asked the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the Instruction[2] of Moses that Yahveh had given Israel.

Nehemiah 8:2 On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the instruction before the congregation of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding.

Nehemiah 8:3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he cried out from it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the instruction.

Nehemiah 8:4 The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

Nehemiah 8:5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

Nehemiah 8:6 Ezra praised[3] Yahveh, the great God, and all the people raised their hands, answering,[4] “Amen, Amen!” Then they knelt low and worshiped Yahveh with their faces to the ground.

Nehemiah 8:7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the instruction to the people as they stood in their places.

Nehemiah 8:8 They cried out from the book of the instruction of God, translating and putting[5] the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

Nehemiah 8:9 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 Yahveh your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the instruction.

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go and consume rich food, drink sweet drink, and send helpings to those who have nothing prepared since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve because the joy of Yahveh is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Don’t grieve.”

Nehemiah 8:12 All the people began to consume and drink, send helpings, and have a grand celebration because they had understood the words explained to them.

Nehemiah 8:13 On the second day, the family heads of all the people, along with the priests and Levites, gathered before the scribe Ezra to study the words of the instruction.

Nehemiah 8:14 They found written in the instruction how Yahveh had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in huts[6] during the festival of the seventh month.

Nehemiah 8:15 So they proclaimed and spread this news 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 huts, just as it is written.”

Nehemiah 8:16 The people went out, brought back branches, and made huts for themselves on each of their rooftops and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate, and the square by the Ephraim Gate.

Nehemiah 8:17 The whole congregation that had returned from exile made huts and lived in them. The Israelites had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua, son of Nun, until that day. And there was tremendous joy.

Nehemiah 8:18 Ezra cried out from the book of the instruction of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, according to the ordinance, there was an assembly.

[1] אָסַף = gather. Nehemiah 8:1, 13; 9:1; 12:28.

[2] תּוֹרָה = instruction. Nehemiah 8:1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 18; 9:3, 13, 14, 26, 29, 34; 10:28, 29, 34, 36; 12:44; 13:3.

[3] בָּרָךְ = empower, endorse, praise. Nehemiah 8:6; 9:5; 11:2.

[4] עָנָה = answer. Nehemiah 8:6.

[5] שׂוּם = place, put. Nehemiah 8:8; 9:7.

[6] סֻכָּה = hut. Nehemiah 8:14, 15, 16, 17.