Nehemiah 8

Ezra Reads the Law

1 Now all a the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was b in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the c scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought d the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding e on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he f read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate 1 from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people g stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people h answered, "Amen, Amen!" while i lifting up their hands. And they j bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, k helped the people to understand the Law; and the people l stood in their place. 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.

This Day Is Holy

9 m And Nehemiah, who was the 2 governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, n "This day is holy to the LORD your God; o do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, p and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." 11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to q send portions and rejoice greatly, because they r understood the words that were declared to them.

Feast of Booths Celebrated

13 Now on the second day the heads of the fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law. 14 And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in s booths 3 during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and t that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and u in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the mountain, and v bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written." 16 Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the w roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the x Water Gate y and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim. 17 So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made 4 booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very z great gladness. 18 Also a day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast b seven days; and on the c eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner.

  1. Cross References
    Ezra 3:1
    And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.
  2. Cross References
    Nehemiah 3:26
    Moreover the Nethinim who dwelt in Ophel made repairs as far as the place in front of the Water Gate toward the east, and on the projecting tower.
  3. Cross References
    Ezra 7:6
    This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
  4. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 31:11
    When all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
    Deuteronomy 31:12
    Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law.
    Nehemiah 8:9
    And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
  5. Cross References
    Leviticus 23:24
    Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath- rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.
    Numbers 29:1 - 6
    And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets.
  6. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 31:9 - 11
    So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
    2 Kings 23:2
    The king went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem - the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD.
  7. Cross References
    Judges 3:20
    So Ehud came to him (now he was sitting upstairs in his cool private chamber). Then Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." So he arose from his seat.
    1 Kings 8:12 - 14
    Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud.
  8. Cross References
    Nehemiah 5:13
    Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, "So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD. Then the people did according to this promise.
    1 Corinthians 14:16
    Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 28:2
    Hear the voice of my supplications When I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.
    Lamentations 3:41
    Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven.
    1 Timothy 2:8
    I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
  10. Cross References
    Exodus 4:31
    So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.
    Exodus 12:27
    That you shall say, 'It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.' " So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.
    2 Chronicles 20:18
    And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
  11. Cross References
    Leviticus 10:11
    "and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses."
    Deuteronomy 33:10
    They shall teach Jacob Your judgments, And Israel Your law. They shall put incense before You, And a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar.
    2 Chronicles 17:7
    Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, BenHail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
    Malachi 2:7
    For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
  12. Cross References
    Nehemiah 9:3
    And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for one -fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.
  13. Cross References
    Ezra 2:63
    And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.
    Nehemiah 7:65
    And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim.
    Nehemiah 7:70
    And some of the heads of the fathers' houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand gold drachmas, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priestly garments.
    Nehemiah 10:1
    Now those who placed their seal on the document were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah.
  14. Cross References
    Leviticus 23:24
    Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath- rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.
    Numbers 29:1
    And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets.
  15. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 16:14
    And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates.
    Ecclesiastes 3:4
    A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance.
  16. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 26:11 - 13
    So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you.
    Esther 9:19
    Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another.
    Esther 9:22
    As the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.
    Revelation 11:10
    And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
  17. Cross References
    Nehemiah 8:10
    Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
  18. Cross References
    Nehemiah 8:7
    Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place.
    Nehemiah 8:8
    So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
  19. Cross References
    Leviticus 23:34
    Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD.
    Leviticus 23:40
    And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.
    Leviticus 23:42
    You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths.
    Deuteronomy 16:13
    You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress.
  20. Cross References
    Leviticus 23:4
    These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.
  21. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 16:16
    Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.
  22. Cross References
    Leviticus 23:40
    And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.
  23. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 22:8
    When you build a new house, then you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring guilt of bloodshed on your household if anyone falls from it.
  24. Cross References
    Nehemiah 12:37
    By the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went up the stairs of the City of David, on the stairway of the wall, beyond the house of David, as far as the Water Gate eastward.
  25. Cross References
    2 Kings 14:13
    Then Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh; and he went to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate - four hundred cubits.
    Nehemiah 12:39
    And above the Gate of Ephraim, above the Old Gate, above the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate; and they stopped by the Gate of the Prison.
  26. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 30:21
    So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing to the LORD, accompanied by loud instruments.
  27. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 31:11
    When all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
  28. Cross References
    Leviticus 23:36
    For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.
  29. Cross References
    Numbers 29:35
    On the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly. You shall do no customary work.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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