Nehemiah 8

Ezra Reads the Law

1☆ And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the lawLaw: תּוֹרָה (Torah). The Hebrew Torah (תּוֹרָה) means law or instruction—God's revealed will for His people. The Law includes moral, civil, and ceremonial commandments, revealing God's character and humanity's need for a Savior. of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. Word: 2 Chronicles 34:15, Ezra 7:6, 7:11. Parallel theme: Nehemiah 3:26

2☆ And Ezra the priestPriest: כֹּהֵן (Kohen). The Hebrew kohen (כֹּהֵן) denotes a priest—one who mediates between God and people through sacrifices and intercession. Aaron and his descendants served as Israel's priests, foreshadowing Christ the Great High Priest. brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. Word: Malachi 2:7. Parallel theme: Leviticus 23:24, Numbers 29:1

3☆ And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. Parallel theme: Revelation 2:29, 3:22

4☆ And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5☆ And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: Parallel theme: Judges 3:20, 1 Kings 8:14

6☆ And Ezra blessed the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty., the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. References God: Lamentations 3:41. Worship: Nehemiah 5:13, Genesis 24:26, Exodus 4:31, 12:27, 1 Chronicles 29:20, 2 Chronicles 20:18, Revelation 7:11. Blessing: Psalms 134:2. Parallel theme: 1 Timothy 2:8 +5

7☆ Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the lawLaw: תּוֹרָה (Torah). The Hebrew Torah (תּוֹרָה) means law or instruction—God's revealed will for His people. The Law includes moral, civil, and ceremonial commandments, revealing God's character and humanity's need for a Savior.: and the people stood in their place. Word: Malachi 2:7. Parallel theme: Nehemiah 3:23, 9:4, Leviticus 10:11

8☆ So they read in the book in the law of GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity. distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. Word: Luke 24:27, 24:32, 24:45, Acts 28:23. Parallel theme: Habakkuk 2:2

9☆ And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. References God: Deuteronomy 12:7, 12:12, 16:11. Holy: Nehemiah 7:65, Leviticus 23:24, Ezra 2:63. Word: Nehemiah 8:2. Parallel theme: Nehemiah 7:70 +3

10☆ Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holyHoly: קָדוֹשׁ (Qadosh). The Hebrew qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ) means holy or set apart—separated from common use for God's purposes. God is 'the Holy One of Israel,' utterly distinct from creation in moral perfection. unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. References Lord: Isaiah 61:10, Joel 2:23. Parallel theme: Esther 9:19, 9:22, Psalms 149:2, Proverbs 17:22, Ecclesiastes 2:24, 3:13, 9:7, 2 Corinthians 8:2 +5

11☆ So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.

12☆ And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them. Word: Psalms 119:16, 119:72, 119:97, 119:127, 119:130, 119:174, Luke 24:32. Parallel theme: Psalms 119:14, 119:111, 119:171 +5

The Festival of Tabernacles

13☆ And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the lawLaw: תּוֹרָה (Torah). The Hebrew Torah (תּוֹרָה) means law or instruction—God's revealed will for His people. The Law includes moral, civil, and ceremonial commandments, revealing God's character and humanity's need for a Savior.. Parallel theme: Proverbs 12:1

14☆ And they found written in the law which the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: References Lord: Leviticus 23:34. Parallel theme: Genesis 33:17, John 7:2

15☆ And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written. Parallel theme: Leviticus 23:4, 23:40, Deuteronomy 16:16

16☆ So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity., and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. References God: Jeremiah 32:29. Parallel theme: Nehemiah 3:26, 8:3, 12:37, 12:39, 2 Kings 14:13

17☆ And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness. Parallel theme: 2 Chronicles 8:13, Ezra 3:4

18☆ Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the lawLaw: תּוֹרָה (Torah). The Hebrew Torah (תּוֹרָה) means law or instruction—God's revealed will for His people. The Law includes moral, civil, and ceremonial commandments, revealing God's character and humanity's need for a Savior. of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner. Parallel theme: Leviticus 23:36, Numbers 29:35