Nehemiah 8

Verse 1 states that all the people were gathered "as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate." The Expositor's Bible Commentary points out that the language here is identical to that of Ezra 3:1, which also refers to an assembly called in the seventh month of the year. It states that the purpose of the assembly was to restore the altar of burnt offerings and sacrificial worship. They asked Ezra the scribe to read the book of the law of Moses. The phrase "book of the law of Moses" normally refers to Deuteronomy or the first five books of the Bible.

The book of the law was read to all who could listen with understanding: men, women and children old enough to understand. The Expositor's Bible Commentary states that women did not participate in ordinary meetings, but they and children were present on solemn occasions such as this one. Ezra read the text to them from early morning to midday, and the people listened attentively. It was clear that the people weren't just doing this out of duty. They genuinely wanted to obey God and know what God required of them.

Verse 5 says that Ezra opened the book in front of the people, and they stood up when he opened it. Standing up when Scripture is read is often done as a sign of attentiveness and respect. This is still practiced in many parts of the country and in other countries. In some cultures, people also listen to sermons standing up. Luke 4:20 says that after Jesus had read from Isaiah, he closed the book, gave it to the attendant and sat down. In that time, the person preaching would sit while they are preaching and the listeners would remain standing during the sermon.

Verse 6 says that Ezra praised God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen." The Expositor's Bible Commentary says that in Jewish synagogues, a benediction is pronounced before the reading of each Scriptural reading. It also says that the fact that "Amen" is repeated shows the intensity of the feeling behind it and that this is known to be a congregational response from at least the time of David. David's time would have been roughly about 1000 BC. Nehemiah also mentions a number of people who explained the law to the people. The people's response was to bow low and worship the Lord with their faces to the ground. This is an expression of their adoration of God and the humility and conviction they must have been feeling at the reading the book of the law, knowing that they had fallen short of keeping it.

Verse 8 says that the readers translated to help the people better understand. The people clearly experienced conviction for their sin, because Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites told them not to weep or mourn, because that day was holy to God. Verse 9 says that all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. The Expositor's Bible Commentary points out that the Word of God can bring about deep conviction of sin, but this must also end in joy at God's forgiving goodness, rather than allow it to turn into self-centered remorse.

Ezra told them to go and eat heartily, to drink sweet beverages, and to share with those who had nothing prepared. Again, he gives the day being holy to God as the reason for this, telling them not to be grieved because the joy of the Lord is their strength. While it is good that they experienced conviction and repentance for their sin, they must not lose sight of the fact that God has also provided a means for their sin to be forgiven. That is certainly cause for rejoicing. The same is true for us when we come before God. The people heeded those words. Verse 12 says that they had a feast because they understood the words of the law which had been made known to them.

Verse 13 says the heads of the fathers' households, priests and Levites gathered together with Ezra on the second day to gain insight into how to keep God's commands. This is another key element of repentance. There must be conviction of our sin, but it must also result in a change in the way we behave. That was the purpose in gaining further insight into the law. This is more than an academic pursuit, but rather a way for lives to be changed and brought in a right relationship with God.

Verse 14 says that they learned that the nation of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. All this was taking place during the seventh month of the year. The Expositor's Bible Commentary says that this was a festival called Sukkot, which means "booths.” It says that this is one of the three great festivals of the year (Passover and Pentecost being the other two), in which they celebrated the completion of the harvest. It also quotes the rabbis as saying, "He who has not seen Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) does not know what rejoicing means."

Verse 15 says that their response was to send a proclamation throughout their cities to gather olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches of other leafy trees to make booths, just as Scripture had said for them to do. The people all made booths for themselves on the roof of each of their houses, in their courts and in the court of the house of God. They also set up booths at the Water Gate and in the square of the Gate of Ephraim. The fact that they were doing all this when they heard God's commands shows their sincerity in wanting to be obedient to God.

The entire assembly took part in the festival, which had not been celebrated since the days of Joshua, some 700 years before. There was a great amount of rejoicing at the occasion. Ezra read from the book of the law each day of the festival, which lasted seven days. Verse 18 closes by saying that there was a solemn assembly on the eighth day, also in accordance with Scripture's requirements.

[JT]