Nehemiah 8
Living Bible
8 1-5 Now, in mid-September, all the people assembled at the plaza in front of the Water Gate and requested Ezra, their religious leader, to read to them the law of God, which he had given to Moses.
So Ezra the priest brought out to them the scroll of Moses’ laws. He stood on a wooden stand made especially for the occasion so that everyone could see him as he read. He faced the square in front of the Water Gate and read from early morning until noon. Everyone stood up as he opened the scroll. And all who were old enough to understand paid close attention. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddenah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people said, “Amen,” and lifted their hands toward heaven; then they bowed and worshiped the Lord with their faces toward the ground.
7-8 As Ezra read from the scroll, Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites went among the people[a] and explained the meaning of the passage that was being read. 9 All the people began sobbing when they heard the commands of the law.
Then Ezra the priest, and I as governor, and the Levites who were assisting me said to them, “Don’t cry on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God— 10 it is a time to celebrate with a hearty meal and to send presents to those in need, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. You must not be dejected and sad!”
11 And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “That’s right! Don’t weep! For this is a day of holy joy, not of sadness.”
12 So the people went away to eat a festive meal and to send presents; it was a time of great and joyful celebration because they could hear and understand God’s words.
13 The next day the clan leaders and the priests and Levites met with Ezra to go over the law in greater detail. 14 As they studied it, they noted that Jehovah had told Moses that the people of Israel should live in tents during the Festival of Tabernacles to be held that month. 15 He had said also that a proclamation should be made throughout the cities of the land, especially in Jerusalem, telling the people to go to the hills to get branches from olive, myrtle, palm, and fig trees and to make huts in which to live for the duration of the feast.
16 So the people went out and cut branches and used them to build huts on the roofs of their houses, or in their courtyards, or in the court of the Temple, or on the plaza beside the Water Gate, or at the Ephraim Gate Plaza. 17 They lived in these huts for the seven days of the feast, and everyone was filled with joy! (This procedure had not been carried out since the days of Joshua.) 18 Ezra read from the scroll on each of the seven days of the feast, and on the eighth day there was a solemn closing service as required by the laws of Moses.
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 8:7 the Levites went among the people, literally, “while the people remained in their places.”
Nehemiah 8
King James Version
8 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 law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
2 And Ezra the 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.
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.
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:
6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, 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.
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 law: and the people stood in their place.
8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
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.
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 holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
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.
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 law.
14 And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:
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.
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 God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
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.
18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
Nehemias 8
Dette er Biblen på dansk
8 samledes hele Folket fuldtalligt på den åbne Plads foran Vandporten og bad Ezra den Skriftlærde om at hente Bogen med Mose Lov, som Herren havde pålagt Israel. 2 Så hentede Præsten Ezra Loven og fremlagde den for forsamlingen, Mænd, Kvinder og alle, der havde Forstand til at høre; det var den første Dag i den syvende Måned; 3 og vendt mod den åbne Plads foran Vandporten læste han den op fra Daggry til Middag for Mændene, Kvinderne og dem, der kunde fatte del, og alt Folket lyttede til Lovbogens Ord. 4 Ezra den Skriftlærde stod på en Forhøjning af Træ, som var lavet i den Anledning, og ved Siden af ham stod til højre Mattitja, Sjema, Anaja, Urija, Hilkija og Ma'aseja, til venstre Pedaja, Misjael, Malkija, Hasjum, Hasjbaddana, Zekarja og Mesjullam. 5 Og Ezra åbnede Bogen i hele Folkets Påsyn, thi han stod højere end Folket, og da han åbnede den, rejste hele Folket sig op. 6 Derpå lovpriste Ezra Herren, den store Gud, og hele Folket svarede med oprakte Hænder: Amen, Amen! Og de bøjede sig og kastede sig med Ansigtet til Jorden for Herren. 7 Og Leviterne Jesua, Bani, Sjerebja, Jamin, Akkub, Sjabbetaj, Hodija, Ma'aseja, Kelita, Azarja, Jozabad, Hanan og Pelaja udlagde Loven for Folket, medens Folket blev på sin Plads, 8 og de oplæste Stykke for Stykke af Bogen med Guds Lov og udlagde det, så man kunde fatte det.
9 Derpå sagde Nehemias, det er Statholderen, og Præsten Ezra den Skriftlærde og Leviterne, der underviste Folket, til alt Folket: Denne Dag er helliget Herren eders Gud! Sørg ikke og græd ikke! Thi hele Folket græd, da de hørte Lovens Ord. 10 Og han sagde til dem: Gå hen og spis fede Spiser og drik søde brikke og send noget til dem, der intet har, thi denne Dag er helliget vor Herre; vær ikke nedslåede, thi Herrens Glæde er eders Styrke! 11 Og Leviterne tyssede på alt Folket og sagde: Vær stille, thi denne Dag er hellig, vær ikke nedslåede! 12 Da gik alt Folket hen og spiste og drak og sendte Gaver, og de fejrede en stor Glædesfest; thi de fattede Ordene, man havde kundgjort dem.
13 Næste Dag samledes Overhovederne for alt Folkets Fædrenehuse og Præsterne og Leviterne hos Ezra den Skriftlærde for at mærke sig Lovens Ord, 14 og i Loven som Herren havde påbudt ved Moses, fandt de skrevet, at Israeliterne på Højtiden i den syvende Måned skulde bo i Løvhytter, 15 og at man i alle deres Byer og i Jerusalem skulde udråbe og kundgøre følgende Budskab: Gå ud i Bjergene og hent Grene af ædle og vilde Oliventræer, Myrter, Palmer og andre Løvtræer for at bygge Løvhytter som foreskrevet! 16 Så gik Folket ud og hentede det og byggede sig Løvhytter på deres Tage og i deres Forgårde og i Guds Hus's Forgårde og på de åbne Pladser ved Vandporten og Efraimsporfen. 17 Og hele Forsamlingen, der var vendt tilbage fra Fangenskabet, byggede Løvbytter og boede i dem. Thi fra Josuas, Nuns Søns, Dage og lige til den Dag havde Israeliterne ikke gjort det, og der herskede såre stor Glæde. 18 Og han læste op af Bogen med Guds Lov Dag for Dag fra den første til den sidste; og de fejrede Højtiden i syv Dage, og på den ottende holdtes der festlig Samling på foreskreven Måde.
Nehemiah 8
1599 Geneva Bible
8 2 Ezra gathereth together the people, and readeth to them the Law. 12 They rejoice in Israel for the knowledge of the word of God. 15 They keep the feast of Tabernacles or booths.
1 And all the people assembled themselves [a]together, in the street that was before the water gate, and they spake unto Ezra the [b]Scribe, that he would bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
2 And Ezra the Priest brought the Law before the Congregation both of men and women, and of all [c]that could hear and understand it, in the first day of the seventh month,
3 And he read therein in the street that was before the water gate (from the morning until [d]the midday) before men and women, and them that understood it, and the ears of all the people hearkened unto the book of the Law.
4 And Ezra the Scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood which he had made for the preaching, 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 Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5 And Ezra opened the book before all the people: for he was [e]above all the people: and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 And Ezra praised the Lord the great God, and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed themselves, and worshipped the Lord with their faces toward the ground.
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 Law, and the people stood in their place.
8 And they read in the book of the Law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9 Then Nehemiah (which is Tirshatha) and Ezra the Priest and Scribe, and the Levites that instructed the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God: mourn not, neither weep: for all the people [f]wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
10 He said also unto them, Go and eat of the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part unto them, for whom none is [g]prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: be ye not sorry therefore: for the [h]joy of the Lord is your strength.
11 And the Levites made silence throughout all the people, saying, Hold your peace: for the day is holy, be not sad therefore.
12 Then all the people went to eat and to drink, and to send away part, and to make great joy, because they had understood the words that they had taught them.
13 And on the second day the chief fathers of all the people, the Priests and the Levites were gathered unto Ezra the Scribe, that he also might instruct them in the words of the Law.
14 And they found written in the Law, (that the Lord had commanded Moses) that the children of Israel should dwell in (A)booths in the feast of the seventh month,
15 And that they should cause it to be declared and proclaimed in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and bring olive branches, and pine branches, and branches of [i]myrtle, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
16 So the people went forth and brought them, and made them booths, every one upon the [j]roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street by the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
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 [k]time of Jeshua the son of Nun unto this day, had not the children of Israel done so, and there was very great joy.
18 And he read in the book of the Law of God every day, from the first day unto the last day. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 8:1 Hebrew, as one man.
- Nehemiah 8:1 Read Ezra 7:6.
- Nehemiah 8:2 Which had age and discretion to understand.
- Nehemiah 8:3 This declareth the great zeal, that the people had to hear the word of God.
- Nehemiah 8:5 To the intent that his voice might be the better heard.
- Nehemiah 8:9 In considering their offences against the Law. Therefore the Levites do not reprove them for mourning, but assure them of God’s mercies forasmuch as they are repentant.
- Nehemiah 8:10 That is, remember the poor.
- Nehemiah 8:10 Rejoice in the Lord, and he will give you strength.
- Nehemiah 8:15 Or, goodly branches, as Lev. 3:40.
- Nehemiah 8:16 For their houses were made flat above, read Deut. 22:8.
- Nehemiah 8:17 Which was almost a thousand years.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
