Nehemiah 8:13-18
Expanded Bible
13 On the second day of the month [October 9, 445 bc], the ·leaders [heads] of all the families, the priests, and the Levites met with Ezra the ·teacher [scribe]. They ·gathered [assembled] to ·study [consider; gain insight into] the words of the ·Teachings [Laws; Instructions; L Torah]. 14 This is what they found written in the ·Teachings [Laws; Instructions; L Torah]: The Lord commanded through Moses that the people of Israel were to live in ·shelters [T booths; C temporary dwellings; Ex. 23:33; Deut. 16:13–15] during the feast of the seventh month. 15 The people ·were supposed to [should] ·preach this message [make/issue a proclamation] and ·spread [disseminate] it through all their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the ·mountains [hills], and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, myrtle trees, palms, and ·shade [other leafy] trees. Make ·shelters [booths] with them, as it is written [C prescribed in the Law of Moses].”
16 So the people went out and got tree branches. They built ·shelters [T booths] on their roofs [C roofs were living space], in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the ·Temple [L house] of God, in the square by the Water Gate, and in the square next to the Gate of Ephraim. 17 The whole ·group [assembly] that had come back from ·captivity [exile] built ·shelters [T booths] and lived in them. The Israelites had not done this since the ·time [days] of Joshua son of Nun. And ·they were very happy [there was great rejoicing].
18 Ezra read to them every day from the ·Book [scroll] of the ·Teachings [Laws; Instructions; L Torah] of God, from the first day to the last [C of the festival]. The people of Israel celebrated the feast for seven days, and then on the eighth day the people ·gathered [held a solemn assembly] ·as the law said [L according to the judgment].
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Nehemiah 8:13-18
New American Standard Bible
Feast of Booths Restored
13 Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe so that they might gain insight into the words of the Law. 14 And they found written in the Law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel (A)were to live in [a]booths during the feast of the seventh month. 15 (B)And that they were to proclaim and circulate a proclamation in all their cities and (C)in Jerusalem, saying, “(D)Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches and [b]wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of other trees with thick branches, to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each (E)on his roof, and in their courtyards and in the courtyards of the house of God, and in the public square at (F)the Water Gate, and in the square at (G)the Gate of Ephraim. 17 The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths. Indeed, the sons of Israel (H)had not done so since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And (I)there was very great rejoicing. 18 (J)He read from the Book of the Law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they (K)celebrated the feast seven days, and on (L)the eighth day there was a festive assembly in accordance with the ordinance.
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- Nehemiah 8:14 I.e., huts, also called tabernacles
- Nehemiah 8:15 Lit oil tree, species unknown
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