Ezra Reads the Law
(Deuteronomy 31:9–13)
At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. Ezr 7:62Ch 34:15Neh 3:26Mat 13:52Ezr 3:1-13Ezr 7:11Isa 8:20Jdg 20:1
On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. Lev 23:24Mal 2:7Num 29:1Act 15:21Deu 17:18Deu 31:9-13Isa 28:92Ch 17:7-9 So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. Rev 3:22Heb 2:1-3Luk 4:16-20Rev 2:291Th 2:13Act 13:15Act 13:27Act 15:21
And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Ezr 10:29Ezr 10:33Neh 10:18Neh 10:20Neh 10:25Neh 10:3Neh 10:7Neh 11:5
Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up. Jdg 3:201Ki 8:14Luk 4:16-17 Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 1Ti 2:8Lam 3:41Exo 4:312Ch 20:18Rev 7:11Gen 24:26Neh 5:13Psa 134:2
The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places. Neh 9:4Lev 10:11Ezr 10:22-23Neh 3:23Mal 2:72Ch 17:7-92Ch 30:22Deu 33:10 So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it 1and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read. Luk 24:45Act 28:23Act 17:2-3Act 8:30-35Hab 2:2Luk 24:27Luk 24:32Mat 5:21-22
Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” Deu 12:12Neh 7:65Neh 7:70Deu 16:11Neh 8:2Deu 12:7Deu 16:14-15Ecc 3:4
For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.
Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Psa 28:7-8Pro 17:222Co 12:8-9Ecc 9:7Isa 12:1-3Isa 61:10Psa 149:2Est 9:19
And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.” Num 13:30
Then all the people began to eat and drink, to send out portions, and to rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that had been made known to them. Psa 119:174Luk 24:32Neh 8:7-8Psa 119:103-104Psa 119:111Psa 119:127Psa 119:130Psa 119:171
The Feast of Tabernacles
(Leviticus 23:33–44; Zechariah 14:16–21)
On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law. Pro 12:1Pro 2:1-6Pro 8:33-342Ch 30:232Ti 2:24-25Act 13:42Act 4:1Luk 19:47-48 And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths 2during the feast of the seventh month. Lev 23:34Deu 16:13-15Lev 23:40-43Zec 14:16-19Gen 33:17Jhn 7:2
So they proclaimed this message and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, 3 myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” 4 Lev 23:40Deu 16:16Lev 23:4Gen 8:11Jdg 9:48-49Mat 21:1Jhn 12:13Rev 7:9
And the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the court of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim. 2Ki 14:13Neh 12:39Neh 12:37Neh 3:26Jer 32:29Neh 8:32Ch 20:52Ch 33:5 The whole assembly who had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua 5son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing. 2Ch 8:132Ch 7:8-10Ezr 3:41Ch 29:222Ch 30:21-232Ch 30:262Ch 35:18Heb 11:13
Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly, according to the ordinance. Lev 23:36Num 29:35Deu 31:10-13Jhn 7:37