Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Nehemiah 8

Neh 8:1 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 law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

Israel (history). Neh 8:1-8; Psa 78:1-72. (Gen 12:2, 3; Rom 11:26.)

the book of the law

Cf. 2Ch 34:15, 16.

Neh 8:2 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.

seventh month

i.e. October; Neh 7:73; 8:14.

Neh 8:4 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.

Ezra the scribe

Cf. Neh 8:2.

Neh 8:7 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.

caused the people to understand

Deu 33:10; Mal 2:7.

Neh 8:10 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.

send portions unto them

Est 9:19, 22; Rev 11:10.

Neh 8:12 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.

because they had understood the words

Neh 8:7, 8, 13.

Neh 8:14 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:

dwell in booths

Lev 23:34-42.

Neh 8:15 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.

as it is written

Lev 23:40.

Neh 8:17 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.

for since the days of Jeshua

It is not meant that there had not been some formal observance of the feast of tabernacles (cf. 2Ch 8:13; Ezr 3:4), but that the people had not dwelt in booths since Joshua's days.

had not the children of Israel done so

Cf. Ezr 3:4; 2Ch 8:13.