Ezra Reads the Law
Study note
With the walls complete, the people gathered in the open square near the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses. Ezra stood on a high wooden platform built for this purpose. He read from early morning until noon, and the people stood and listened the whole time. Several Levites helped the people understand what was being read, possibly translating from Hebrew into Aramaic, the everyday language most people spoke.
1 The entire community gathered in the open square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses -- the law the Lord had given to Israel. 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 On the first day of the seventh month, Priest Ezra brought out the Law. He read it before the whole crowd: men, women, and every child old enough to follow. 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 Standing in the square facing the Water Gate, Ezra read from the book out loud from early morning until midday. Men, women, and those old enough to understand all listened closely to the Book of the Law. 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 Ezra stood on a tall wooden platform built just for this occasion. On his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. On his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 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 Ezra opened the book where everyone could see it, since he stood higher than the crowd. The moment he opened it, everyone rose to their feet. 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 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God. The whole crowd lifted their hands high and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 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 While the people stayed in their places, Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and other Levites walked among them, helping everyone understand the Law. 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 They read aloud from God's Book of the Law, explained it clearly, and helped people grasp the meaning of what was being read. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
A Day of Joy, Not Sadness
Study note
When the people heard the words of God's law, they began to cry because they realized how far they had fallen from obeying God. But Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites told them not to mourn. This day was holy, and they should celebrate with good food and sweet drinks. They were also told to share with those who had nothing prepared. The famous words 'the joy of the Lord is your strength' come from this passage.
9 Governor Nehemiah, Priest Ezra the scribe, and the teaching Levites told the crowd, "This is a holy day dedicated to the Lord your God. Stop mourning and crying." People had been weeping as they listened to the Law being read. 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 to them, "Go your way, eat the rich food, and drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy to our Lord: do not be grieved; for the joy of the Lord is your strength." 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 The Levites went through the crowd calming everyone: "Quiet down -- this is a sacred day. There is no reason to be sad." So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
12 So everyone went off to eat, drink, and share with others. They celebrated with enormous joy because they finally understood the words that had been read and explained to them. 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.
The Festival of Shelters
Study note
The next day, the family leaders studied the Law more closely with Ezra. They discovered that God had commanded Israel to live in shelters, or booths, made of branches during a festival in the seventh month. This was the Festival of Shelters, also called Sukkot. The people had not celebrated it properly since the days of Joshua, over nine hundred years earlier. They built shelters on their rooftops and in their courtyards and celebrated with great joy for seven days.
13 The next day, the family heads, along with the priests and Levites, gathered with Ezra to dig deeper into the Law. 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 They found something in the Law. The Lord had told Moses that Israel should live in shelters during the seventh month's feast. 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 They spread the word through all their towns and in Jerusalem: "Head for the hills and bring back branches from olive trees, wild olive trees, myrtle, palms, and other leafy trees. Build shelters, just as the Law says." 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 People went out and gathered branches. They made shelters on rooftops and in courtyards. They built them in the temple courtyards, the Water Gate square, and the Ephraim Gate square. 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 The entire community of returned exiles built shelters and camped out in them. Israel had not celebrated the festival this way since Joshua son of Nun's time. The joy was enormous. 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 Ezra read from God's Book of the Law every day of the festival, from the first day through the last. They celebrated for seven days, then held a closing assembly on the eighth day, exactly as the Law prescribed. 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.