1And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate ; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses , which Jehovah had commanded to Israel . 2And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly , both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding , upon the first day of the seventh month . 3And he read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday , in the presence of the men and the women, and of those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law . 4And 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 Uriah, and Hilkiah , and Maaseiah , on his right hand ; and on his left hand , Pedaiah , and Mishael , and Malchijah , and Hashum , and Hashbaddanah , Zechariah , and Meshullam . 5And 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 . 6And Ezra blessed Jehovah , the great God ; and all the people answered , Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands : and they bowed their heads , and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground. 7Also Jeshua , and Bani , and Sherebiah , Jamin , Akkub , Shabbethai , Hodiah , Maaseiah , Kelita , Azariah , Jozabad , Hanan , Pelaiah , and the Levites , caused the people to understand the law : and the people stood in their place . 8And they read in the book , in the law of God, distinctly ; and they gave the sense , so that they understood the reading .
Understanding the Law
9And Nehemiah , who was the governor , and Ezra the priest the scribe , and the Levites that taught the people , said unto all the people , This day is holy unto Jehovah your God ; mourn not , nor weep . For all the people wept , when they heard the words of the law . 10Then he said unto them , Go your way , eat the fat , and drink the sweet , and send portions unto him for whom nothing is prepared ; for this day is holy unto our Lord : neither be ye grieved ; for the joy of Jehovah is your strength . 11So the Levites stilled all the people , saying, Hold your peace , for the day is holy ; neither be ye grieved . 12And 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 Feast of Booths
13And on the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people , the priests , and the Levites , unto Ezra the scribe , even to give attention to the words of the law . 14And they found written in the law , how that Jehovah had commanded by Moses , that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month ; 15and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities , and in Jerusalem , saying , Go forth unto the mount , and fetch olive branches , and branches of wild olive , and myrtle branches , and palm branches , and branches of thick trees , to make booths , as it is written . 16So 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 broad place of the water gate , and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim. 17And all the assembly of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths , and dwelt in 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 . 18Also 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 ordinance .