Nehemiah 8:1–12

Introduction

Nehemiah 8:1–12: Ezra, a priest and scholar of the Law, had arrived in Jerusalem some years before Nehemiah (see Ezra 7). Like Nehemiah, he had attained a high rank in the Persian court. In today’s reading, when all the people are settled in their towns, they gather in Jerusalem to hear Ezra give a public reading of the Law. The Levites explain the Law to the people and join Ezra and Nehemiah in telling the people what to do.

Today’s Key Verse: Nehemiah 8:10b GNT

[Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites said:] “Today is holy to our Lord, so don’t be sad. The joy that the LORD gives you will make you strong.”

Read

8 By the seventh month the people of Israel were all settled in their towns. On the first day of that month they all assembled in Jerusalem, in the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra, the priest and scholar of the Law which the Lord had given Israel through Moses, to get the book of the Law. ² So Ezra brought it to the place where the people had gathered—men, women, and the children who were old enough to understand. ³ There in the square by the gate he read the Law to them from dawn until noon, and they all listened attentively.

⁴ Ezra was standing on a wooden platform that had been built for the occasion. The following men stood at his right: Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and the following stood at his left: Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

⁵ As Ezra stood there on the platform high above the people, they all kept their eyes fixed on him. As soon as he opened the book, they all stood up. ⁶ Ezra said, “Praise the Lord, the great God!”

All the people raised their arms in the air and answered, “Amen! Amen!” They knelt in worship, with their faces to the ground.

⁷ Then they rose and stood in their places, and the following Levites explained the Law to them: Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah. ⁸ They gave an oral translation of God’s Law and explained it so that the people could understand it.

⁹ When the people heard what the Law required, they were so moved that they began to cry. So Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra, the priest and scholar of the Law, and the Levites who were explaining the Law told all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God, so you are not to mourn or cry. ¹⁰ Now go home and have a feast. Share your food and wine with those who don’t have enough. Today is holy to our Lord, so don’t be sad. The joy that the Lord gives you will make you strong.”

¹¹ The Levites went around calming the people and telling them not to be sad on such a holy day. ¹² So all the people went home and ate and drank joyfully and shared what they had with others, because they understood what had been read to them.

Reflect

Why do the Levites explain the Law to the people (verse 8)? Who or what helps you understand Scripture?

Pray

Lord God, as I read and study Scripture, open my mind, eyes, and ears to understand and follow your teachings. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Nehemiah 8:13–18: The people celebrate the Festival of Shelters.