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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 8:13-18

We have here, I. The people's renewed attendance upon the word. They had spent the greatest part of one day in praying and hearing, and yet were so far from being weary of that new moon and sabbath that the next day after, though it was no festival, the chief of them came together again to hear Ezra expound (Neh. 8:13), which they found more delightful and gainful than any worldly pleasure or profit whatsoever. Note, The more we converse with the word of God, if we rightly understand it and be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:13

And on the second day were gathered together ,.... The second day of the month, and of the new year, the day after the feast of blowing of trumpets, and after the law had been read and explained: the chief of the fathers of all the people : heads of tribes and families: the priests and the Levites; who, though they were instructors of others, needed to be taught themselves, of which they were sensible: and therefore came unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:14

And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses ,.... The children of Israel, to be observed by them; either by hearing it read the day before, or by conversation with Ezra, they perceived it was enjoined in the law, particularly in Leviticus 23:39 that the children of Israel should dwell in booths, in the feast of the seventh month : which was the same month, and this the second day of it, and therefore the time drew near for keeping it; for it was to begin the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:15

And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem ,.... That is, as Jarchi interprets it, by supplying it thus: and they commanded that they should publish , &c.; Ezra and those with him gave orders that heralds should proclaim in all cities where the Jews dwelt that the feast of tabernacles would be kept, and they should prepare for it; and which seems to be the true sense, since it is not written in the law that such a proclamation should be made; but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:16

So the people went forth, and brought them ,.... Went out of Jerusalem to the mountains adjacent, and fetched in branches of the said trees, one or another: and made themselves booths, everyone upon the roof of his house ; which were flat, Deuteronomy 22:8 , and they might be made anywhere, so be it they were open to the air: and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God; the common people in the courtyards belonging to their houses, and the priests and Levites in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:17

And all the congregation of them that were come again out of captivity made booths ,.... These came to Jerusalem, and made them booths there; for there only was this feast kept, see John 7:2 , and sat under the booths ; there they dwelt during the seven days of it, in commemoration of their ancestors dwelling in booths in the wilderness, see Leviticus 23:42 for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so ; Joshua observed it, when... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:18

Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God ,.... That is, Ezra; this was done by him every day during the feast, whereas only the first and last days were the holy convocations on which it seems to have been read: and they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the manner ; prescribed in Leviticus 23:39 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 8:14

In the feast of the seventh month - That is, the feast of tabernacles, which was held in commemoration of the sojourning of their fathers in the wilderness after they had been delivered from the Egyptian bondage. Now, having been delivered from the Babylonish captivity, and the proper time of the year occurring, it was their especial duty to keep the same feast. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 8:15

Fetch olive branches - For every thing concerning this feast of tabernacles, see the notes on Leviticus 23 (note), and the other places there referred to. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 8:16

Upon the roof of his house - It need scarcely be repeated, that the houses in the East are generally built with flat roofs. On these they reposed; on these they took the air in the heats of summer; and on these they oftentimes slept. read more

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