Nehemiah 8:16. Every one upon the roof of his house Which, according to the law, was made flat, Deuteronomy 22:8. And in their courts Those belonging to their houses: for the booths might be made anywhere in the open air. And in the street of the gate of Ephraim The gate of the city which led to the tribe of Ephraim. read more
Nehemiah 8:17. Since the days of Jeshua, had not the children of Israel done so The meaning here cannot be that this festival had never been observed since Joshua’s time, because we are informed, (Ezra 3:4,) that it was kept at their return from Babylon; but the joy, since that time, had never been so great as it was now, “for which the Jews themselves,” says Dr. Dodd, “assign this reason; that in the days of Joshua they rejoiced, because they had gotten possession of the land of Canaan;... read more
8:1-13:31 NEHEMIAH’S REFORMSFirst reading of the law (8:1-18)The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the sixth month (see 6:15). Israel’s mid-year meetings and festivals were held during the seventh month (Leviticus 23:24,Leviticus 23:27,Leviticus 23:34), so this was a fitting occasion to assemble the people to celebrate the completion of the rebuilt wall (see 7:73b, 8:1). (The same time of the year had been chosen for the dedication of the rebuilt altar more than ninety years... read more
found: i.e. they came to the place where direction was given. written. See note on Exodus 17:14 , and App-47 . children = sons. booths. Compare Lev 28:39-43 .Deuteronomy 16:13-15 . read more
mount = hill country. as it is written. See Leviticus 23:42 . read more
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), to mark the minuteness of the obedience. one = man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . read more
Jeshua. Another spelling of Joshua. not . . . done so. 2 Chronicles 8:13 speaks only of the offerings required by the Law, which Solomon offered. Nothing is said th e r e of what the People did; so that there is no "discrepancy", as is alleged. Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 . read more
Nehemiah 8:15. And that they should publish and proclaim— Which when they heard, they sent preachers into all the cities, and into Jerusalem, saying, Go forth, &c. Houbigant. Fetch olive-branches, &c.— See Scheuchzer's Physique Sacree, tom. 6: p. 6. read more
Nehemiah 8:17. Since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun, &c.— It can hardly be thought that this festival had never been observed since Jeshua's time, because we read in the book of Ezra, that it was kept at their return from Babylon; but the meaning is, that the joy since that time had never been so great as it was upon this occasion; for which the Jews themselves assign this reason, that in the days of Jeshua they rejoiced, because they had gotten possession of the land of Canaan; and now... read more
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Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 8:14-15
Nehemiah 8:14-15. And they found written in the law Upon Ezra’s information, and through their discourse with him; that the children of Israel should dwell in booths As a memorial of their dwelling in tents in the wilderness, a representation of the tabernacle state of God’s people in this world, and a type of the holy joy of the gospel church. They that diligently search the Scriptures, will find those things written there which they had forgotten, or not duly considered before. And... read more