Nehemiah 8

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:13-18

Restoration of the feast of tabernacles in its plenitude. I. A NOTABLE INSTANCE OF NEGLECT . The commandment was plainly written, but "since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun the children of Israel had not done so. " How much they lost?—gladness, fellowship, help to their remembrance of Divine mercy, food of faith. We should follow the directions of God's book without question. Much yet to break forth from the written pages. II. An illustration of the DEPENDENCE OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:14

And they found written . The practice of "dwelling in booths," commanded in Le 23:42, had fallen into disuse, probably during the captivity, and though the feast itself had been revived by Zerubbabel ( Ezra 3:4 ), yet this feature of it, from which it derived its name, had remained in abeyance. In the feast of the seventh month . Though the "feast of trumpets" was also a feast of the seventh month, that of tabernacles was "the feast," being one of those which all Israelites not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:15

And that they should publish . See Le 23:4. Saying, Go forth , etc. These words are not found in any existing Scripture, and some corruption of the present text may therefore be suspected. The Septuagint interposes, between "Jerusalem" and "Go forth," the words "And Esdras said," which would remove the difficulty; but it is difficult to understand how Ezra's name should have fallen out. Perhaps Houbigant is right in his suggestion of an emendation, by which the verse would run thus:—"And... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:16

The flat roofs of Oriental houses, and the court round which they were commonly built, furnished convenient sites for the booths, and would be preferred by the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The incomers from the country districts ( Nehemiah 8:15 ) would have to occupy the open places or "squares" of the city, and the temple courts, which would accommodate large numbers. On the street of the water gate see the comment on Nehemiah 8:1 . The street of the gate of Ephraim was probably a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:17

Jeshua the son of Nun . " Jeshua " and "Joshua" are two modes of contracting the full name of Jehoshua, the latter prevalent in early, the former in later times. The Grecised form of Jeshua was "Jesus" (see Acts 7:45 ; Hebrews 4:8 ). When it is said that since the days of Jeshua had not the children of Israel done so , we must understand, not that there had been no celebration of the feast of tabernacles since that time—not even that there had been no celebration accompanied by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:18

Also day by day … . he read in the book of the law . Ezra must be intended in the form "he read," though there has been no mention of him since verse 13. The continuous and systematic reading seems to imply that the year was a Sabbatical one, and that the rehearsal commanded in Deuteronomy 31:10-13 now took place. The observance was perhaps a new thing to the newly-formed community, and is therefore recorded with so much emphasis. They kept the feast seven days . See Le 23:34; Numbers... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 8:1

The street - Rather, “the square” or “court.” So in Nehemiah 8:16 (compare Ezra 10:9). The court seems to have been one between the eastern gate of the temple and the watergate in the city-wall. It would thus lie within the modern Haram area.Ezra the scribe - This is the first mention of Ezra in the present book, and the first proof we have had that he was contemporary with Nehemiah. Probably he returned to the court of Artaxerxes soon after effecting the reforms which he relates in Ezra 10:0,... read more

Albert Barnes

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:13-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 8:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 8:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 8:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 8:5

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands