Nehemiah 8:15

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 8:15

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:1-18

The word of God in a threefold relationship. I. THE WORD OF GOD AND POPULAR DESIRE . "And they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel." 1. The desire of the people for the word of God. 2. The attitude of the people toward the word of God. II. THE WORD OF GOD AND SPIRITUAL EMOTION . "This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:13-18

An influential congregation. Account of a smaller gathering than that recorded in the first part of the chapter, but likely from its character to be equally or more fruitful of good. I. THE MEETING CONVENED ( Nehemiah 8:13 ). 1. The congregation. Select; consisting of the principal heads of houses, priests, and Levites. 2. Their design. To study the law with a view to the better understanding of it. 3. Their teacher. The ablest doctor of the day. II. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 8:13-18

Keeping the feast. "On the second day," the day after the great and affecting assembly of all the citizens, came together a representative company, "the chief of the fathers of all the people" ( Nehemiah 8:13 ), beside the priests and Levites, to "understand" or consider the law, that they might encourage all the children of Israel to a regular and faithful observance of it. This gathering led at once to— I. AN ACT OF REVIVED AND REJOICING OBEDIENCE . For "they found... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 8:15

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 8:15

The mount - The “mount of Olives” is probably intended.Pine branches - Rather, “branches of the wild olive.” The actual trees named by the Law may have become scarce. It was probably considered that the spirit of the command was kept if branches of trees similar in general character to those named in Leviticus were employed. read more

Joseph Benson

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

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