Nehemiah 8

II. THE RESTORATION OF THE JEWS CHS. 8-13

One writer viewed chapters 8-13 (really Neh 7:73-13:37) as the third part of the tripartite structure of Ezra-Nehemiah. Ezra 1:1-4 deals with "potentiality," the decree to the community to build God’s house. Ezra 1:5 -Nehemiah 7:72 records the process of "actualization." The community builds God’s house in response to the decree. Nehemiah 7:73 to Nehemiah 13:31 documents "success." The community celebrates the completion of God’s house according to the Torah. [Note: T. Eskenazi, In an Age of Prose, pp. 37-39.]

A. The Renewal of the Mosaic Covenant chs. 8-10

"The reading of Scripture (Nehemiah 8) and the act of prayer (Nehemiah 9) followed by community commitment (Nehemiah 10) is a model for worshiping communities." [Note: Breneman, p. 222.]

This was another instance in Israel’s history of a covenant renewal accompanying a spiritual awakening (cf. Exodus 34; Joshua 24; 2 Kings 18; 2 Kings 22-23; Ezra 10:12-14; et al.).

1. The gathering of the people ch. 8

The fact that Nehemiah did not move back to Susa when he finished the wall and secured the city shows that his concern was not primarily those projects. The larger goal of reestablishing the Jews in the land to which God had told them to return following the exile was his primary objective (cf. Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 50:8; Jeremiah 51:6). He wanted to see God’s plan fulfilled. He put God’s interests before his own.

The Mosaic Law specified that once every seven years the people of Israel were to assemble and listen to the reading of the Law. This was to take place during the Feast of Booths (also called Tabernacles, Deuteronomy 31:10-13). This occasion provided an opportunity for the people to renew their commitment to Yahweh and His Law. Such covenant renewal ceremonies had taken place earlier in Israel’s history (e.g., Joshua 8:30-35; Joshua 24:1-27; et al.) and were common in the ancient Near East. Nehemiah 8 records another of these that took place in the year 444 B.C.