First gray light of daybreak over an empty square inside a plain gateway: a high platform of rough new planks stands alone at its edge, one clay lamp burning on its rail, under a calm, pale, cloudless dawn sky.

The Book of

Nehemiah 8

The wall is done. Now the people ask for something no wall can give them.

18 verses≈ 5 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

Tap any post to go deeper

In this chapter

Where we are

1–2The callA cupbearer prays and is sent
3–6The wallBuilt under fire in 52 days
7The peopleThe families remembered
8–10The WordRead, confessed, swornChapter 8
11–12The citySettled and dedicated
13The endingPromises broken, reforms again

Ezra Reads the Law

Daybreak in the square before the Water Gate: a great crowd of men, women and older children stands packed and still, seen from behind, faces turned toward a far-off high wooden platform where a small figure holds a scroll.

At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

0:32

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Amen, Amen!

The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places.

So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read.

Reflect

So that they could understand

The Levites read “so that the people could understand what was being read.” What part of God’s Word do you read without understanding? Who could you ask? Write down one passage and one person.

Midday in the square: men with heads bowed and hands over their eyes, an old woman wiping her face with her head covering, a man on his knees with his shoulders shaking; Nehemiah walks among them with a hand raised gently, Ezra and Levites behind him.

Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.

Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord.

And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.”

Then all the people began to eat and drink, to send out portions, and to rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that had been made known to them.

Pray

A Word we can understand

Thank God for a Word you can read and understand, and for those who explain it faithfully. Ask for a heart that is moved by it, and for joy that does not depend on how you have done. Then pray for “those who have nothing prepared,” and ask whom you could send a portion to.

The Feast of Tabernacles

On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law. And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,

From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing.

Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly, according to the ordinance.

Question

Quick question

The people stood and listened for a long time on that first day.

How long did Ezra read on the first day?

One month after the wall

Whiteboard

Fifty-two days built the wall. Within a few weeks the same people were reading, weeping, feasting, confessing and promising. The city was safe; now the people were being rebuilt.

You’ve experienced

Nehemiah 8

0 of 13 chapters read

A verse to carry with you

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10

or swipe left