NEHEMIAH LESSON 8


     We will begin this lesson in Nehemiah 8:1 "And all the people
gathered themselves together as one man into the street that [was]
before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring
the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel."

     This was an awareness of the people that the answers to their
problems would be found in God's Word. Oh! if we could come to that
conclusion in our land today. Notice the word "all". This means that
the entire group, that came back to their homeland, gathered here. The
people who came back were those who wanted to be in better
relationship with their God. We may remember that those that came,
came of their own free will. They had gathered to hear the Word of the
LORD from His law.

     Nehemiah 8:2 "And Ezra the priest brought the law before the
congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with
understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month."

     "All that could hear with understanding" was, probably, speaking
of children being in the group, if they were old enough to understand.
Ezra was a true priest of God. He restricted no one from hearing the
law read.

     Nehemiah 8:3 "And he read therein before the street that [was]
before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men
and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all
the people [were attentive] unto the book of the law."

     He read from the first light of morning until noon. This had to
be at least 6 hours of reading without a stop. We may safely assume
that some of those on the platform with him, read part of it to spare
his voice. It is interesting, to me, that the reading would last this
long. It is even more interesting, to me, that the people would listen
for this extended time.

     Nehemiah 8:4 "And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood,
which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah,
and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his
right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah,
and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, [and] Meshullam."

     Notice, in this, Ezra was spoken of as scribe, as if he was
reading a document, instead of acting as priest. This pulpit of wood
was an elevated platform where all the people could plainly see him
reading the Word. The people on his right and left could have been
priests, but it would not have been necessary for them to be. They
were, probably, chosen for their reading ability. The idea was, they
must be able to accurately read the law.

     Nehemiah 8:5 "And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the
people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all
the people stood up:"

     The fact that they stood up, showed great respect for Ezra and
for the law he was holding in his hand.

     Nehemiah 8:6 "And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all
the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they
bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with [their] faces to the
ground."

     Ezra blessing the LORD had to be speaking of high praise coming
from the lips of Ezra. The people were in agreement with the praise
and said, Amen. The lifting up of the hands was a sign of praise
lifted to heaven to God. The bowing of the head showed they were
humbled before almighty God. They worshipped and praised God in unison
with Ezra.

     Nehemiah 8:7 "Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub,
Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan,
Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and
the people [stood] in their place."

     It appeared, these Levites were familiar with the law. When there
was a pause in the reading, they expounded the meaning to those who
did not understand.

     Nehemiah 8:8 "So they read in the book in the law of God
distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the
reading."

     Notice, the word "distinctly" which means clearly understood.

     Nehemiah 8:9  "And Nehemiah, which [is] the Tirshatha, and Ezra
the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said
unto all the people, This day [is] holy unto the LORD your God; mourn
not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of
the law."

     Nehemiah was the civil leader. He was the governor. Ezra was the
spiritual leader. The people were weeping, probably, because they were
understanding where they had failed God. It was not suitable on any
holy day to weep, so the Levites made them stop weeping. This day was
holy unto the LORD.

     Nehemiah 8:10 "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat,
and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is
prepared: for [this] day [is] holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry;
for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

     This was, probably, Ezra giving them instructions in spiritual
things. Everyone was to eat and be merry on this day. They were to
share their food with those who did not have to eat, as well. The joy,
spoken of here, was in the spirit. This joy was a gift from God, who
gave them, and all who dare to believe, His strength.
     Nehemiah 8:11 "So the Levites stilled all the people, saying,
Hold your peace, for the day [is] holy; neither be ye grieved."

     The weeping stopped. They were to rejoice in their LORD.

     Nehemiah 8:12 "And all the people went their way to eat, and to
drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had
understood the words that were declared unto them."

     The Word of God will set you free. They were joyful, because they
had heard and understood the law presented to them by Ezra and his
helpers. There is a real joy in being able to understand the meaning
of the Scriptures we read, as well. The Bible {God's Word} is a guide
to each of us to know God's will for our life.

     Nehemiah 8:13  "And on the second day were gathered together the
chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites,
unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law."

     The reading of the law the day before was a sample of better
things to come. Now, those who had authority in their homes, or in the
temple, gathered, and Ezra taught them the law even more fully than
before. Those who hear the Word and begin to study cannot, it seems,
get enough. The more you study, the more you desire to study and it
goes on and on. Humans cannot fully understand the Word of God. Each
time we study, God reveals more and more of His Word to us.

     Nehemiah 8:14 "And they found written in the law which the LORD
had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in
booths in the feast of the seventh month:"

     This was speaking of the Feast of Tabernacles, which took place
in October on our calendar. It appears, that Zerubbabel had started
the Feast of Tabernacles again, but they had not dwelt in booths
during that time. There were three feasts that all male Hebrews were
commanded to attend each year. Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles
were the three.

     Nehemiah 8:15 "And that they should publish and proclaim in all
their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and
fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm
branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as [it is]
written."

     Myrtlewood grows two places in the world. One of those places is
in Israel. They went out from the city to the mount and cut branches
to make the booths. These were temporary structures to live in during
the week of Tabernacles.

     Nehemiah 8:16  "So the people went forth, and brought [them], and
made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in
their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street
of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim."

     Those, who lived in the city, would make the booths on the top of
their flat- roofed houses. The people who lived elsewhere would put
their booths near the gates.

     Nehemiah 8:17 "And all the congregation of them that were come
again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for
since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the
children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness."

     The time, spoken of here, was approximately hundreds of years
before the time of Joshua, who is, probably, intended by Jeshua,
above.  Their gladness was that they knew what they were to do.  They
all built their little booths, and stayed in them during the Feast of
Tabernacles.

     Nehemiah 8:18 "Also day by day, from the first day unto the last
day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast
seven days; and on the eighth day [was] a solemn assembly, according
unto the manner."

     This was speaking of Ezra reading in the book of the law of God.
This was a time of not only returning to their homeland, but
attempting to return to their God, as well. The solemn assembly, kept
on the eighth day, is described in the following Scriptures.
Leviticus 23:34 "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The
fifteenth day of this seventh month [shall be] the feast of
tabernacles [for] seven days unto the LORD." Leviticus 23:35 "On the
first day [shall be] an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work
[therein]."  Leviticus 23:36 "Seven days ye shall offer an offering
made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy
convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto
the LORD: it [is] a solemn assembly; [and] ye shall do no servile work
[therein]."





















                           Nehemiah 8 Questions


1.  Where did the people gather themselves together?
2.  What did they ask Ezra to do?
3.  What was Ezra called in verse 1?
4.  What conclusion does the author wish the people of our country
    would come to?
5.  The people, who came out of captivity, wanted to be in __________
    relationship with their _______.
6.  The congregation was made up of whom?
7.  When did he bring the law before the people?
8.  "All that could hear with understanding", probably, meant whom?
9.  How long did he read the law before them?
10. Who were some of the men on the platform with Ezra, that we can
    safely assume read part of the time for him?
11. What two words describe the condition of the ears of those who
    heard the law?
12. What did Ezra stand on to read?
13. Ezra opened the book in the sight of ______ the people.
14. Why did the people stand, when the book was opened?
15. In verse 6, Ezra did what?
16. How did the people respond?
17. The lifting of their hands was in _________.
18. Their bowed heads showed their ______________.
19. What did the Levites standing by do, when there was a pause in the
    reading of the law?
20. Nehemiah was their ________ leader.
21. Ezra was their ____________ leader.
22. Why were they weeping?
23. What did Ezra say to them about their weeping?
24. The joy of the LORD is your ___________.
25. Quote Nehemiah chapter 8 verse 12.
26. The Word of God will set you ________.
27. The Bible is ________ ________.
28. What Feast is verse 14 speaking of?
29. What had they failed to do in recent years, when celebrating Feast
    of Tabernacles?
30. Where did they get the material for the booths?
31. Myrtlewood grows in 2 places in the world, where is one?
32. Where would they build the booths?
33. How many days did they kept the feast?
34. Where do we find the law on this?