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7Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, , explained the law to the people as they stood in their places.[#8:7 Neh 9:4–5; #8:7 Vg, 1 Esdras 9:48; MT reads Pelaiah and the Levites; #8:7 Ezr 8:15,18–19; Neh 7:43; #8:7 Lv 10:11; Mal 2:6,8]
8They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.
9Nehemiah 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.[#8:9 Neh 5:14–15; #8:9 Ezr 7:1–6; #8:9 Nm 29:1–6; #8:9 Ezr 3:12–13; 10:1,6]
10Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ,[#8:10 2Sm 6:19; Est 9:22; #8:10 Nm 29:1–6; #8:10 Or stronghold; #8:10 Dt 16:11,14–15]
11And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Don’t grieve.”[#8:11 Ps 46:10; #8:11 Nm 29:1–6]
12Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, because they had understood the words that were explained to them.[#8:12 Est 9:22]
13On the second day, the family heads of all the people, along with the priests and Levites, assembled before the scribe Ezra to study the words of the law.[#8:13 Neh 10:28–29; #8:13 Ezr 7:6; Neh 8:1,9]
14They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in shelters during the festival of the seventh month.[#8:14 Jn 7:2]
15So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make shelters, just as it is written.”[#8:14–15 Lv 23:4,34–42]
16The people went out, brought back branches, and made shelters for themselves on each of their rooftops and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate, and the square by the Ephraim Gate.[#8:16 Dt 22:8; #8:16 Neh 3:26; 8:1; 12:37; #8:16 2Ch 25:23]
17The whole community that had returned from exile made shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day. And there was tremendous joy.[#8:17 Ezr 1:11; Neh 7:6; #8:17 2Ch 7:9; Ezr 3:4; #8:17 2Ch 30:21]
18Ezra read out of the book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.[#8:18 Some Hb mss, Syr read They; #8:18 Neh 8:1,3; #8:18 Lv 23:34–36]