Ezra Reads the Law
1
When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,
all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate.
They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses,
which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
2
So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before
the assembly, which was made up of the men, women and all who were able
to understand.
3
He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the
Water Gate in the presence of men, women and others who could understand.
And all the people listened attentatively to the Book of the Law.
4
Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion.
Beside him
5
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above
them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.
6
Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands
and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and
worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7
The Levites - Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah,
Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah - instructed the people in the Law
while the people were standing there.
8
They read from rgw Book of the Law of God, making it clear and
giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.
9
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites
who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD
your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping
as they listened to the words of the Law.
10
Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to
those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our LORD. Do not grieve,
for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
11
The Levites calmed all the people, saying,
"Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."
12
Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food
and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understand the words
that had been made known to them.
13
On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with
the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to give attention
to the words of the Law.
14
They found written in the Law, which the LORD had command through Moses,
that the Israelites were to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month
15
and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns
and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the hill country and and bring back branches from
olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make
booths - as it is written.
16
So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves booths
on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God
and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim.
17
The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them.
From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated
it like this. And their joy was very great.
18
Day after day, from the first day to the last,
Ezra read from the book of the Law of God.
They celerated the feast for seven days and on the eighth day,
in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.
