Nehemiah 8:13-18 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

Celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. The further reading of the Law and its more minute study show that this is just the time at which the Feast of Tabernacles ought to be celebrated; the people, who are apparently quite ignorant of this feast, forthwith proceed to celebrate it.

Nehemiah 8:14. they found written in the law: see Exodus 23:26; Leviticus 23:39-43; Numbers 29:12-38; Deuteronomy 16:13-15.

Nehemiah 8:17. for since. done so: these words are not in accordance with other passages of Scripture, for this feast had been observed by Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:8; 2 Chronicles 8:13) and by Zerubbabel (Ezra 3:4). It is an oversight of the Chronicler's.

Nehemiah 8:18. he read: i.e. one read. the eighth day: see Leviticus 23:36; Leviticus 23:39; 2 Chronicles 7:8 f., 2Ma_10:6; in earlier days the eighth day was not kept as part of the feast.

Related Commentaries of Nehemiah 8:13

Nehemiah 8:13-18

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 understandd the words of the law.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.