The Public Reading of the Law and Booths

"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." Ezra brings it "before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month."

He reads from morning until midday "and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law." He stands on a pulpit of wood made for the purpose, with thirteen men beside him. When he opens the book all the people stand. Ezra blesses the LORD; the people answer "Amen, Amen," lifting their hands, then bow with their faces to the ground.

Levites named Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah and others "caused the people to understand the law" while the people stood in their place. "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."

"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." "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared… neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

On the second day the heads of families study the law with Ezra and find that Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month. The people bring olive, pine, myrtle and palm branches and make booths on roofs, in courtyards, in the temple courts and in the squares of the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim. "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." Ezra reads every day of the seven-day feast, and on the eighth day there is a solemn assembly.

Men, women and all who could understand

The text names women explicitly (8:2–3) and everyone "that could hear with understanding," probably including older children. Public reading for the whole community echoes Deuteronomy 31:10–13, which commands the law be read at Booths every seventh year to men, women, children and strangers.

"Distinctly, and gave the sense"

Meforash (8:8) may mean "clearly, section by section," "with interpretation," or "translated." Later rabbinic tradition (Talmud, Megillah 3a; Nedarim 37b) read it as translation into Aramaic, the beginning of the Targum. The text does not say Aramaic, and many scholars think it means explanation or clear reading. The library's Greek (Giguet) reads very differently: "Ezra taught, and instructed the people to know the Lord."

Which book?

"The book of the law of Moses" was a Torah scroll Ezra brought (Ezra 7:14). Whether it was the five books in their present form, Deuteronomy, or a law collection close to our Pentateuch is debated. The details read here (booths of branches, 8:15) match Leviticus 23:40–42 but are not word-for-word; the text may paraphrase.

"Not since Joshua"

Booths was kept after the exile (Ezra 3:4) and under Solomon (1 Kings 8:2, 65; 2 Chronicles 7:8–10). "Had not the children of Israel done so" probably means not in this way: everyone living in booths, in Jerusalem, with daily reading. Compare 2 Kings 23:22 on Josiah's Passover ("surely there was not holden such a passover"). It is emphasis, not a claim that the feast was never held.

1 Esdras ends here

Greek 1 Esdras 9:37–55 retells Nehemiah 7:73–8:12, then stops mid-sentence after "they were assembled." It does not mention Nehemiah: where Nehemiah 8:9 has "Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha," 1 Esdras 9:49 has "Attharates," the title turned into a name. That is why some scholars think the Nehemiah story was added to an Ezra story that once ran straight from Ezra 10 to Nehemiah 8.

Where does this chapter belong?

Ezra brought the law in 458 BC (Ezra 7), but reads it publicly only in Nehemiah 8, thirteen years later (if the traditional dates hold). Many scholars think Nehemiah 8 originally followed Ezra 8 (as in 1 Esdras, where it follows Ezra 10), and was moved to its present place to join the two leaders' work. Nehemiah's name in 8:9 and 12:26 may be editorial. Others defend the present order.