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Selected Verse: Nehemiah 8:13 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ne 8:13	Strong Concordance	And on the second [08145] day [03117] were gathered together [0622] the chief [07218] of the fathers [01] of all the people [05971], the priests [03548], and the Levites [03881], unto Ezra [05830] the scribe [05608], even to understand [07919] the words [01697] of the law [08451].
	King James	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.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
To understand - Rather, "to consider."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

To understand - Rather, "to consider."

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Celebration of the feast of tabernacles. - Neh 8:13 On the second day were gathered together the heads of the houses of all the people, of the priests, and of the Levites to Ezra the scribe, to attend to the words of the law. The infinitive להשׂכּיל may indeed be taken (as by Bertheau) as the continuation of the finite verb, instead of as infinitive absolute (Ewald, 352, c); this is, however, admissible only in cases where the second verb either states what must be done, or further describes the condition of affairs, while להשׂכּיל here states the purpose for which the heads of the people, etc. assembled themselves unto Ezra. Hence we take להשׂכּיל in its usual meaning, and the w before it as explicative. אל השׂכּיל, as in Psa 41:1, expresses taking an attentive interest in anything. They desired to be further and more deeply instructed in the law by Ezra. Neh 8:14-16 And they found written in the law that the Lord had commanded Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month; and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying: "Go forth to the mount, and fetch olive branches, etc. to make booths, as it is written." This statement is not to be understood as saying that the heads of the people sought in the law, fourteen days before the feast, for information as to what they would have to do, that they might prepare for the due celebration of the feast of tabernacles (Bertheau). The text only states that the heads of the people again betook themselves to Ezra on the second day, to receive from him instruction in the law, and that in reading the law they found the precept concerning the celebration of the festival in booths, i.e., they met with this precept, and were thereby induced to celebrate the approaching festival in strict accordance with its directions. The law concerning the feast of tabernacles, of which the essentials are here communicated, is found Lev 23:39-43. In Deu 16:13 they were only commanded to keep the feast with gladness. The particular of dwelling in booths or bowers is taken from Lev 23:43; the further details in Neh 8:15 relate to the carrying out of the direction: "He shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook" (Lev 23:43). Go to the mountain, a woody district, whence branches may be obtained. עלי, state constructive plural of עלה, leaf, foliage, here leafy boughs or branches of trees. זית, the olive, שׁמן עץ, the wild olive (oleaster), the myrtle, the palm, and branches of thick-leaved trees, are here mentioned (the two latter being also named in Leviticus). כּכּתוּב does not relate to the preparation of the booths, but to the precept that the feast should be kept in booths. In Neh 8:16 the accomplishment of the matter is related, presupposing a compliance with the proclamation sent out into all the cities in the land, and indeed so speedy a compliance that the booths were finished by the day of the feast. The object (the branches of Neh 8:15) must be supplied to ויּביאוּ from the context. They 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 open space at the water-gate (see on Neh 8:3), and the open space at the gate of Ephraim. On the situation of this gate, see rem. on Neh 3:8. The open space before it must be thought of as within the city walls. On these two public places, booths were probably made by those who had come to Jerusalem, but did not dwell there; while the priests and Levites belonging to other places would build theirs in the courts of the temple. Neh 8:17 And the whole community that had returned from captivity (comp. Ezr 6:21) made themselves booths and dwelt in booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun unto that day, had not the children of Israel done so. כּן, so, refers to the dwelling in booths; and the words do not tell us that the Israelites had not celebrated this festival since the days of Joshua, that is, since they had taken possession of Canaan: for, according to Ezr 3:4, those who returned from captivity kept this feast in the first year of their return; and a celebration is also mentioned after the dedication of Solomon's temple, Ch2 7:9; Kg1 8:65. The text only states that since the days of Joshua the whole community had not so celebrated it, i.e., had not dwelt in booths. Neither do the words imply that since the days of Joshua to that time no booths at all had been made at the celebration of the feast of tabernacles, but only that this had not been done by the whole congregation. On former occasions, those who came up to Jerusalem may have regarded this precept as non-essential, and contented themselves by keeping the feast with solemn assemblies, sacrifices, and sacrificial feasts, without making booths and dwelling in them for seven days. Neh 8:18 And the book of the law was read from day to day. ויּקרא with the subject indefinite, while Ramb. and others supply Ezra. The reading of the law was only ordered at that celebration of the feast of tabernacles which occurred during the sabbatical year, Deu 31:10. The last day was the seventh, for the eighth as a עצרת did not belong to the feast of tabernacles; see rem. on Lev 23:36. כּמּשׁפּט like Ch2 4:20, and elsewhere.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

Celebration of the feast of tabernacles. - Neh 8:13 On the second day were gathered together the heads of the houses of all the people, of the priests, and of the Levites to Ezra the scribe, to attend to the words of the law. The infinitive להשׂכּיל may indeed be taken (as by Bertheau) as the continuation of the finite verb, instead of as infinitive absolute (Ewald, 352, c); this is, however, admissible only in cases where the second verb either states what must be done, or further describes the condition of affairs, while להשׂכּיל here states the purpose for which the heads of the people, etc. assembled themselves unto Ezra. Hence we take להשׂכּיל in its usual meaning, and the w before it as explicative. אל השׂכּיל, as in Psa 41:1, expresses taking an attentive interest in anything. They desired to be further and more deeply instructed in the law by Ezra.

Neh 8:14-16

And they found written in the law that the Lord had commanded Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month; and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying: "Go forth to the mount, and fetch olive branches, etc. to make booths, as it is written." This statement is not to be understood as saying that the heads of the people sought in the law, fourteen days before the feast, for information as to what they would have to do, that they might prepare for the due celebration of the feast of tabernacles (Bertheau). The text only states that the heads of the people again betook themselves to Ezra on the second day, to receive from him instruction in the law, and that in reading the law they found the precept concerning the celebration of the festival in booths, i.e., they met with this precept, and were thereby induced to celebrate the approaching festival in strict accordance with its directions. The law concerning the feast of tabernacles, of which the essentials are here communicated, is found Lev 23:39-43. In Deu 16:13 they were only commanded to keep the feast with gladness. The particular of dwelling in booths or bowers is taken from Lev 23:43; the further details in Neh 8:15 relate to the carrying out of the direction: "He shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook" (Lev 23:43). Go to the mountain, a woody district, whence branches may be obtained. עלי, state constructive plural of עלה, leaf, foliage, here leafy boughs or branches of trees. זית, the olive, שׁמן עץ, the wild olive (oleaster), the myrtle, the palm, and branches of thick-leaved trees, are here mentioned (the two latter being also named in Leviticus). כּכּתוּב does not relate to the preparation of the booths, but to the precept that the feast should be kept in booths. In Neh 8:16 the accomplishment of the matter is related, presupposing a compliance with the proclamation sent out into all the cities in the land, and indeed so speedy a compliance that the booths were finished by the day of the feast. The object (the branches of Neh 8:15) must be supplied to ויּביאוּ from the context. They 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 open space at the water-gate (see on Neh 8:3), and the open space at the gate of Ephraim. On the situation of this gate, see rem. on Neh 3:8. The open space before it must be thought of as within the city walls. On these two public places, booths were probably made by those who had come to Jerusalem, but did not dwell there; while the priests and Levites belonging to other places would build theirs in the courts of the temple.

Neh 8:17

And the whole community that had returned from captivity (comp. Ezr 6:21) made themselves booths and dwelt in booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun unto that day, had not the children of Israel done so. כּן, so, refers to the dwelling in booths; and the words do not tell us that the Israelites had not celebrated this festival since the days of Joshua, that is, since they had taken possession of Canaan: for, according to Ezr 3:4, those who returned from captivity kept this feast in the first year of their return; and a celebration is also mentioned after the dedication of Solomon's temple, Ch2 7:9; Kg1 8:65. The text only states that since the days of Joshua the whole community had not so celebrated it, i.e., had not dwelt in booths. Neither do the words imply that since the days of Joshua to that time no booths at all had been made at the celebration of the feast of tabernacles, but only that this had not been done by the whole congregation. On former occasions, those who came up to Jerusalem may have regarded this precept as non-essential, and contented themselves by keeping the feast with solemn assemblies, sacrifices, and sacrificial feasts, without making booths and dwelling in them for seven days.

Neh 8:18

And the book of the law was read from day to day. ויּקרא with the subject indefinite, while Ramb. and others supply Ezra. The reading of the law was only ordered at that celebration of the feast of tabernacles which occurred during the sabbatical year, Deu 31:10. The last day was the seventh, for the eighth as a עצרת did not belong to the feast of tabernacles; see rem. on Lev 23:36. כּמּשׁפּט like Ch2 4:20, and elsewhere.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Levites - Chusing rather to confess their ignorance than vainly to pretend to more knowledge than they had: wherein they shew both humility, and serious godliness, that they were more careful to learn their duty than to preserve their reputation.

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²⁰ Moreover the candlesticks [04501] with their lamps [05216], that they should burn [01197] after the manner [04941] before [06440] the oracle [01687], of pure [05462] gold [02091];

³⁶ Seven [07651] days [03117] ye shall offer [07126] an offering made by fire [0801] unto the LORD [03068]: on the eighth [08066] day [03117] shall be an holy [06944] convocation [04744] unto you; and ye shall offer [07126] an offering made by fire [0801] unto the LORD [03068]: it is a solemn assembly [06116]; and ye shall do [06213] no servile [05656] work [04399] therein.

¹⁰ And Moses [04872] commanded [06680] them, saying [0559], At the end [07093] of every seven [07651] years [08141], in the solemnity [04150] of the year [08141] of release [08059], in the feast [02282] of tabernacles [05521],

¹⁸ Also day [03117] by day [03117], from the first [07223] day [03117] unto the last [0314] day [03117], he read [07121] in the book [05612] of the law [08451] of God [0430]. And they kept [06213] the feast [02282] seven [07651] days [03117]; and on the eighth [08066] day [03117] was a solemn assembly [06116], according unto the manner [04941].

⁶⁵ And at that time [06256] Solomon [08010] held [06213] a feast [02282], and all Israel [03478] with him, a great [01419] congregation [06951], from the entering [0935] in of Hamath [02574] unto the river [05158] of Egypt [04714], before [06440] the LORD [03068] our God [0430], seven [07651] days [03117] and seven [07651] days [03117], even fourteen [0702] [06240] days [03117].

⁹ And in the eighth [08066] day [03117] they made [06213] a solemn assembly [06116]: for they kept [06213] the dedication [02598] of the altar [04196] seven [07651] days [03117], and the feast [02282] seven [07651] days [03117].

⁴ They kept [06213] also the feast [02282] of tabernacles [05521], as it is written [03789], and offered the daily [03117] [03117] burnt offerings [05930] by number [04557], according to the custom [04941], as the duty [01697] of every day [03117] required [03117];

²¹ And the children [01121] of Israel [03478], which were come again [07725] out of captivity [01473], and all such as had separated [0914] themselves unto them from the filthiness [02932] of the heathen [01471] of the land [0776], to seek [01875] the LORD [03068] God [0430] of Israel [03478], did eat [0398],

¹⁷ And all the congregation [06951] of them that were come again [07725] out of the captivity [07628] made [06213] booths [05521], and sat [03427] under the booths [05521]: for since the days [03117] of Jeshua [03442] the son [01121] of Nun [05126] unto that day [03117] had not the children [01121] of Israel [03478] done so [06213]. And there was very [03966] great [01419] gladness [08057].

⁸ Next unto him [03027] repaired [02388] Uzziel [05816] the son [01121] of Harhaiah [02736], of the goldsmiths [06884]. Next unto him [03027] also repaired [02388] Hananiah [02608] the son [01121] of one of the apothecaries [07546], and they fortified [05800] Jerusalem [03389] unto the broad [07342] wall [02346].

³ And he read [07121] therein before [06440] the street [07339] that was before [06440] the water [04325] gate [08179] from the morning [0216] until midday [04276] [03117], before the men [0582] and the women [0802], and those that could understand [0995]; and the ears [0241] of all the people [05971] were attentive unto the book [05612] of the law [08451].

¹⁵ And that they should publish [08085] and proclaim [05674] [06963] in all their cities [05892], and in Jerusalem [03389], saying [0559], Go forth [03318] unto the mount [02022], and fetch [0935] olive [02132] branches [05929], and pine [08081] branches [06086] [05929], and myrtle [01918] branches [05929], and palm [08558] branches [05929], and branches [05929] of thick [05687] trees [06086], to make [06213] booths [05521], as it is written [03789].

¹⁶ So the people [05971] went forth [03318], and brought [0935] them, and made [06213] themselves booths [05521], every one [0376] upon the roof of his house [01406], and in their courts [02691], and in the courts [02691] of the house [01004] of God [0430], and in the street [07339] of the water [04325] gate [08179], and in the street [07339] of the gate [08179] of Ephraim [0669].

⁴³ That your generations [01755] may know [03045] that I made the children [01121] of Israel [03478] to dwell [03427] in booths [05521], when I brought them out [03318] of the land [0776] of Egypt [04714]: I am the LORD [03068] your God [0430].

¹³ Thou shalt observe [06213] the feast [02282] of tabernacles [05521] seven [07651] days [03117], after that thou hast gathered [0622] in thy corn [01637] and thy wine [03342]:

³⁹ Also in the fifteenth [02568] [06240] day [03117] of the seventh [07637] month [02320], when ye have gathered [0622] in the fruit [08393] of the land [0776], ye shall keep [02287] a feast [02282] unto the LORD [03068] seven [07651] days [03117]: on the first [07223] day [03117] shall be a sabbath [07677], and on the eighth [08066] day [03117] shall be a sabbath [07677].
⁴⁰ And ye shall take [03947] you on the first [07223] day [03117] the boughs [06529] of goodly [01926] trees [06086], branches [03709] of palm [08558] trees, and the boughs [06057] of thick [05687] trees [06086], and willows [06155] of the brook [05158]; and ye shall rejoice [08055] before [06440] the LORD [03068] your God [0430] seven [07651] days [03117].
⁴¹ And ye shall keep [02287] it a feast [02282] unto the LORD [03068] seven [07651] days [03117] in the year [08141]. It shall be a statute [02708] for ever [05769] in your generations [01755]: ye shall celebrate [02287] it in the seventh [07637] month [02320].
⁴² Ye shall dwell [03427] in booths [05521] seven [07651] days [03117]; all that are Israelites [03478] born [0249] shall dwell [03427] in booths [05521]:
⁴³ That your generations [01755] may know [03045] that I made the children [01121] of Israel [03478] to dwell [03427] in booths [05521], when I brought them out [03318] of the land [0776] of Egypt [04714]: I am the LORD [03068] your God [0430].

¹⁴ And they found [04672] written [03789] in the law [08451] which the LORD [03068] had commanded [06680] by [03027] Moses [04872], that the children [01121] of Israel [03478] should dwell [03427] in booths [05521] in the feast [02282] of the seventh [07637] month [02320]:
¹⁵ And that they should publish [08085] and proclaim [05674] [06963] in all their cities [05892], and in Jerusalem [03389], saying [0559], Go forth [03318] unto the mount [02022], and fetch [0935] olive [02132] branches [05929], and pine [08081] branches [06086] [05929], and myrtle [01918] branches [05929], and palm [08558] branches [05929], and branches [05929] of thick [05687] trees [06086], to make [06213] booths [05521], as it is written [03789].
¹⁶ So the people [05971] went forth [03318], and brought [0935] them, and made [06213] themselves booths [05521], every one [0376] upon the roof of his house [01406], and in their courts [02691], and in the courts [02691] of the house [01004] of God [0430], and in the street [07339] of the water [04325] gate [08179], and in the street [07339] of the gate [08179] of Ephraim [0669].

¹ {To the chief Musician [05329], A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. Blessed [0835] is he that considereth [07919] the poor [01800]: the LORD [03068] will deliver [04422] him in time [03117] of trouble [07451].

¹³ And on the second [08145] day [03117] were gathered together [0622] the chief [07218] of the fathers [01] of all the people [05971], the priests [03548], and the Levites [03881], unto Ezra [05830] the scribe [05608], even to understand [07919] the words [01697] of the law [08451].