Nehemiah 8:9-12

The people had not heard God’s law for a long time. Ezra read the law. Then the people realised that they had *sinned. God had sent his people into *exile because they had *sinned. This made the people cry. They were sorry because they had *sinned.

But Nehemiah, Ezra and the *Levites told them not to cry. Nobody had read God’s law for a long time. But now the people were hearing God’s word again. So it was a special holy day for God.

Soon the people would confess their *sins. At that time, it would be right for them to be sad. But that was the wrong attitude on this special day. Instead, the people should be happy. God loved them and he chose them to be his own people. He had brought their families back from *exile as he promised. And he had spoken to them by his law. God was very kind to them, so they should be happy.

Nehemiah told the people to be happy and not sad. He told them to go home and to enjoy good food. He told them to share food with those who did not have any. So the people did what Nehemiah told them to do.

v13 On the second day, the leaders of all the families came together to Ezra the teacher. The priests and the *Levites also gathered with them. They wanted to study God’s Law. v14 They discovered that God’s Law said this, ‘The people of *Israel should have a special holiday in the 7th month.’ (The *Lord gave this law to Moses to give to the people of *Israel.) God’s Law said that they must make shelters from branches of trees. They must live in these shelters during this special holiday. v15 They had to tell everyone in all their cities and in Jerusalem about these commands. They must say, ‘Go to the hills. Bring back branches from different types of trees. Cut branches from trees called pines, olives, myrtles and palms. And cut branches from other trees that give shade. From these branches make shelters, as God’s Law tells us to do.’