Nehemiah 8:16

_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._ The people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths - (see the notes at Leviticus 23:34; Deuteronomy 16:13.) EVERY ONE UPON THE ROOF OF HIS HOUSE, AND IN THEIR COURTS, AND IN THE COURTS OF THE HOUSE OF GOD ... It is evident that when this feast was celebrated, not only were there inhabited houses, regular streets, and gates in the city walls, but the restoration of the temple was completed....

13-18 They found written in the law about the feast of tabernacles. Those who diligently search the Scriptures, find things written there which they have forgotten. This feast of tabernacles was a representation of the believer's tabernacle state in this world, and a type of the holy joy of the gospel church. The conversion of the nations to the faith of Christ, is foretold under the figure of this feast, Zechariah 14:16. True religion will render us strangers and pilgrims upon earth. We read and hear the word acceptably and profitably, when we do according to what is written therein; when what appears to be our duty is revived, after it has been neglected. They minded the substance; else the ceremony had been of no use. They did it, rejoicing in God and his goodness. These are the means which the Spirit of God crowns with success, in bringing the hearts of sinners to tremble and to bec...

Verse 16. _UPON THE ROOF OF HIS HOUSE_] It need scarcely be repeated, that the houses in the East are generally built with _flat roofs_. On these they reposed; on these they took the air in the heats of summer; and on these they oftentimes slept....

EXPOSITION NEHEMIAH 8:13 AND ON THE SECOND DAY WERE GATHERED TOGETHER THE CHIEF OF THE FATHERS. At times it is true that "increase of appetite doth grow by what it feeds on." Once let the sweetness of the Divine word be tasted and appreciated, and there springs up in the heart instantly a desire for more—a wish to continue in the study—a feeling like that of the Psalmist when he said, "Lord, what love have I unto thy law: _all the day long _is my study in it" (Psalms 119:97). The Jews, taught by Ezra in the law of God on the first day of the month, return to him on the second, desirous of hearing more, hungering and thirsting after the word of life, of which they have felt the power and the excellency. TO UNDERSTAND. Rather,

II. THE SPIRITUAL REVIVAL CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The reading of the law before the water gate (Nehemiah 8:1)_ 2. A day of joy and not of mourning (Nehemiah 8:9) 3. The keeping of the feast of tabernacles (Nehemiah 8:13) Nehemiah 8:1. This interesting chapter gives the record of a gracious revival through the reading of the law. All the people gathered themselves together as one man in the street that was before the water gate, the place which suggests the cleansing and refreshing power of the Word. And as a united people they had but one desire, to hear the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded, to I

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; Numbers 29:12; Deuteronomy 16:13. Nehemiah 8:17. for since

AND. Note the Figure of speech _Polysyndeton_ (App-6), to mark the minuteness of the obedience. ONE. man. Hebrew. _'ish._ App-14....

_So the people went forth_ There were 13 days before the feast, in which to make preparations. _upon the roof of his house_ For the use put to the flat roofs of houses in the East cf. Jos 2:6; 1 Samuel 9:25 (Deuteronomy 22:8). _in their courts_ Eastern houses were generally built in the form of a quadrangle. _in the courts of the house of God_ This does not refer only to booths erected by priests and Levites; cf. 2 Chronicles 23:5. See Psalms 92:13; Psalms 106:19;...

3. The Feast of Tabernacles, or Booths, is rediscovered. TEXT, NEHEMIAH 8:13-18 13 Then on the second day the heads of fathers-' households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law. 14 And they found written in the law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. 15 So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, Go out, to the hills., and bring olive branches, and wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written. 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts, and in the co

THE READING OF THE LAW BY EZRA 1. The street] RV 'the broad place': and so in Nehemiah 8:3; Nehemiah 8:16. THE WATER GATE] This probably led to the spring of Gihon (the Virgin's spring)....