Naham'Yahu (Nehemiah) — 8

Azrah Reads and Explains the Law

1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Azrah the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Musha, which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH had commanded Yashar'AL. 

2 So Azrah the high Kuhan brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 

3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

4 So Azrah the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithyahu, Shama, Anayahu, Uriyahu, Hilkyahu, and Maasayahu; and at his left hand Padayahu, Mishaal, Malchiyahu, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zacharyahu, and Mashullam. 

5 And Azrah opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 

6 And Azrah Baraked 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the great 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH. Then all the people answered, “Yadah 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH with their faces to the ground.

7 Also Yashua, Bani, Sharabyahu, Yamin, Akkub, Shabbathai, Hudiyahu, Maasaiyahu, Kalita, Azaryahu, Yuzabad, Hanan, Palayahu, and the Lauy, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 

8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.

9 And Nahamyahu, who was the governor, Azrah the chief Kuhan and scribe, and the Lauym who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is Qadash to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the Dabar of the Law.

10 Then Ázrah said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is Qadash to our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH. Do not be sorrowful, for the joy of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is your strength.”

11 So the Lauym quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is Qadash; do not be grieved.” 

12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the Dabar of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH that was declared to them.

The Feast of Tabernacles

13 Now on the second day the heads of the fathers’ houses of all the people, with the Kuhanym and Lauym, were gathered to meet Azrah the scribe, in order to understand the Dabar of the Law. 

14 And they found written in the Law, which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH had commanded by Musha, that the children of Yashar'AL should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 

15 and that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Yahushalam, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”

16 Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Aphraim. 

17 So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Yahusha Ba'Nun (the son of Nun) until that day the children of Yashar'AL had not done so. And there was very great gladness. 

18 Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, Ázrah read from the Book of the Law of our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner.