Ezra Reads the Law (Deuteronomy 31:9–13)
1 UST A huge crowd of people gathered together in the plaza that was near the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the scroll of the law that Moses{ had written down}, and which Yahweh had given to the people of Israel{ for them to obey its rules and commands}. BSB BSB: At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
2 UST Ezra the priest,{ who served God by offering sacrifices in the temple,} brought out the law{ and presented it} before all the people, to both men and women, and{ children} who were old enough to understand what he read. He did this on the first day of the seventh month{ of that year}. BSB BSB: On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand.
3 UST So he read aloud from the book in the plaza that was near the Water Gate throughout the whole morning. He read it in front of all the people, both men and women and{ children} who{ were old enough} to understand what he read. And all the people listened carefully to the laws that were written{ on the scroll}. BSB BSB: So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
4 UST Ezra the scribe stood on top of a{ high} wooden platform that the people had built for this purpose. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. At his left side stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. BSB BSB: Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5 UST Ezra{ stood on the platform} above all the people so that everyone could see him. He opened the scroll, and as he did that all the people stood up. BSB BSB: Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 UST Then Ezra praised Yahweh, the great God, and all the people lifted up their hands{ to show that they were praying with him}.{ At the end of his prayer} they said,“We agree!” Then they all bowed down with their faces touching the ground, and they worshiped Yahweh. BSB BSB: Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7 UST Then Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, who were all Levites, explained the meaning of the laws{ of Moses} to the people who were standing there. BSB BSB: The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places.
9 UST Then the people began to cry from sadness when they heard what the law said. So Nehemiah(who was the governor), Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were explaining the meaning to the people, said to all the people,“Today is a festival day on which you are supposed to worship Yahweh your God. Do not mourn or cry!” BSB BSB: Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.
10 UST Then Nehemiah said to them,“{ Now} go home, eat some good food, and drink something sweet. And share some of it with those who are not able to afford{ rich food and drink}, because today is a holy day set apart{ to worship} our Lord. So do not grieve, because the joy that Yahweh gives will strengthen you.” BSB BSB: Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
11 UST The Levites also told the people{ who were crying} to stop, saying,“Today is a holy day! So, shhh. Do not grieve.” BSB BSB: And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.”
12 UST So all the people went{ home} to eat and drink and share what they had. And they were very happy, because they understood{ the meaning of} the words that{ Ezra had read and} the others had explained to them. BSB BSB: Then all the people began to eat and drink, to send out portions, and to rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that had been made known to them.
The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33–44; Zechariah 14:16–21)
13 UST On the next day, the clan leaders of all the people and the priests and the Levites met together with Ezra the scribe. They wanted{ to study} carefully what was written in the law{ that Yahweh had given to Moses}. They wanted to understand it{ better}. BSB BSB: On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law.
14 UST They learned that the law said that Yahweh had told Moses to command the Israelite people to live in shelters during a festival in the seventh month.{ This was so that they would remember that their ancestors had lived in shelters when they walked in the wilderness after leaving Egypt.} BSB BSB: And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,
15 UST { They} also{ learned} that they should publicly proclaim, in all their towns and in Jerusalem, that the people should go into the hills and cut branches. These should be from olive trees, wild olive trees, myrtle trees, palm trees, and shade trees. They must bring these branches and make shelters{ to live in during the festival}. That was what the scroll instructed. BSB BSB: and that they should proclaim this message and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”
16 UST So the people went out{ of the towns and cut branches} and brought{ them} to make shelters for themselves. They built shelters on the{ flat} roofs{ of their houses}, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the temple, in the plaza near the Water Gate, and in the plaza near the Ephraim Gate. BSB BSB: And the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim.
17 UST All of the Israelite people who had returned from Babylon built shelters and lived in them{ for one week}. Now the Israelite people had never celebrated{ that festival} like this since Joshua the son of Nun{ led them into this territory}. This was the{ first} time they were doing it. And the people were very happy. BSB BSB: The whole assembly that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing.
18 UST Every day during that week{ Ezra} read aloud{ to the people} from the scroll of the law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days. On the eighth day, they called for all the people to come together{ so they could hold a ceremony to bring the festival to an end}. That was what the scroll instructed. BSB BSB: Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly, according to the ordinance.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.