Chapter 8

Timeline is a little unclear to me, but MSB seems to indicate that the census was taken at some point after completing the wall, and then shortly after that, the Feast of Booths arrives, and the people gather in the city for that.  MSB says the Feast came early that year, at the beginning of the seventh month, rather than in the middle.  They ask Ezra (his first mention in this book) to read the Book of the Law of Moses to them.  He brings out the scroll, and, flanked by many men, including Zechariah (the prophet?  Possible, since he lived during this same time), reads from early in the day until mid-day. 

2023 - This verse:  2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. [Neh 8:2 ESV].  Note the phrase "all who could understand what they heard".  Is this another oblique reference to an age of accountability?  They weren't held responsible for doing the Law until they were mentally able to understand what it said? 

2021-This verse is perhaps the reason so many preachers ask the congregation to stand for the reading of the word:

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. [Neh 8:5 ESV]

All the people bow, with their faces to the ground, when Ezra blesses the Lord, the great God.

Several men are named who also helped the people understand what the reading meant. To clarify.  They had been in Babylon 70 years, and none of the laws had really been practiced, or at least most had been forgotten. So these were present that the people could not only hear the word, but understand the meaning, and apply the laws to their lives.

The people are grieved and mourn because they have not known nor followed this law.  Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites tell them this is a time of joy and feasting, and they shouldn't grieve.  They are told to celebrate, and to share their food with those who have none.

As they study further, they see that they are to dwell in booths during this feast. They gather sticks and such to build the booths, and they build them on their roofs and in their courtyards and various other places.  It is the first time since Joshua the son of Nun that they have done this.  Each seven years, it was required to read the Book of the Law, though it had not been done while in Babylon.  So they read the law daily, and they dwell in booths, and there is a sort of "revival" among the people.

2025 - Here is another interesting verse:

7 Also...the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. [Neh 8:7-8 ESV].

There must always be teachers.  It is not enough just to read, we need to understand the sense, the implication, the purpose of the Law.  And this encourages us to seek out teachers, reference books, and active open discussion with others so that we appreciate the full import of the Word.