Nehemiah 8: Ezra Reads the Law – Clear & Engaging Audio Bible Reading | The Rebuilding of Jerusalem, the Gathering of the People, and the Joy of the Feast

Experience the captivating events of Nehemiah 8 with this clear and engaging audio recording. Follow the story of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the gathering of the people to hear the Law being read by Ezra, and the joy of the feast that follows. Perfect for study, reflection, or meditation, immerse yourself in this powerful chapter and let the Scriptures come alive.

NEHEMIAH 8 (NIV)

1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate.
They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of
Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.

2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law
before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able
to understand.

3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the
square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who
could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the
Law.

4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the
occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah,
Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum,
Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing
above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.

6 Ezra praised the
Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded,
“Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to
the ground.

7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah,
Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in
the Law while the people were standing there.

8 They read from the Book of the
Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people
understood what was being read.

9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the
Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to
the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping
as they listened to the words of the Law.

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to
those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy
day. Do not grieve.”

12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food
and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that
had been made known to them.

13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with
the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give
attention to the words of the Law.

14 They found written in the Law, which the
Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in
temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month

15 and that they
should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in
Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive
and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make
temporary shelters”—as it is written.

16 So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves
temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of
the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate
of Ephraim.

17 The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary
shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day,
the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.

18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of
the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth
day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.