Page 778 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_07_MacArthur_Bible_July.qxd 8/8/03 16:08 Page 759

JULY 28
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grieved.” And all the people went their way to
July 28 eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice
greatly, because they understood the words
that were declared to them.
13 Now on the second day the heads of the
Nehemiah 8:1–9:38
fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests
When the seventh month came, the chil- and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe,
dren of Israel were in their cities. in order to understand the words of the Law.
Now all the people gathered together as 14 And they found written in the Law, which the
8 one man in the open square that was in LORD had commanded by Moses, that the chil-
front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the dren of Israel should dwell in booths during
scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, the feast of the seventh month, and that they
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which the LORD had commanded Israel. So should announce and proclaim in all their
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Ezra the priest brought the Law before the cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the
assembly of men and women and all who could mountain, and bring olive branches, branches
hear with understanding on the first day of the of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches,
seventh month. Then he read from it in the and branches of leafy trees, to make booths,
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open square that was in front of the Water as it is written.”
Gate from morning until midday, before the 16 Then the people went out and brought
men and women and those who could under- them and made themselves booths, each one
stand; and the ears of all the people were atten- on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards
tive to the Book of the Law. or the courts of the house of God, and in the
So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of open square of the Water Gate and in the open
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wood which they had made for the purpose; square of the Gate of Ephraim. So the whole
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and beside him, at his right hand, stood assembly of those who had returned from the
Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, captivity made booths and sat under the
and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of
Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Nun until that day the children of Israel had
Zechariah, and Meshullam. And Ezra opened not done so. And there was very great glad-
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the book in the sight of all the people, for he ness. Also day by day, from the first day until
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was standing above all the people; and when the last day, he read from the Book of the Law
he opened it, all the people stood up. And of God. And they kept the feast seven days;
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Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. and on the eighth day there was a sacred
Then all the people answered, “Amen, assembly, according to the prescribed manner.
Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they Now on the twenty-fourth day of this
bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD 9 month the children of Israel were assem-
with their faces to the ground. bled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust
Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, on their heads. Then those of Israelite lineage
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Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, separated themselves from all foreigners; and
Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the they stood and confessed their sins and the
Levites, helped the people to understand the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up
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Law; and the people stood in their place. So in their place and read from the Book of the
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they read distinctly from the book, in the Law Law of the LORD their God for one-fourth of the
of God; and they gave the sense, and helped day; and for another fourth they confessed and
them to understand the reading. worshiped the LORD their God.
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah,
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Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites
who taught the people said to all the people,
“This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not
mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, 9:1 this month. Tishri (Sept./Oct.), 445 B.C.
when they heard the words of the Law. (7:73b; 8:2). with fasting, in sackcloth, and
Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat with dust. The outward demonstration of
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the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to deep mourning and heaviness of heart for
those for whom nothing is prepared; for this their iniquity seems to have been done in the
day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the spirit of the Day of Atonement which was nor-
joy of the LORD is your strength.” mally observed on the tenth day of the sev-
So the Levites quieted all the people, say- enth month (Lev. 16:1–34; 23:26–32).
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ing, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be
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