Nehemiah 8:13-18
8:15 a make shelters in which they would live during the festival: The Festival of Shelters commemorated that the people of Israel had lived in tents during their wilderness journey (Lev 23:33-43 b; see also Num 29:12-39 c; Deut 16:13-15 d).8:16 e The Ephraim Gate might have been located on the north side of Jerusalem, facing toward the territory of the tribe of Ephraim (see 12:39 f).
8:17 g since the days of Joshua: Although Israel had observed this festival on numerous occasions (1 Kgs 8:2 h; 2 Kgs 23:22 i; 2 Chr 7:8-10 j; 30:26 k; 35:18 l; Ezra 3:4 m), this was an exceptional celebration.
8:18 n Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God: The law was to be read every seven years at the Festival of Shelters (Deut 31:10-12 o). It reminded the people of the covenant stipulations and of God’s past acts of grace.
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