Nehemiah – BIB 108Omega InstituteBrian A. Schulz

Nehemiah: Reconstruction & RestorationLesson 9

Chapter 8 – “The Book of the Law Spurs ____________…”

Dr. James Smith Sets the Scene…

“The initial phase of wall building was completed on the 25th day of Elul, the sixth month (6:15). On the first day of the sacred month, all those living in outlying areas gathered “as one man” to Jerusalem. Under the law, this day – New Year’s on the religious ____________ – was regarded as a day of _______ sacred to the Lord (cf. Lev. 23:24).”

A. Nehemiah 8:1-8 Ezra the Priest… - A scribe and priest who led the returned captives in Jerusalem to make a new commitment to God's Law. A descendant of Aaron through Eleazar, Ezra was trained in the knowledge of the Law while living in captivity in Babylon with other citizens of the nation of Judah. Ezra gained favor during the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia. This king commissioned him to return to Jerusalem about 457 BC to bring order among the people of the new community. Artaxerxes even gave Ezra a royal letter (Ezra 7:11-16), granting him civil as well as religious authority, along with the finances to furnish the Temple, which had been rebuilt by the returned captives. - Ezra was a skilled scribe and teacher with extensive training in the Books of the Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). After his return to Jerusalem, he apparently did a lot of work on the Hebrew Bible of that time, modernizing the language, correcting irregularities in the text, and updating and standardizing expressions in certain passages. References to this work by Ezra are found in 2 Esdras, one of the apocryphal books of the Old Testament. He also refers to himself in his own book as a skilled scribe (Ezra 7:6,12), whose task was to copy, interpret and transmit the books of the Law.

- When he arrived in Jerusalem, Ezra discovered that many of the Hebrew men had married foreign wives from the surrounding nations (Ezra 9:1,2). After a period of fasting and prayer (Ezra 9:3,15), he insisted that these men divorce their wives (Ezra 10:1,17). He feared that intermarriage with pagans would lead to worship of pagan gods among the restored community of Judah. - In addition to these marriage reforms, Ezra also led his countrymen to give attention to the reading of the Law. Several priests helped Ezra read the Law, translating and interpreting it for the people's clear understanding in their new language Aramaic. This reading process went on for seven days as the people focused on God's commands. During this period, they also celebrated one of their great religious festivals, the Feast of Tabernacles, to commemorate their sustenance by God in the wilderness following their miraculous escape from Egyptian bondage (Neh 8). The result of this week of concentration on their heritage was a religious revival. The people confessed their sins and renewed their covenant with God (Neh 9-10).

- Ezra must have been a competent scribe and priest, since he found favor with the ruling Persians. But he was also devoted to his God & the high standards of holiness & righteousness which the Lord demanded of His people. [Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary - © 1986.]

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Nehemiah – BIB 108Omega InstituteBrian A. Schulz

1. In the first 7 chapters of this book Ezra has ____ been mentioned. No mention is made of Ezra during the days of Nehemiah’s struggle to rebuild the wall.

2. ____ years had passed since Ezra led a group back to Jerusalem from Babylon.

3. For much of these 13 years the people had rejected the godly leadership of Ezra.

A. Now, following the completion of the wall, there seemed to be a spirit of _________ sweeping over the nation.

B. So, the people called for Ezra to bring the ______ of the Law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel.

4. In verse 2 and 3 we find 2 curious phrases… “and all who could listen with _______________,” and “those who could understand.”

A. Possible reasons for these verses…

1. Nehemiah is clarifying that those who were gathered were of ______ to understand.

2. Nehemiah is speaking of some sort of educational level.

3. Nehemiah is addressing a ____________ barrier.

A. A linguistic dynamic had taken root which would affect how this newly reformed community would

function.

B. An entire generation was raised under the influence of the _________ culture and language during the

captivity.

C. Most likely Aramaic – which remained in their culture even to the time of Jesus some ______ years later.

5. Verse 3… “And all the people were ___________ to the book of the law.”

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6. Verse 4… The scene is set – Ezra and his attendants begin to read aloud the law before the __________.

A. “Ezra ... upon a pulpit of wood - not made in the form known to us, but only a raised scaffold or platform, broad enough to allow fourteen

persons to stand with ease upon it. Ezra was present and took an active part in this festal anniversary; but his duty was special

and very laborious, as he continued reading aloud from morning until mid-day, but his labor was lightened by the aid of the other priests present. Their presence was of use, partly to show their cordial agreement with Ezra's declaration of divine truth, and partly to take their share with him in the important duty of publicly reading and _____________ the Scripture.

[Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Copyright © 1997, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc.]

7. Verses 5-6…

A. This was a momentous occasion. Nehemiah wants his readers to understand how important this day was in their journey as a

restored people.

B. Dr. Smith elaborates…

“The author ______ in narrating the details of that glorious day when the people listened, for the first time in a long time, to the

words of God. As Ezra opened the scroll, the people stood up as a gesture of respect for the word of the Lord. The scribe first “blessed Yahweh.” All the people shouted a double “Amen” while lifting up their hands in grateful acknowledgment to the God of heaven. Presumably returning to a standing position, the people listened to Ezra read the Hebrew words from the scroll.”

8. Verses 7-8…

A. They… “___________ the law to the people” and “translated to give sense so that they understood the reading.”

1. Merely ________ the Word without understanding it has no benefit for God’s people.

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B. Nehemiah 8:9-18

1. Verses 9-12…

A. Several Key Results of the Public Reading…

1. The people ______ when they heard the words of the law.

A. Possible reasons why they wept?

1. A sense of great _____ – “happy tears”

2. A sense of mourning – “Fear for the lack of faithfulness to the

Law.

2. They celebrated after the Levites calmed the people.

3. “They ______________ the words which had been made known to them.”

2. Verse 13-18…

A. The heads of the families were gathered together. This was a more select group than that of the previous day.

1. During this meeting they continued to examine the law and discovered that during the feast of the 7th month that they

should live in “___________”

2. SEE ATTACHMENT on Jewish Holidays & Celebrations.

B. The people had nearly two weeks to make their preparations for this festival.

C. Dr. Smith offers some thought… “They erected their booths in every open space, public and private, which they could find.

Some even put their booths on the flat ______ of their homes! Not since the days of Joshua had the feast of Tabernacles been so

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Nehemiah – BIB 108Omega InstituteBrian A. Schulz

universally and enthusiastically observed. Great _______________ filled the land.”

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