DEDICATING the city

 

Nehemiah 8:2

King James Version

2 And Ezra the priest brought the law 

before the congregation both of men and women, 

and all that could hear with understanding, 

upon the first day of the seventh month.

Now that Jerusalem was rebuilt, what next?

Now that her walls and gates were free of breaches, what did Nehemiah do next?

What were the people expected to do?

Especially as GOD helped them throughout.

Rebuilding the walls in 52 records days.

Here's what the Bible tells us:

Nehemiah 8:1

King James Version

8 And all the people gathered themselves together 

as one man into the street 

that was before the water gate; 

and they spake unto Ezra the scribe 

to bring the book of the law of Moses, 

which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

Nehemiah 8:2-3

King James Version

2 And Ezra the priest brought the law 

before the congregation both of men and women, 

and all that could hear with understanding, 

upon the first day of the seventh month.

3 And he read therein before the street 

that was before the water gate 

from the morning until midday, 

before the men and the women, 

and those that could understand; 

and the ears of all the people were attentive 

unto the book of the law.

Nehemiah 8:4

King James Version

4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, 

which they had made for the purpose; 

and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, 

and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, 

on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah,

 and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, 

and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

Nehemiah 8:5-6

King James Version

5 And Ezra opened the book 

in the sight of all the people; 

(for he was above all the people;) 

and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. 

And all the people answered, 

Amen, Amen, 

with lifting up their hands: 

and they bowed their heads, 

and worshipped the Lord 

with their faces to the ground.

Nehemiah 8:7

King James Version

7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, 

Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, 

Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, 

caused the people to understand the law: 

and the people stood in their place.

Nehemiah 8:8

King James Version

8 So they read in the book 

in the law of God distinctly, 

and gave the sense, 

and caused them to understand 

the reading.

Nehemiah 8:9

King James Version

9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, 

and Ezra the priest the scribe, 

and the Levites that taught the people, 

said unto all the people, 

This day is holy unto the Lord your God; 

mourn not, nor weep. 

For all the people wept, 

when they heard the words of the law.

Nehemiah 8:10-12

King James Version

10 Then he said unto them, 

Go your way, 

eat the fat, 

and drink the sweet, 

and send portions unto them 

for whom nothing is prepared: 

for this day is holy unto our Lord: 

neither be ye sorry; 

for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, 

Hold your peace, for the day is holy; 

neither be ye grieved.

12 And all the people went their way to eat, 

and to drink, and to send portions, 

and to make great mirth, 

because they had understood the words 

that were declared unto them.

Nehemiah 8:13-15

King James Version

13 And on the second day were gathered together 

the chief of the fathers of all the people, 

the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, 

even to understand the words of the law.

14 And they found written in the law 

which the Lord had commanded by Moses, 

that the children of Israel should dwell in booths 

in the feast of the seventh month:

15 And that they should publish and proclaim 

in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, 

Go forth unto the mount, 

and fetch olive branches, 

and pine branches, 

and myrtle branches, 

and palm branches, 

and branches of thick trees, 

to make booths, as it is written.

Nehemiah 8:16

King James Version

16 So the people went forth, 

and brought them, 

and made themselves booths, 

every one upon the roof of his house, 

and in their courts, 

and in the courts of the house of God, 

and in the street of the water gate, 

and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.

Nehemiah 8:17

King James Version

17 And all the congregation of them 

that were come again out of the captivity 

made booths, and sat under the booths: 

for since the days of Jeshua 

the son of Nun unto that day 

had not the children of Israel done so. 

And there was very great gladness.

Nehemiah 8:18

King James Version

18 Also day by day, 

from the first day unto the last day, 

he read in the book of the law of God. 

And they kept the feast seven days; 

and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, 

according unto the manner.

Acknowledging GOD is important.

As well as gratitude, and humility.

From humility means we look back into the past.

And see where we've come from.

To see how we've been.

That we may know where we're going.

And never make the same mistakes.

Especially those which pertain to our sins.

Click here to know how the Jews did that.

Image: Free Bible Images