Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the house of God, in the public square of the Water Gate, and in the public square of the Gate of Ephraim. And all of the assembly of those who returned from captivity made booths and lived in the booths because the Israelites had not done it from the days of Jeshua son of Nun until that day. And there was very great joy.” (Nehemiah 8:16-17)

Ezra enters the account in chapter eight. In the seventh month, at the request of the people, Ezra brought the book of the Law of Moses and read it in the street at the water gate to men and women to that everyone could hear it and understand the requirements of following the Law. At the end of the first day, they joyfully held a celebration, feasting and drinking. The next day they gathered again and Ezra continued. When they got to the Feast of Booths, which happens in the seventh month, the people IMMEDIATELY started building booths so they could celebrate it at the proper time. Throughout the Feast, Ezra continued to read the Law to them. And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly – as commanded in the Law.

Chapter nine occurs in conjunction with Ezra 9-10. This is when the people choose to honour the Law and submit to it, separating themselves from foreign wives (and the mixed children from the marriages). It wasn’t easy to do, but they shouldn’t have taken the wives in the first place. This isn’t about the wives or children as people, but about the mixing of worship between Yahweh and idols. The chapter details the prayer they made to God as part of renewing their covenant with Him.

Chapter ten is the list of those who entered the covenant and what they were agreeing to. This was a total revival and it included the upkeep of the priests and the Temple.

Summary

Key Players: God, Nehemiah, Ezra, the Jews.

Key Verse(s): Nehemiah 8:2-6; 9:32-38; 10:37-39