Nehemiah 8 17

Nehemiah 8:17 kjv

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 8:17 nkjv

So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.

Nehemiah 8:17 niv

The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.

Nehemiah 8:17 esv

And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing.

Nehemiah 8:17 nlt

So everyone who had returned from captivity lived in these shelters during the festival, and they were all filled with great joy! The Israelites had not celebrated like this since the days of Joshua son of Nun.

Nehemiah 8 verses

Nehemiah 8 17 Meaning

This verse records the historic and complete celebration of the Feast of Booths by the returned exiles in Jerusalem. It highlights that the entire community, comprised of those who had come back from captivity, meticulously constructed and inhabited temporary dwellings as commanded. The profound significance of this observance is underscored by the fact that such a comprehensive and obedient celebration of this festival had not taken place since the era of Joshua, son of Nun. The chapter culminates with a powerful declaration of "very great rejoicing," indicating a deep spiritual and communal delight in their renewed obedience and covenant faithfulness.

Nehemiah 8 17 Context

Nehemiah 8 details a pivotal moment in the post-exilic history of Israel. Following the completion of the wall around Jerusalem, the people gathered in an unprecedented display of unity. Ezra the scribe read from the Book of the Law of Moses from morning till midday, interpreting it so the people understood. This profound exposure to the covenant stipulations caused great sorrow among the people as they recognized their widespread disobedience. However, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites encouraged them not to mourn but to rejoice in the Lord, for His joy was their strength. In their continued study of the Law, they discovered the specific commands regarding the Feast of Booths (Sukkot) and were prompted by their newfound understanding and desire for obedience to immediately comply. Nehemiah 8:17 highlights the full, community-wide execution of this command, culminating in extraordinary joy, signaling a spiritual revival marked by renewed covenant fidelity and the blessing that accompanies it.

Nehemiah 8 17 Word analysis

• And all the congregation (וְכָל-הַקָּהָל - v'chol haqqahal):
  • v'chol: "And all of." Emphasizes completeness and inclusivity.
  • haqqahal: "the congregation," "assembly," or "community." This term implies an organized gathering for a sacred purpose (Exod 12:6, Lev 4:13). Its use here signifies a united people acting together in obedience to God's word, contrasting with previous disunity or negligence.
• of those who had returned from the captivity (הַשָּׁבִים מִן-הַשְּׁבִי - hashshavim min-hashshevi):
  • hashshavim: "the ones returning," "the exiles who came back." Highlights their recent past in exile, making their current act of obedience a significant testament to God's restorative work and their commitment to His ways after generations of estrangement.
  • hashshevi: "the captivity," "exile." Recalls the reason for their discipline—disobedience to the very Law they were now obeying. This context underscores the deep spiritual lessons learned through suffering.
• made (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ - vaya'asu) booths (סֻכּוֹת - sukkot) and lived (וַיֵּשְׁבוּ - vayyeshvu) in the booths:
  • vaya'asu sukkot: "they made booths/tabernacles." This is the action of construction, directly fulfilling the command in Lev 23:42. Sukkot (plural of sukkah) literally means "shelters," "booths," or "tents." They were temporary structures to commemorate the Israelites' dwelling in booths during their wilderness journey after being brought out of Egypt. This act served as a vivid, tangible reminder of God's provision and their dependence on Him, especially after their recent return from exile, paralleling a new "wilderness" journey to re-establish their covenant relationship.
  • vayyeshvu: "and they lived," "dwelt." Implies not just building but occupying these booths for the prescribed seven days, fully engaging in the practice commanded by the Law. This highlights true and comprehensive obedience, not just symbolic gesture.
• for since the days (כִּי מִימֵי - ki mimey) of Joshua the son of Nun (יֵשׁוּעַ בִּן-נוּן - yeshua bin-Nun) to that day, the people of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - b'ney Yisra'el) had not done so (לֹא-עָשׂוּ כֵּן - lo-asu chen):
  • ki mimey Joshua... lo-asu chen: This phrase is a massive historical claim. "Since the days of Joshua son of Nun... they had not done so." This is the core of the verse's significance.
    • Joshua the son of Nun: The faithful successor to Moses who led Israel into the Promised Land and settled them, ensuring the land rested. His era represents a golden age of obedience and establishment of the Mosaic covenant in the land (Josh 1:1-9, Josh 24:31).
    • The statement implies that while parts of Sukkot might have been observed at various times (e.g., Ezra 3:4 mentions an earlier Sukkot celebration post-exile, though not with the living in booths component as widely and faithfully as this, nor described with the same degree of corporate joy), this particular observance in Nehemiah was uniquely comprehensive in its obedience and nationwide participation, especially in the aspect of actually dwelling in booths. This emphasizes a purity and universality of obedience not seen since their covenant beginnings in the land. It acts as an implicit rebuke to generations of unfaithfulness.
    • B'ney Yisra'el: "Sons of Israel" or "people of Israel." Underscores that it was the entire covenant community, the chosen nation, acting as one, reinforcing the idea of a nationwide commitment to the Law.
• And there was (וַתְּהִי - vattehi) very great (שִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד - simḥah gedolah m'od) rejoicing (שִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד - simḥah gedolah m'od):
  • vattehi simḥah gedolah m'od: "And there was joy great exceedingly." This emphatic expression—using both "great" (gedolah) and "exceedingly/very" (m'od)—signifies unparalleled joy. This joy was not merely human elation but deeply spiritual, arising from their understanding of God's Word (Neh 8:12) and their corporate obedience. It reflects the blessing that comes from a restored relationship with God through covenant fidelity.

• "all the congregation... of those who had returned from the captivity": This highlights the post-exilic identity of the participants. Their return from exile was a direct consequence of their forefathers' disobedience, and this moment signifies a turn towards collective, nationwide repentance and re-commitment to the Law that had been neglected for so long. It is an act of communal restoration and a testament to God's faithfulness in bringing them back and reviving their hearts.
• "since the days of Joshua... had not done so": This phrase is a profound statement of neglect and a high commendation for this specific event. It signifies a unique moment of covenant renewal, highlighting that for centuries, even though the command existed, the people never observed it with such collective zeal and comprehensiveness, especially regarding dwelling in the booths. This makes the Nehemiah 8 Sukkot the most complete celebration recorded between Joshua and the post-exilic period. It implies that kings, priests, and prophets through centuries had largely failed to bring about such obedience. This implicitly sets the bar for their current commitment extremely high and reflects God's renewed grace.
• "very great rejoicing": This joy is directly linked to understanding and obeying God's Law. It contrasts with the initial sorrow felt upon hearing the Law, showing that true joy comes from reconciliation with God through obedience. It’s a fulfillment of what Ezra and Nehemiah declared earlier: "the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh 8:10). This joy is distinct from worldly happiness; it is rooted in covenant relationship and reflects God's pleasure in their faithfulness.

Nehemiah 8 17 Bonus section

The neglect of the Feast of Booths (Sukkot) for such a long period (since Joshua's time) points to a deep spiritual malaise that had plagued Israel throughout much of its history, contributing to the very exile they had just returned from. The comprehensive and joyful observance in Nehemiah 8 represents not just a return to a specific commandment, but a wider re-establishment of the people's covenant identity. The significance of living in booths (sukkahs) is central; it teaches dependence on God for provision, remembrance of the wilderness wanderings, and anticipation of the permanent dwelling place God promised. This act connected the post-exilic community physically and spiritually to their historical roots and God's faithfulness through all their wanderings. The sheer depth of "very great rejoicing" signifies not mere human happiness, but a divine infilling of joy (cf. Neh 8:10), a spiritual exhilaration felt in collective repentance and commitment to their covenant Lord, signaling God's acceptance of their renewed fidelity. This event laid a foundational precedent for subsequent generations regarding the seriousness of God's Word and the blessedness of obeying it fully.

Nehemiah 8 17 Commentary

Nehemiah 8:17 records a moment of extraordinary national spiritual revival in post-exilic Israel. After hearing and understanding the Law of Moses for the first time in generations, the returned exiles eagerly discovered the forgotten command to observe the Feast of Booths by living in temporary dwellings. This immediate and complete obedience, universally embraced by "all the congregation," was unprecedented since the time of Joshua, signifying a profound return to the covenant. The historical vacuum emphasized by the text underscores centuries of spiritual negligence and highlights the remarkable dedication of this new generation to follow God's commands precisely. This act of corporate fidelity resulted not in ritualistic observance alone, but in an overwhelming experience of "very great rejoicing," a divine affirmation and an overflow of spiritual delight stemming from renewed relationship and obedience to God. It underscores the biblical principle that genuine joy is intrinsically linked to understanding and delighting in God's Word and commandments.