Tishrei 2 – They gathered to understand the words of the Torah…

September 17, 2023

Tishrei 2, 5784; from sunset September 16, 2023, to sunset September 17, 2023

This is an image of a portion of the wall rebuilt by Nehemiah and company.

Yesterday, the Bible told us that Ezra, Nehemiah, and those who returned from the exile stood near the Water Gate where Ezra read to them from the Book of the Law. The people had been neglecting God’s Holy Days. Many did not know when they were or what they were supposed to do. But a remnant remained who had the understanding of the proper service unto the LORD and, yesterday, they began teaching the people of His ways.

It was an emotional day, many were weeping and mourning because they began to have an understanding of their neglect. But Nehemiah comforted the people and Ezra helped them to understand that this was a day for joy and gladness and for taking food to those who had nothing prepared. Ezra and Nehemiah were living out the meaning of their name. Ezra comes from a verb which means “to help or support” and Nehemiah means “Comfort of the LORD.”

If you think about it, you could say that many Christians are in the same boat as those who returned from Babylon. Many of us don’t know anything about God’s Holy Days, when they are, or how to celebrate them. Thankfully, there are some who do know and they are willing to teach us and help us understand. Perhaps the command to “go and take food to those who have nothing prepared” has a deeper meaning – the “food” being the Word of the LORD and helping those have nothing prepared is helping others to understand what the LORD’s Appointed Times are all about.

The next day, today, the heads of the families gathered together with Ezra in order to understand the Torah even better – they learned about the Appointed Time of Sukkot (aka Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths). Let’s read what the Bible says about what happened today in the times of Nehemiah and Ezra.

Now on the second day the heads of the fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law. And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, and that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” – Nehemiah 8:13-15

The Feast of Booths does not take place until the 15th day of the seventh month, giving the elders nearly two weeks to prepare their people for the festival.

To read all of our posts on Nehemiah, click on the image above.