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Nehemiah 8:13

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Nehemiah 8:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And on the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers` [houses] of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And on the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers` [houses] of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law.
Nehemiah 8:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Nehemiah 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye grieved; for the joy of Jehovah is your strength.
11So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
12And 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.
13And on the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers` [houses] of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law.
14And they found written in the law, how that Jehovah had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month;
15and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
16So 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 broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And on the second day were gathered together, etc.] The second day of the month, and of the new year, the day after the feast of blowing of trumpets, and after the law had been read and explained: the chief of the fathers of all the people: heads of tribes and families: the priests and the Levites; who, though they were instructors of others, needed to be taught themselves, of which they were sensible: and therefore came unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law; some things in it, which, upon reading the day before, they observed had some difficulty in them, and which they did not clearly and thoroughly understand; and therefore applied to Ezra, a ready scribe in the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“To understand - Rather, “to consider.” return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Levites - Chusing rather to confess their ignorance than vainly to pretend to more knowledge than they had: wherein they shew both humility, and serious godliness, that they were more careful to learn their duty than to preserve their reputation. Nehemiah 8:15”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the second: Ch2 30:23; Pro 2:1-6, Pro 8:33, Pro 8:34, Pro 12:1; Mar 6:33, Mar 6:34; Luk 19:47, Luk 19:48; Act 4:1; Act 13:42 to understand the words of the law: or, that they might instruct in the words of the law, Neh 8:7, Neh 8:8; Luk 24:32; Ti2 2:24, Ti2 2:25 Nehemiah 8:14”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Celebration of the feast of tabernacles. - Neh 8:13 On the second day were gathered together the heads of the houses of all the people, of the priests, and of the Levites to Ezra the scribe, to attend to the words of the law. The infinitive להשׂכּיל may indeed be taken (as by Bertheau) as the continuation of the finite verb, instead of as infinitive absolute (Ewald, 352, c); this is, however, admissible only in cases where the second verb either states what must be done, or further describes the condition of affairs, while להשׂכּיל here states the purpose for which the heads of the people, etc. assembled themselves unto Ezra. Hence we take להשׂכּיל in its usual meaning, and the w before it…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification