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Nehemiah 8:15

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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.

And that they should publish {H8085} and proclaim {H5674}{H6963} in all their cities {H5892}, and in Jerusalem {H3389}, saying {H559}, Go forth {H3318} unto the mount {H2022}, and fetch {H935} olive {H2132} branches {H5929}, and pine {H8081} branches {H6086}{H5929}, and myrtle {H1918} branches {H5929}, and palm {H8558} branches {H5929}, and branches {H5929} of thick {H5687} trees {H6086}, to make {H6213} booths {H5521}, as it is written {H3789}.

and that they were to announce and pass the word in all their cities and in Yerushalayim, "Go out to the mountains, and collect branches of olives, wild olives, myrtles, palms, and other leafy trees to make sukkot, as prescribed."

So they proclaimed this message and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”

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 branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

Commentary

Nehemiah 8:15 describes the specific instructions given to the post-exilic Jewish community in Jerusalem and surrounding cities for observing the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot. This verse details the materials needed to construct the temporary shelters, or "booths," as prescribed in the Law of Moses.

Context

This verse is part of a pivotal moment in Israel's history after their return from Babylonian exile. Following the completion of the wall under Nehemiah, Ezra the scribe publicly read the Law of God to the assembled people (Nehemiah 8:1-8). As they listened, they realized that many of God's commands had been neglected, including the Feast of Tabernacles. Verse 14 explicitly states that they "found written in the law... that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month." Nehemiah 8:15 then outlines the proclamation made to gather the necessary branches for this long-neglected celebration, demonstrating their immediate and eager obedience to God's rediscovered Word.

Key Themes

  • Obedience to God's Word: The people's immediate action to "publish and proclaim" and then "fetch" the branches highlights their renewed commitment to following God's commands after hearing them. This signifies a profound spiritual revival.
  • Remembrance and Provision: The Feast of Tabernacles was instituted to remind the Israelites of their forty years of wandering in the wilderness, living in temporary shelters, and how God faithfully provided for them (Leviticus 23:43). The act of building these booths served as a tangible reminder of God's past care and covenant faithfulness.
  • Community and Joy: This feast was a communal celebration, emphasizing unity and shared experience. While the previous verses describe the weeping of the people due to their sin, the instruction in Nehemiah 8:10 to "eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions... for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength" sets the tone for a joyful, collective observance.
  • Restoration: The proper observance of this feast was a crucial step in the spiritual and national restoration of Israel after the exile, signifying their return to a right relationship with God and His Law.

Linguistic Insights

The word "booths" in Hebrew is sukkot (singular: sukkah), which literally means "tents," "shelters," or "tabernacles." These were temporary dwellings, typically constructed from branches and leaves, signifying the transient nature of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. The specific types of branches mentioned—olive, pine, myrtle, and palm—as well as "branches of thick trees," are consistent with the requirements found in the Mosaic Law for building these temporary shelters.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 8:15 offers several timeless lessons:

  • The Importance of God's Word: Like the Israelites, we are called to regularly engage with God's Word. It is through understanding Scripture that we learn God's will and commands.
  • Obedience Leads to Blessing: The immediate and joyful obedience of the people led to a great celebration and spiritual revival, demonstrating that blessings often follow faithful adherence to God's instructions.
  • Remembering God's Faithfulness: Just as the booths reminded Israel of God's past provision, we are encouraged to remember and celebrate God's faithfulness in our own lives, building "memorials" of gratitude and trust.
  • Communal Worship and Celebration: The communal aspect of the Feast of Tabernacles reminds us of the importance of gathering together as believers to worship, learn, and celebrate God's goodness.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 23:40 (5 votes)

    And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

  • Leviticus 23:4 (4 votes)

    ¶ These [are] the feasts of the LORD, [even] holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

  • Deuteronomy 16:16 (4 votes)

    Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

  • Matthew 21:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

  • Genesis 8:11 (2 votes)

    And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth [was] an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

  • Judges 9:48 (2 votes)

    And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that [were] with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid [it] on his shoulder, and said unto the people that [were] with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, [and] do as I [have done].

  • Judges 9:49 (2 votes)

    And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put [them] to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.