EXPOSITION. Ver, 13.-And on the second day were Rather "oleaster branches." Branches of gathered together the chief of the fathers. thick trees. The same expression is used in At times it is true that "increase of appetite Lev. xxiii. 40, the meaning in each place doth grow by what it feeds on." Once let being uncertain. Perhaps trees with thick, the sweetness of the Divine word be tasted viscous leaves are intended. It is remark- nnd appreciated, and there springs up in the able that two of the trees commanded in heart instantly a desire for more-a wish to Leviticus are omitted, viz., the hadar and continue in the study-a feeling like that of the "willow of the brook," while three not the Psalmist when he said, "Lord, what mentioned in Leviticus-the olive, oleaster, love have I unto thy law: all the day long and myrtle-are added. is my study in it" (Ps. cxiL 97). The Ver. 16. -The flat roofs of Oriental Jews, taught by Ezra in the law of God on houses, and the court round which they the first day of the month, return to him on were commonly built, furnished convenient the second, desirous of hearing more, hun- sites for the booths, and would be preferred gering and thirsting after the word of life, by the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The in- of which they have felt the power and the comers from the countrv districts (ver. 15) excellency. To understand. Rather, "to would have to occupy the open places or consider," ns in Ps. xli. 1. "squares" of the city, and the temple Ver. 14.-And they found written. The courts, which would accommodate large practice of "dwelling in booths," com- numbers. On the street of the water gate manded in Lev. xx:iii. 42, had fallen into see the comment on ver. 1. The street of disuse, probably during the captivity, and the gate of Ephraim was probably a similar though the feast itself had been revived by square, inside the great northern gateway, Zerubbabel (Ezra iii. 4), yet this feature of Ver. 17. - Jeshua the son of Nl1ll. it, from which it derived its name, had re- "Jeshua" and " Joshua" are two modes of mained in abeyance. In the feast of the contracting the full name of J ehoshua, the aeventh month. Though the " feast of latter prevalent in early, the former in later trumpets" was also a feast of the seventh times. The Grecised form of J eshua was month, that of tabernacles was "the feast," "Jesus" (see Acts vii. 45; Heb. iv. 8). being one of those which all Israelites not When it is said that since the days of reasonably hindered were bound to attend J eshua had not the children of Israel done (Exod. xxiii. 14--17; Deut. xvi. 16), and so, we must understand, not that there had which was placed on a par with the Passover been no celebration of the feast of taber- and Pentecost. nacles since that time-not even that there Ver. 15.-And that they should publish. had been no celebration accompanied by See Lev. xxiii. 4. Saying, Go forth, &c. "dwelling in booths," but only that there These words are not found in any existing had been 'llO such joyous and general cele- Scripture, and some co1Tuption of the pre- bration of the festival (comp. what is said sent text may therefore be suspected. The in 2 Kings xxiii. 22 and 2 Chron. mv. 18 Septuagint interP.oses, between "Jerusalem" of the passover kept in J osiah's eighteenth and " Go forth, ' the words "And Esdras year). It is the very great gladnes, that said," which would remove the difficulty: is especially insisted upon. but it is difficult to understand how Ezra's Ver. 18. -Also day by day . . . . he read name should have fallen out. Perhaps in the book of the law. Ezra must be Houbigant is right in his suggestion of an intended in the form "he read," though emendation, by which the verse would run there he.s been no mention of him since thus: - "And when they heard it, they verse 13. The continuous and systematic proclaimed in all their cities, and in J eru- reading seems to imply that the year was a salern, s,tying-, Go forth," &c. Into the S11bbaticul one, and that the rehearsal com- mountain. J. e. the neighbouring moun- m11nded in Deut. xxxi.10-13 now took place. to.in, the Mount of Olives. l'ine branches. The observance was perhaps a new thing to 90 TBE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [err. vm. 13-18.
the newly-formed community 1md is there- Lev. xxiii. 36 and Num. xxix. 36, Dv fore recorded with so much em'phasis. The:, " according to the manner " seems to b'e kept the feast ■even daya. See Lev. xxiii. meant "according to the regularly estab- 34; Nnm. xxix. 12-34 ; Deut. xvi. 13. lished custom" -one proof out of many tbat On the_ eighth day wa■ a solemn a11embly, tbe feast l1ad been constantly observed acconcling to the manner. Such a mode of though not perhaps with all the prope; solemnising the octave 'WlLS commanded in ceremonies (see the comment on ver, 17).