Go the Mount and Fetch - Nehemiah 8:15

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month”, and in chapter eight and verse fifteen of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “go forth unto the mount, and fetch” where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “and that they should publish” which means “and that they, the chief of the male progenitors, the priests and the Levites were to consent, agree and yield to” “and proclaim” or “and pass along and advance” “in all their cities” which means “within each, every, the whole and everyone of their, the chief progenitors', the priests' and the Levites' villages and towns”, “and in Jerusalem” or “and within Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and isthe chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Nehemiah shared how he instructed the chief of the fathers, the priests and the Levites to yield to and pass along the following message in every one of their towns and villages. 

The verse goes on to say, “... 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.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “go forth unto the mount” or “leave and depart to the hill country or range of mountains”, “and fetch olive branches”which means “and lay hold of, seize and attain leafy foliage from olive trees”, “and pine branches” or “and leafy foliage from the perfumed, ointment and pine trees”, “and myrtle branches” which means “and the leafy foliage from myrtle trees”, “and palm branches” or “and leafy foliage from the date palm trees”, “and branches of thick trees” or “and leafy foliage from interwoven and dense trees”, “to make booths” which means “to fashion, accomplish and produce thickets, coverts and temporary dwelling places or shelters”, “as it is written” or “in the manner and likeness that it, the feast of tabernacles, was inscribed and engraved”. Nehemiah told the chief progenitors, the priests and the Levites to ascend to the mountainous area to lay hold of the leafy foliage of “olive, pine, myrtle, palm and dense trees” to fashion temporary dwelling places in accordance with that which was inscribed within the law of God.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that the chief progenitors, the priests and the Levites were instructed to ascend to the mountainous areas and to collect leafy branches from “olive, pine, myrtle, palm and interwoven trees”. They were to comply with the word of God and observe the “feast of tabernacles” or “Sukkot” which would remind them of God's provision and protection over the people of Israel while they wandered in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. (See Leviticus 23:33-44) This feast is a reminder to us that God is our provider and protector and He knows what is best for our lives. Because we have sinned, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and He raised Him from the dead three days later. When we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us through His Holy Spirit to observe His word as He reveals Himself to us over and over again. (See John 16:33) 

Next time Nehemiah says, “the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".