The whole assembly that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing.
Neh 8:13-18 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.
Commenting on Nehemiah 8:13-18
THEY KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. (Neh 8:16-18) the people went forth, and brought . . . and made themselves booths, &c.--(See on Lev 23:34; Deu 16:13).
Commenting on Nehemiah 8:16-18
since the days of Jeshua . . . had not the children of Israel done so--This national feast had not been neglected for so protracted a period. Besides that it is impossible that such a flagrant disregard of the law could have been tolerated by Samuel, David, and other pious rulers, its observance is sufficiently indicated (Kg1 8:2, Kg1 8:65; Ch2 7:9) and expressly recorded (Ezr 3:4).