Nehemiah 8:13 (ASV)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

Nehemiah 8:11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.

Nehemiah 8:12 And 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.

Nehemiah 8:13 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 8:14 And 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;

Nehemiah 8:15 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.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "second", "gathered", "together", "heads", "fathers", "houses", "people", and "priests". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "second" and "gathered", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "And all the people went their way..." into verse 14's "And they found written in the law...", so "second" and "gathered" belong inside that flow. In Nehemiah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "second" and "gathered" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.