Nehemiah 8:18 (DBY)

Passage

Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they observed the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

Nearby Context

Nehemiah 8:16 And the people went forth and brought [them], and made themselves booths, everyone upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the open space of the water-gate, and in the open space of the gate of Ephraim.

Nehemiah 8:17 And all the congregation of them that had come back from the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths. For since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun until that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

Nehemiah 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they observed the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "first", "last", "read", "book", "observed", "feast", "seven", and "days". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "first" and "last", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "And all the congregation of them that...", giving immediate footing for "first" and "last". In Nehemiah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

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