How did the assembly respond to the reading of the Law and the command concerning booths?

In the seventh month, with the Israelites settled in their towns, the entire populace gathered with unified purpose in the open square before the Water Gate in Jerusalem. They asked Esdras the scribe to retrieve the scroll of Mosaic Law given by the Lord to Israel. On the first day of the seventh month, Esdras the priest brought the Law before the gathered assembly of men, women, and all those capable of understanding. From early morning until midday, Esdras read the Law plainly in the open square before the Water Gate, and the entire assembly listened with complete attention.

Esdras stood on a wooden step made for speaking. Flanking him on his right hand stood six leaders: Mathathias, Semeia, Ania, Uria, Helcia, and Maasia; on his left hand stood seven leaders: Phadaia, Misael, Melchia, Hasum, Hasbadana, Zacharia, and Mosollam. When Esdras opened the sacred scroll above the crowd, the entire multitude stood up. Esdras gave praise to the Lord, the great God, to which the gathered people responded, "Amen, amen," raising their hands toward heaven before bowing down and worshipping God with their faces to the ground. A group of thirteen Levites—Josue, Bani, Serebia, Jamin, Accub, Sephtai, Odia, Maasia, Celtia, Azarias, Jozabed, Hanan, and Phalaia—maintained quiet among the people while the assembly remained in their places. These Levites read the Book of the Law of God distinctly and explained its meaning so that the people fully understood what was read.

As the words of the Law were read and explained, the people began to weep openly when they heard the words of the Law. Seeing their intense sorrow, Nehemias the governor (known also as the Athersatha), along with Esdras the priest and scribe and the teaching Levites, intervened to calm the crowd. They told the people that this day was holy to the Lord their God and urged them not to mourn or weep. Nehemias instructed them to eat rich food, drink sweet wine, and send portions to anyone who had nothing prepared, declaring that the joy of the Lord is their strength. The Levites likewise quieted the assembly, reminding them that the day was holy and sorrow was forbidden. Reassured by this instruction, the people went away to eat, drink, share food portions, and celebrate with great gladness, having understood the words taught to them.

On the second day, the clan heads, priests, and Levites assembled again around Esdras to study the requirements of the Law in deeper detail. In doing so, they discovered the command given through Moses that the children of Israel must dwell in leafy booths during the feast of the seventh month. The leaders immediately published a proclamation throughout Jerusalem and all surrounding towns, directing the inhabitants to go forth to the mount and gather branches of olive, beautiful wood, myrtle, palm, and thick trees to construct booths as prescribed. The people complied, building booths on their rooftops, in their home courtyards, within the temple precincts, and in the public squares by the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim. The entire assembly of returned exiles dwelt in these booths, with exceeding great joy; the account says Israel had not done so since the days of Josue son of Nun. Throughout the seven days of the festival, Esdras read daily from the Book of the Law of God, and on the eighth day they concluded the celebration with a solemn assembly according to the prescribed custom.