Charles Ellicott Commentary Nehemiah 8:17

"And all the assembly of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness." — Nehemiah 8:17 (ASV)

The children of the captivity. — The pathos of this designation is evident here.

Done so. — Though the feast had been kept (1 Kings 8:0; Ezra 3:0), it had never thus been kept with universal dwelling in booths.