John Gill 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)

And all the congregation of them that were come again out of
captivity made booths
These came to Jerusalem, and made them booths there; for there only was this feast kept, see (John 7:2John 7:10),

and sat under the booths ;
there they dwelt during the seven days of it, in commemoration of their ancestors dwelling in booths in the wilderness, see (Leviticus 23:42Leviticus 23:43)

for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the
children of Israel done so ;
Joshua observed it, when he had brought and settled the people of Israel in the land of Canaan; and it had been observed since, before this time, as appears from (1 Kings 8:2 1 Kings 8:65 1 Kings 8:66) (Ezra 3:4) ; but not so, with such exactness, with such zeal and affection, with such a regard to the law of God, as to read it every day of the feast, as in the next verse, and with such joy and gladness; wherefore there is no reason to suspect a corruption in the text, as a learned man ^F23 does, who supposes that Joshua is put for Josiah:

and there was very great gladness ;
that they were restored unto and settled in their land, had the book of the law, and the knowledge of it, and were directed and enabled to observe it.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F23: Delancy's Life of King David, vol. 1. p. 395. marg.