When the remnant of Judah, Levi, and Benjamin returned from Babylonian captivity to rebuild the wall, Ezra the priest read the Book of the Law to the assembled men and women at the Water Gate on the first day of the seventh month, and the people listened attentively. On the second day the heads of the households, with the priests and Levites, gathered to Ezra to understand the words of the Law. They found written that Israel was to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month. The people went out, gathered branches of olive, myrtle, palm, and leafy trees, and made booths on their roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of God's house, and in the open squares of the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim. Not since the days of Joshua had Israel kept the feast this way, and there was very great gladness. Ezra read from the Book of the Law day by day, and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly according to the prescribed manner. This does not mean Judah never kept the Feast of Tabernacles before, since good kings like Josiah probably did, but recent generations had not kept it with such fervor. Carnal, hard-hearted men have short memories, and it took another miraculous release from bondage to jar Israel's memory so they kept the feast as they should.