Nehemiah 8:1-9

Ne 8:1

And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

The first day of the seventh month was the feast of Tabernacles.  It was a biblical festival which involved a holy convocation or assembly of the people.  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. (Leviticus 23:24)  The water gate was located on the eastern side of the city and not in the temple court.  The crowd had gathered and they had asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law which was the first five books of Moses otherwise known as the Pentateuch.  This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. (Ezra 7:6)  Ezra had returned from Babylon in 458 B.C. which was 13 years before Nehemiah.  The word of God was now the center of the assembly.

Ne 8:2

And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

Ezra brought the book of the law before the entire congregation which has gathered by the water gate.  All the people were gathered together, both men and women which possibly were gathered and stood separate.  Those with understanding would be the adults who have studied the law.  There would have been some children among them who learned the law but the real young would require the law to be explained to them.  This verse is not speaking of an “Age of Accountability” since there is no such thing in Scripture but is plainly speaking about those who understood regardless of age and those who did not.

Ne 8:3

And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

So here we have Ezra reading the law from morning till noon which would have been approximately six hours.  The congregation was composed of those who understood which would have included the priests and scribe which came back with Nehemiah and the people were attentive or focused on hearing the word of God.  Contrast that with today’s worship service which if it goes over an hour, the people complain.  I once preached in a church and was told by the pastor there was one lady in the congregation that had to get out at exactly noon because there was a certain seat at McDonalds that she liked to sit at and if the sermon went longer, then she would not get her seat.  She was attentive to her watch and not the word of God.

Ne 8:4

And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

Ezra stood upon a pulpit of wood to read the word of God.  Our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on a wooden cross and from him the word of God has spread throughout all the world.  Many churches today have clear plastic pulpits which allow the congregation to see the preacher fully but does not model itself after Scripture.  The pulpit itself was raised up but as to the exact height, that is unknown but it definitely had to be high since he had to speak to a large crowd and those in the back needed to hear him.  Ezra did not go into this alone as he had 13 priests with him.  Six on his right and seven on his left. The priests who were with Ezra were there for the purpose of giving explanations to those who did not understand.

Ne 8:5

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

Then Ezra got up into the pulpit so everyone could see him since he was high up and then when he opened the book of the Law, then out of respect for the word of God the people stood up.  This is where we get the practice in most churches when the word of God is read the congregation stands.

Ne 8:6

And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

The Ezra made a great benediction type blessing on the LORD ascribing to him great glory, honor, and majesty from among the people.  The lifting up of the hands was a type of prayer worship.  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. (1 Timothy 2:8)  Then in an act of contrition, the congregation bowed their heads and worshipped the LORD with faces toward the ground.  It was a sign of the adoration the people had for the LORD for all he had done for them and the return to Jerusalem.  The people answering Amen twice meant they embrace it as truth.  Amen means “so be it and truth.”

Ne 8:7

Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

Since the people were in Babylon and did not have access to the temple or even the word of God, many understandings of the law were lost over the years.  Here we have the thirteen priests along with a number of Levites who helped the people understand the law and none of them left as they were all interested in hearing the explanation of the law so they could be obedient to it.  This is the reason Bible teachers make Bible commentaries so others can benefit from their studies especially those who do not have access to study materials.  The only thing is that whenever we read a commentary it must line up with the teachings of Scripture and cannot be of anyone’s “private” interpretation.  In other words, we comment on the Bible and do not twist the meanings to make it say what we want it to say.  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2 Peter 1:20)

Ne 8:8

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Coming out of Babylon after seventy years, there were many who were born there and did not know the Hebrew language and the priests were there to help the people understand especially those who were not schooled in Hebrew.  This is a very important verse because it is neglected in modern Christianity.  They read the law and gave the words distinctly or specifically, then explained the words, and then commented on it according to the way it was written in Scripture.  In Christianity today, you have churches which use counterfeit Bibles such as the NIV or ESV which change the words and use Roman Catholic manuscripts as their source.  The words are changed, the meanings change, and if you give people explanations of wrong words and meanings, then you have a congregation building their lives on false teachings.  This is why the church is in such confusion today because they all use modern versions which differ from each other.

Ne 8:9

And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.