13 And on the second H8145 day H3117 were gathered together H622 the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 of all the people, H5971 the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 unto Ezra H5830 the scribe, H5608 even to understand H7919 the words H1697 of the law. H8451
And the whole assembly H6951 took counsel H3289 to keep H6213 other H312 seven H7651 days: H3117 and they kept H6213 other seven H7651 days H3117 with gladness. H8057
Also Jeshua, H3442 and Bani, H1137 and Sherebiah, H8274 Jamin, H3226 Akkub, H6126 Shabbethai, H7678 Hodijah, H1941 Maaseiah, H4641 Kelita, H7042 Azariah, H5838 Jozabad, H3107 Hanan, H2605 Pelaiah, H6411 and the Levites, H3881 caused the people H5971 to understand H995 the law: H8451 and the people H5971 stood in their place. H5977 So they read H7121 in the book H5612 in the law H8451 of God H430 distinctly, H6567 and gave H7760 the sense, H7922 and caused them to understand H995 the reading. H4744
My son, H1121 if thou wilt receive H3947 my words, H561 and hide H6845 my commandments H4687 with thee; So that thou incline H7181 thine ear H241 unto wisdom, H2451 and apply H5186 thine heart H3820 to understanding; H8394 Yea, if thou criest H7121 after knowledge, H998 and liftest up H5414 thy voice H6963 for understanding; H8394 If thou seekest H1245 her as silver, H3701 and searchest H2664 for her as for hid treasures; H4301 Then shalt thou understand H995 the fear H3374 of the LORD, H3068 and find H4672 the knowledge H1847 of God. H430 For the LORD H3068 giveth H5414 wisdom: H2451 out of his mouth H6310 cometh knowledge H1847 and understanding. H8394
Hear H8085 instruction, H4148 and be wise, H2449 and refuse H6544 it not. Blessed H835 is the man H120 that heareth H8085 me, watching H8245 daily H3117 H3117 at my gates, H1817 waiting H8104 at the posts H4201 of my doors. H6607
Whoso loveth H157 instruction H4148 loveth H157 knowledge: H1847 but he that hateth H8130 reproof H8433 is brutish. H1198
And G2532 the people G3793 saw G1492 them G846 departing, G5217 and G2532 many G4183 knew G1921 him, G846 and G2532 ran G4936 afoot G3979 thither G1563 out of G575 all G3956 cities, G4172 and G2532 outwent G4281 them, G846 and G2532 came together G4905 unto G4314 him. G846 And G2532 Jesus, G2424 when he came out, G1831 saw G1492 much G4183 people, G3793 and G2532 was moved with compassion G4697 toward G1909 them, G846 because G3754 they were G2258 as G5613 sheep G4263 not G3361 having G2192 a shepherd: G4166 and G2532 he began G756 to teach G1321 them G846 many things. G4183
And G2532 he taught G2258 G1321 daily G2596 G2250 in G1722 the temple. G2411 But G1161 the chief priests G749 and G2532 the scribes G1122 and G2532 the chief G4413 of the people G2992 sought G2212 to destroy G622 him, G846 And G2532 could G2147 not G3756 find G2147 what G5101 they might do: G4160 for G1063 all G537 the people G2992 were very attentive G1582 to hear G191 him. G846
And G1161 when the Jews G2453 were gone G1826 out of G1537 the synagogue, G4864 the Gentiles G1484 besought G3870 that these G5023 words G4487 might be preached G2980 to them G846 G1519 the next G3342 sabbath. G4521
And G1161 the servant G1401 of the Lord G2962 must G1163 not G3756 strive; G3164 but G235 be G1511 gentle G2261 unto G4314 all G3956 men, apt to teach, G1317 patient, G420 In G1722 meekness G4236 instructing G3811 those that oppose themselves; G475 if G3379 God G2316 peradventure G3379 will give G1325 them G846 repentance G3341 to G1519 the acknowledging G1922 of the truth; G225
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Nehemiah 8
Commentary on Nehemiah 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
Ne 8:1-8. Religious Manner of Reading and Hearing the Law.
1. all the people gathered themselves together as one man—The occasion was the celebration of the feast of the seventh month (Ne 7:73). The beginning of every month was ushered in as a sacred festival; but this, the commencement of the seventh month, was kept with distinguished honor as "the feast of trumpets," which extended over two days. It was the first day of the seventh ecclesiastical year, and the new year's day of the Jewish civil year, on which account it was held as "a great day." The place where the general concourse of people was held was "at the water gate," on the south rampart. Through that gate the Nethinims or Gibeonites brought water into the temple, and there was a spacious area in front of it.
they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses—He had come to Jerusalem twelve or thirteen years previous to Nehemiah. He either remained there or had returned to Babylon in obedience to the royal order, and for the discharge of important duties. He had returned along with Nehemiah, but in a subordinate capacity. From the time of Nehemiah's appointment to the dignity of tirshatha, Ezra had retired into private life. Although cordially and zealously co-operating with the former patriot in his important measures of reform, the pious priest had devoted his time and attention principally toward producing a complete edition of the canonical Scriptures. The public reading of the Scriptures was required by the law to be made every seventh year; but during the long period of the captivity this excellent practice, with many others, had fallen into neglect, till revived, on this occasion. That there was a strong and general desire among the returned exiles in Jerusalem to hear the word of God read to them indicates a greatly improved tone of religious feeling.
4. Ezra … stood upon a pulpit of wood—Not made in the form known to us, but only a raised scaffold or platform, broad enough to allow fourteen persons to stand with ease upon it. Ezra's duty was very laborious, as he continued reading aloud from morning until midday, but his labor was lightened by the aid of the other priests present. Their presence was of importance, partly to show their cordial agreement with Ezra's declaration of divine truth; and partly to take their share with him in the important duty of publicly reading and expounding the Scripture.
5. when he opened it, all the people stood up—This attitude they assumed either from respect to God's word, or, rather, because the reading was prefaced by a solemn prayer, which was concluded by a general expression of "Amen, Amen."
7, 8. caused the people to understand the law … gave the sense—Commentators are divided in opinion as to the import of this statement. Some think that Ezra read the law in pure Hebrew, while the Levites, who assisted him, translated it sentence by sentence into Chaldee, the vernacular dialect which the exiles spoke in Babylon. Others maintain that the duty of these Levites consisted in explaining to the people, many of whom had become very ignorant, what Ezra had read.
Ne 8:9-15. The People Comforted.
9, 10. This day is holy unto the Lord … mourn not, nor weep—A deep sense of their national sins, impressively brought to their remembrance by the reading of the law and its denunciations, affected the hearts of the people with penitential sorrow. But notwithstanding the painful remembrances of their national sins which the reading of the law awakened, the people were exhorted to cherish the feelings of joy and thankfulness associated with a sacred festival (see on Le 23:24). By sending portions of it to their poorer brethren (De 16:11, 14; Es 9:19), they would also enable them to participate in the public rejoicings.
Ne 8:16-18. They Keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
16. the people went forth, and brought … and made themselves booths, &c.—(See on Le 23:34; De 16:13).
17. since the days of Jeshua … had not the children of Israel done so—This national feast had not been neglected for so protracted a period. Besides that it is impossible that such a flagrant disregard of the law could have been tolerated by Samuel, David, and other pious rulers, its observance is sufficiently indicated (1Ki 8:2, 65; 2Ch 7:9) and expressly recorded (Ezr 3:4). But the meaning is, that the popular feelings had never been raised to such a height of enthusiastic joy since the time of their entrance into Canaan, as now on their return after a long and painful captivity.
18. Also day by day … he read in the book of the law of God—This was more than was enjoined (De 31:10-12), and arose from the exuberant zeal of the time.
on the eighth day was a solemn assembly—This was the last and great day of the feast (see on Nu 29:35). In later times, other ceremonies which increased the rejoicing were added (Joh 7:37).