Nehemiah 8:5

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood.

Nehemiah 8:5 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 8:5

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people
(for he was above all the people)
So plainly seen by them, and what he did, and the more easily heard, for which purpose the pulpit was made for him to stand in:

and, when he opened it, all the people stood up;
that they might the better hear the law read, as well as in honour and reverence of it; the Jews say ^F13, that from the times of Moses to Rabban Gamaliel, they learned the law only standing; but after his death a disease came into the world, and they learned it sitting; and now it is a canon with them, that it is not necessary to stand at the reading of the law ^F14.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 T. Bab. Megillah, fol. 21. 1.
F14 Schulchan Aruch, par. 1. Orach Chayim, c. 146. sect. 4.

Nehemiah 8:5 In-Context

3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood.

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

7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites,helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places.