Nehemiah 8:1-3

Ezra Reads the Law

1 And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of ¹the Water Gate, and they asked ²Ezra the scribe to bring ³the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel.

2 Then ⁴Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on ⁵the first day of the seventh month.

3 He read from it before the square which was in front of ⁶the Water Gate from early morning until midday *, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

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Nehemiah 8:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 8

Ezra being desired to bring forth the book of the law, read it to the people and others, expounded it to them, Ne 8:1-8 and Nehemiah exhorted the people to express joy and gladness on this occasion, which they did, Ne 8:9-12 and observing the feast of tabernacles was in the law commanded to be observed, they kept it very strictly and joyfully, Ne 8:13-18.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 6

1. Nehemiah 3:26
2. Ezra 7:6
3. 2 Chronicles 34:15
4. Deuteronomy 31:9-11; Nehemiah 8:9
5. Leviticus 23:24
6. Nehemiah 8:1

Footnotes 3

[a]. Lit "said to"
[b]. Lit "commanded"
[c]. Lit "the light"