Nehemiah 8:1

1 And all the people was gathered together as one man, (in)to the street which is before the gate of waters. And they said to Ezra, the scribe, or the writer, that he should bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. (And then all the people gathered together as one person, in the square in front of the Water Gate. And they said to Ezra, the writer/the teacher of the Law, that he should bring The Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.)

Nehemiah 8:1 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 8:1

And all the people gathered themselves together as one man
into the street that was before the watergate
A large and commodious street for such a company of people, which led to the water gate, of which see ( Nehemiah 3:26 ) hither the people gathered with great unanimity, zeal, and affection:

and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe;
the same who is called Ezra the priest, and scribe of the law of God, and said to be a ready one, ( Ezra 7:6 Ezra 7:11 Ezra 7:12 ) , who came to Jerusalem thirteen years before this time; but very probably returned to Babylon again, and was lately come from thence:

to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to
Israel;
to observe what was commanded in it, and which he had ordered to be read, particularly every seventh year, at the feast of tabernacles, ( Deuteronomy 31:10 Deuteronomy 31:11 ) which was now drawing near, though this was not the precise time of reading it; hence some have thought this year was the sabbatical year; see ( Nehemiah 5:11 ) .

Nehemiah 8:1 In-Context

1 And all the people was gathered together as one man, (in)to the street which is before the gate of waters. And they said to Ezra, the scribe, or the writer, that he should bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. (And then all the people gathered together as one person, in the square in front of the Water Gate. And they said to Ezra, the writer/the teacher of the Law, that he should bring The Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.)

2 Therefore Ezra, the priest, brought the law before the multitude of men and of women, and before all that might understand, in the first day of the seventh month. (And so Ezra, the priest, brought The Book of the Law before the multitude of men and women, yea, to all who might understand it, in the first day of the seventh month.)

3 And he read in it openly in the street that was before the gate of waters, from the morrowtide till to midday, in the sight of men and of women, and of wise men; and the ears of all the people were raised up to the book to hear the law. (And he read from it openly in the square that was in front of the Water Gate, from the morning until noon, before men and women, yea, to all who were wise enough to understand it; and the ears of all the people were attentive to hear the Law from the book.)

4 And Ezra the writer stood on the degrees of wood, that he had made to speak upon to the people; and Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him, at his right half; and Pedaiah, Mishael, and Malchiah, Hashum, and Hashbadana, and Zechariah, and Meshullam, stood at the left half. (And Ezra the writer/the teacher of the Law stood on a wooden platform, made for him so that he could speak to the people; and Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him, at his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam, stood at his left hand.)

5 And Ezra opened the book before all the people; for he appeared over all the people; and when he had opened the book, all the people stood to hear. (And Ezra opened the book before all the people; for he was above all the people; and when he had opened the book, all the people stood up to hear him.)