Nehemiah 8:4

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.)

Nehemiah 8:4 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 8:4

And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had
made for the purpose
Or to speak out of, as the Syriac and Arabic versions; this, in the Hebrew text, is called a "tower" ^F9, partly because of its height, and partly because in the form of one; and also for its largeness, considering the use it was for; for it was so large as to hold fourteen men, as appears by what follows: a pulpit of wood was made for the king in the court, to read the law from ^F11; though, according to Jacob Leo, it was a throne like an high tower, (See Gill on 2 Kings 11:14), the pulpits, in the Jewish synagogues, made after the same manner, as Aben Ezra observes, are called by the same ^F12 name:

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;
in all thirteen; there were six on his right, and seven on his left, who stood here, not merely in honour to him, and as approvers and supporters of the truth of what he read, but to relieve him when weary.

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 (Ue ldgm le) "super turrem ligni", Montanus; so Dionysius is said, "concionari ex turri alta", Ciceron. Tuscul. Quaest. l. 5.
F11 Schulchan Aruch, par. 1. c. 141. sect. 7.
F12 Misn. Sotah, c. 7. sect. 8.

Nehemiah 8:4 In-Context

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.)

6 And Ezra blessed the Lord God with great voice; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, raising up their hands. And they were bowed, and they worshipped God, lowly upon the earth. (And Ezra blessed the Lord God, the great God; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, and raised up their hands. And they bowed their heads, and then worshipped God, low upon the ground.)