Nehemiah 8:5

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.)

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.


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 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.)
7 And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, deacons, made silence in the people, for to hear the law. And the people stood in their degree. (And then Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, all Levites, expounded the Law to them. And all the people stood there in their places.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.