Nechemyah 8:5

5 And Ezra opened the Sefer before the eyes of kol HaAm (for he was above kol HaAm); and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

Nechemyah 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.

Nechemyah 8:5 In-Context

3 And he read therein before the rechov that was before the Water Gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of kol HaAm were attentive unto the Sefer HaTorah.

4 And Ezra HaSofer stood upon a platform of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattityah, and Shema, and Anayah, and Uriyah, and Chilkiyah, and Ma’aseiyah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedayah, and Mishael, and Malkiyah, and Chashum, and Chashbadana, Zecharyah, and Meshullam.

5 And Ezra opened the Sefer before the eyes of kol HaAm (for he was above kol HaAm); and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

6 And Ezra blessed Hashem, HaElohim HaGadol. And kol HaAm answered, Omein, Omein, with lifting up their hands; and they bowed, and worshiped Hashem with their faces to the ground.

7 Also Yeshua, and Bani, and Sherevyah, Yamin, Akuv, Shabtai, Hodiyah, Ma’aseiyah, Kelita, Azaryah, Yozavad, Chanan, Pelayah, and the Levi’im caused the people to understand the Torah; and the people stood in their place.