Nehemiah 8:1-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 8:1-8

We have here an account of a solemn religious assembly, and the good work that was done in that assembly, to the honour of God and the edification of the church. I. The time of it was the first day of the seventh month, Neh. 8:2. That was the day of the feast of trumpets, which is called a sabbath, and on which they were to have a holy convocation, Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1. But that was not all: it was one that day that the altar was set up, and they began to offer their burnt-offerings after... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 8:9-12

We may here observe, I. How the people were wounded with the words of the law that were read to them. The law works death, and speaks terror, shows men their sins, and their misery and danger because of sin, and thunders a curse against every one that continues not in every part of his duty. Therefore when they heard it they all wept (Neh. 8:9): it was a good sign that their hearts were tender, like Josiah's when he heard the words of the law. They wept to think how they had offended God, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 8:13-18

We have here, I. The people's renewed attendance upon the word. They had spent the greatest part of one day in praying and hearing, and yet were so far from being weary of that new moon and sabbath that the next day after, though it was no festival, the chief of them came together again to hear Ezra expound (Neh. 8:13), which they found more delightful and gainful than any worldly pleasure or profit whatsoever. Note, The more we converse with the word of God, if we rightly understand it and be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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 , who came to Jerusalem thirteen years before... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:2

And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation ,.... Having a perfect copy of it, which the people knew, and therefore desired him to bring it; he brought it either out of his own case or chest, or out of the temple where it was laid up; some restrain this to the book of Deuteronomy; this he produced in sight of the whole assembly: both of men and women ; adult persons of each sex, who met promiscuously; though Grotius thinks the women had a separate place: and all that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:3

And he read therein ,.... Some passages in it, here and there, which it was necessary the people should have knowledge of; for it can hardly be thought be began and read on just in the order in which it was: this he did before the street ; at the top of it, at one end of it: that was before the water gate ; which looked directly to that: from the morning until midday ; from the rising of the sun to noon, so that he must read six hours; but very probably was relieved at times by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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 על מגדל עץ "super turrem ligni", Montanus; so Dionysius is said, "concionari ex turri alta", Ciceron. Tuscul. Quaest. l. 5. , 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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 T. Bab. Megillah, fol. 21. 1. , that from the times of Moses to Rabban Gamaliel, they learned the law only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:6

And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God ,.... Before he began to read in the book of the law, he addressed himself to God in a short prayer, wholly in the benedictory way; ascribing blessing, honour, and glory to him, celebrating his being and perfections, setting forth his greatness and his excellency, who was the author and giver of the law he was about to read; and this he the rather did, that what he read might be the more carefully attended to, and come with the greater authority,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:7

Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites ,.... That is, others of them besides those named; for they seem all to be Levites, unless they can be thought to be priests, and so the Levites are distinguished from them; but the former seems evident from Nehemiah 9:4 these also caused the people to understand the law ; as well as Ezra; from whence it is plain that he did not only read the law,... read more

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