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
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