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
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