Albert Barnes Commentary Nehemiah 8
Albert Barnes Commentary
Nehemiah 8
Albert Barnes Commentary
Nehemiah 8
"And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel." — Nehemiah 8:1 (ASV)
The street - Rather, “the square” or “court.” So in Nehemiah 8:16 . The court seems to have been one between the eastern gate of the temple and the watergate in the city-wall. It would thus lie within the modern Haram area.
Ezra the scribe - This is the first mention of Ezra in the present book, and the first proof we have had that he was contemporary with Nehemiah. Probably he returned to the court of Artaxerxes soon after effecting the reforms which he relates in Ezra 10:0, and did not revisit Jerusalem until about the time when the walls were completed, or after an absence of more than ten years. It was natural for the people to request him to resume the work of exposition of the Law to which he had accustomed them on his former visit (Ezra 7:10; Ezra 7:25).
"And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month." — Nehemiah 8:2 (ASV)
Upon the first day of the seventh month - The day of the “Feast of Trumpets” (see the margin reference note). The gathering together of the people, spoken of in (Nehemiah 8:1), was probably to observe this feast.
"And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, [and] Meshullam." — Nehemiah 8:4 (ASV)
The 13 persons mentioned were probably the chief priests of the course (shift) which was at the time performing the temple service.
"And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:" — Nehemiah 8:5 (ASV)
Stood up - The attitude of attention and respect. Compare the existing practice of the Christian Church at the reading of the Gospel for the day.
"Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place." — Nehemiah 8:7 (ASV)
The names here (and in Nehemiah 9:4, Nehemiah 9:5; Nehemiah 10:9) seem not to be the personal names of individuals, but rather designations of Levitical families, the descendants respectively of Jeshua, etc., who lived not later than the time of Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 7:43; Nehemiah 12:8).
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