Ezra being desired to bring forth the book of the law, read it to the people and others, expounded it to them, Neh. 8:1–8 and Nehemiah exhorted the people to express joy and gladness on this occasion, which they did, Neh.

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 hither the people gathered with great unanimity, zeal, and affection: and they spoke unto…

And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, &c.] 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;…

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…

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” [[8]], partly because of its height, and partly because in the form of one; and also for its largeness,…

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…

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,…

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…

So they read in the book Ezra and those with him; he first began to read and expound, and when weary they relieved him, and did the same: in the law of God distinctly; which was the book they read in, and which they read plainly and intelligibly, so as to be heard and understood; this seems to…

And Nehemiah which is the Tirshatha Or governor, as Zerubbabel had been, and now Nehemiah, see and Ezra the priest and scribe; see (Neh. 8:1, Neh. 8:2) , and the Levites that taught the people; see said unto all the people, this day is holy unto the Lord your God; being both the new moon and the…

Then he said unto them Nehemiah the Tirshatha or governor: go your way; to their own houses, and refresh themselves; it being noon, and they had stood many hours attentive to the reading and expounding of the law: eat the fat, and drink the sweet: not a common meal, but a feast, consisting of the…

So the Levites stilled all the people Made them quiet and easy, being backed by the governor: saying, hold your peace; refrain from weeping and mourning: for the day is holy; a festival, set apart for joy and gladness: neither be ye grieved; inwardly; as they were not to show any signs of sorrow…

And all the people went their way to eat and to drink Freely and cheerfully: and to send portions; to the poor, who had nothing to eat and drink: and to make great mirth; with music, vocal and instrumental: because they had understood the words that were declared unto them; the meaning of the…

And on the second day were gathered together The second day of the month, and of the new year, the day after the feast of blowing of trumpets, and after the law had been read and explained: the chief of the fathers of all the people: heads of tribes and families: the priests and the Levites; who,…

And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses The children of Israel, to be observed by them; either by hearing it read the day before, or by conversation with Ezra, they perceived it was enjoined in the law, particularly in that the children of Israel should dwell in…

And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem That is, as Jarchi interprets it, by supplying it thus, and they commanded that they should publish Ezra and those with him gave orders that heralds should proclaim in all cities where the Jews dwelt that the feast of…

So the people went forth, and brought them Went out of Jerusalem to the mountains adjacent, and fetched in branches of the said trees, one or another: and made themselves booths, everyone upon the roof of his house; which were flat, , and they might be made anywhere, so be it they were open to the…

And all the congregation of them that were come again out of captivity made booths These came to Jerusalem, and made them booths there; for there only was this feast kept, see (John 7:2, John 7:10) , and sat under the booths; there they dwelt during the seven days of it, in commemoration of their…

Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God That is, Ezra; this was done by him every day during the feast, whereas only the first and last days were the holy convocations on which it seems to have been read: and they kept the feast seven days, and…