Neh. 8 Ezra bringeth and expoundeth the law of Moses, and blesseth God with the people, Neh. 8:1–8. Nehemiah and Ezra comfort the people, Neh. 8:9–12. The people’s forwardness to hear and to be instructed in the law, Neh. 8:13–15. They make themselves booths, Neh.

The street that was before the water-gate; of which See Poole “Neh. 3:26”.

Ezra the priest came twelve or thirteen years before Nehemiah to Jerusalem; and either tarried there, or went back to Babylon, being forced to do so by the king’s command, or indispensable occasions, and then returned again with Nehemiah. All that could hear with understanding, i.e.

Partly to declare their consent and concurrence with Ezra in what-he said and did; and partly that they, or some of them, might bear a part in the work.

Either in reverence to God’s word, of which see Num. 11:32, Judg. 3:20; or that they might hear his words the more distinctly: or rather, because they observed that Ezra composed himself to prayer or thanksgiving; which is here generally declared, but doubtless was more particularly and largely…

Caused the people to understand the law; as well the words, which being Hebrew, now needed to be translated into the Chaldee or Syriac language, which was now and henceforth the common language of that people, who together with their religion had also in a great part lost their language; as also…

They read, to wit, Ezra and his companions successively or severally. Gave the sense; i.e. the meaning of the Hebrew words, which they expounded in the common language. Caused them to understand the reading, i.e.

This day is holy unto the Lord your God, to wit, as a day of feasting and thanksgiving to God, and rejoicing in his mercies; for otherwise even fasting days were holy to God in the general, though not in the sense here meant.

Eat the fat, and drink the sweet; feast before the Lord, as the duty of the day obligeth you to do. Send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for the relief of your poor brethren, who else must mourn whilst you rejoice. See of this duty and practice Deut. 16:11, Deut. 16:14, Est. 9:19.

The Levites stilled all the people; whose passions being once raised, could not suddenly be composed. Hold your peace; cease from weeping and mournful cries, and turn your lamentations into thanksgivings.

Because they now knew God’s mind, and their own duty, which they were resolved to practise; which gave them ground of hope and trust in God’s mercy, and consequently of great and just joy.

Choosing rather to confess their ignorance for their edification, than vainly to pretend to more knowledge than they had; wherein they show both true humility and serious godliness, that they were more careful to learn and practise their duty, than to preserve their reputation with the people.

They found, upon Ezra’s information, and their discourse with him.

And that they should publish, i.e. and they found this also written, which is to be supplied out of the former verse, that they should, &c., which, though it be not particularly required, so as is expressed in the words here following, yet in the general is required by virtue of that precept, Lev.

Booths upon the roof of his house; for the houses there were made flat; of which See Poole “Deut. 22:8”. In their courts, belonging to their own houses; for these might be any where in the open air. In the street of the gate of Ephraim; that gate of the city which led to the tribe of Ephraim.

For since the days of Jeshua, or, surely since the days, as the Hebrew chi is oft used, as hath been noted before. For the following words seem not so much to give a reason of what was last said or done concerning their dwelling in booths, as to contain the holy writer’s reflection upon the present…

He read in the book of the law of God; which was commanded to be done at this feast, Deut. 31:10–12, though not enjoined to be done every day, as now out of a singular zeal they did.