And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that [was] before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. Ver. 1. _As one man_] See Ezra 3:1, and remember that _Omne simile non est... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. Ver. 2. _And Ezra the priest brought the law_] The commandment (he knew well) was a lamp, and the law a light; and reproofs of inst... [ Continue Reading ]
And he read therein before the street that [was] before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people [were attentive] unto the book of the law. Ver. 3. _And he read therein_] As a scribe, he wrote the law... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, [an... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 5. _And Ezra opened the book_] God's Book; not Aristotle's Ethics, as Melancthon saith he heard some Popish priests preaching upon texts thence taken. And... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with [their] faces to the ground. Ver. 6. _And Ezra blessed the Lord_] _i.e._ He called upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, Psa... [ Continue Reading ]
Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place. Ver. 7. _Also Jeshua, and Bani, &c., caused the people to understand the law_... [ Continue Reading ]
So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading. Ver. 8. _So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly_] _Exposite, clare, vel cum expositione_ (Explanate, Junius). They read aloud, and so treatably and plainly, that al... [ Continue Reading ]
And Nehemiah, which [is] the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day [is] holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Ver. 9. _And Nehemiah, which is th... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for [this] day [is] holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Ver. 10. _Then he said unto them, Go your way_] A friendly dismissi... [ Continue Reading ]
So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day [is] holy; neither be ye grieved. Ver. 11. _So the Levites stilled all the people_] Made them hold their tongues, and forbear their groans and moans, the expressions of their great grief conceived for their sins, making a w... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them. Ver. 12. _And all the people went their way to eat_] To do all that they were directed to do. They had been in the furnace of mo... [ Continue Reading ]
And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. Ver. 13. _And on the second day_] The next day after they had heard the law expounded, but were not so well satisfied... [ Continue Reading ]
And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: Ver. 14. _And they found written in the law_] And therefore in nowise to be neglected, since there God had written for them great things, Ho... [ Continue Reading ]
And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as [it is] written. Ver. 15. _And that they should publ... [ Continue Reading ]
So the people went forth, and brought [them], and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. Ver. 16. _So thepeople went forth, and brought t... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness. Ver. 17. _Made booths, and sat under the booths_] Se... [ Continue Reading ]
Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day [was] a solemn assembly, according unto the manner. Ver. 18. _Also day by day_] Not only on the first and last day ("that great day of the feast,... [ Continue Reading ]