Nehemiah 8:13

The Feast of Tabernacles

13. the second day i.e. of the month Tisri, cf. Nehemiah 8:2.

the chief of the fathers R.V. the heads of the fathers" houses. The leading men of the nation apply to Ezra for further instruction in -the law." It will be observed that -the priests and the Levites" join in this application with the laymen. Are we to suppose that they too were ignorant of the full contents of -the law"? This is possible, if the contents of -the law" had hitherto been chiefly known by oral tradition or by disconnected writings. If this had been the case and Ezra had made himself master of the complete continuous -law," we shall be able to understand the action of -the priests and Levites." From the subsequent verses (Nehemiah 8:14-15) it appears that Ezra supplied them not so much with profound interpretations of the Law as with statements relative to its contents and positive enactments.

even to understand R.V. even to give attention to. The Hebrew word (l'haskîl) denotes intelligent consideration, as in Psalms 41:1, -Blessed is he that considereth the poor;" Psalms 101:2, -I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way" (marg. -give heed unto"); Daniel 9:13, -have discernment in thy truth." The copula, rendered -even," with the infinitive defines the action of the main verb, as in Isaiah 44:28, -shall perform all my pleasure: even saying (lit. and to say) of Jerusalem, She shall be built." This is better than supposing the infinitive to be used for the finite verb = -and they gave attention."