THE STREET - Rather, “the square” or “court.” So in Nehemiah 8:16 (compare Ezra 10:9). 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 th... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
The 13 persons mentioned were probably the chief priests of the course (shift) which was at the time performing the temple service.... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
The names here (and in Nehemiah 9:4, Nehemiah 9:5; Nehemiah 10:9) seem not to be the personal appellations 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE THE SENSE - Either by rendering the Hebrew into the Aramaic dialect, or perhaps simply by explaining obscure words or passages. CAUSED THEM TO UNDERSTAND - Either “they (the people) understood what was read;” or, “they (the Levites) expounded as they read.”... [ Continue Reading ]
NEHEMIAH, WHICH IS THE TIRSHATHA - Hereto, Nehemiah has called himself פחה _pechâh_ Nehemiah 5:14, Nehemiah 5:18, which is the ordinary word for “governor.” Now for the first time he is called ‘the Tirshatha’” (see Ezra 2:63 note.) THE PEOPLE WEPT ... - Because the Law brought vividly before them... [ Continue Reading ]
The “sending of portions” to the poor is not distinctly mentioned in any but the later historical Scriptures (compare the margin reference). The practice naturally grew out of this injunction of the Law Deuteronomy 16:11, Deuteronomy 16:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO UNDERSTAND - Rather, “to consider.”... [ Continue Reading ]
The Feast of tabernacles had fallen into abeyance either entirely, or as regarded the dwelling in booths Nehemiah 8:17, since the time when it was kept by Zerubbabel Ezra 3:4. It is evident that the observance of the Law, impossible during the captivity, was restored slowly and with difficulty after... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOUNT - The “mount of Olives” is probably intended. PINE BRANCHES - Rather, “branches of the wild olive.” The actual trees named by the Law may have become scarce. It was probably considered that the spirit of the command was kept if branches of trees similar in general character to those named... [ Continue Reading ]
It is not the intention of the writer to state that the Feast of tabernacles had not been kept from the time of Joshua until this occasion (see 1 Kings 8:2, 1 Kings 8:65; Ezra 3:4); but that there had been no such celebration as this since Joshua’s time. Compare 2 Kings 23:22; 2 Chronicles 35:18.... [ Continue Reading ]