Neh 8:1-7 | Clarke | STEP | Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites, read and interpret the laws to the people, . The manner in which they do this important work, . The effect produced on the people's minds by hearing it, . The people are exhorted to be glad, and are told that the joy of the Lord is their strength, . On the second day they assemble, and find that they should keep the feast of tabernacles; which they accordingly religiously solemnize for seven days; and Ezra reads to them from the book of the law, . Verse 1 The street that was before the water gate - The gate which led from the temple to the brook Kidron.

Nehemiah 8:1-7

Introduction

Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites, read and interpret the laws to the people, Neh 8:1-7. The manner in which they do this important work, Neh 8:8. The effect produced on the people's minds by hearing it, Neh 8:9. The people are exhorted to be glad, and are told that the joy of the Lord is their strength, Neh 8:10-12. On the second day they assemble, and find that they should keep the feast of tabernacles; which they accordingly religiously solemnize for seven days; and Ezra reads to them from the book of the law, Neh 8:13-18.

Verse 1

The street that was before the water gate - The gate which led from the temple to the brook Kidron. Verse 2

All that could hear with understanding - Infants, idiots, and children not likely to receive instruction, were not permitted to attend this meeting; nor should any such, in any place, be ever brought to the house of God, if it can be avoided: yet, rather than a poor mother should be deprived of the ordinances of God, let her come with her child in her arms; and although it be inconvenient to the congregation, and to some ministers, to hear a child cry, it is cruel to exclude the mother on this account, who, having no person to take care of her child while absent, must bring it with her, or be totally deprived of the ordinances of the Christian Church.

Upon the first day of the seventh month - This was the first day of what was called the civil year; and on it was the feast of trumpets, the year being ushered in by the sound of these instruments. Verse 4

Stood upon a pulpit of wood - מגדל migdal, a tower, a platform, raised up for the purpose, to elevate him sufficiently for the people both to see and hear him; for it is said, Neh 8:5, that he was above all the people. This is the first intimation we have of a pulpit, or structure of this kind. But we must not suppose that it was any thing similar to those tubs or barrels ridiculously set up in churches and chapels, in which a preacher is nearly as much confined, during the time of his preaching, as if he was in the stocks. Verse 5

All the people stood up - This was out of respect to the sacred word: in imitation of this, when the gospel for the day is read in our churches, all the people stand up. Verse 6

Ezra blessed the Lord - In imitation of this, we say, when the gospel for the day is commenced, Glory be to God for his holy Gospel! and conclude this thanksgiving with, Amen.