Ezra Reads the Law

Nehemiah 8

¹ Now all _a the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was _b in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the _c scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. ² So Ezra the priest brought _d the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding _e on the first day of the seventh month. ³ Then he _f read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate ₁ from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. ⁴ So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. ⁵ And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people _g stood up. ⁶ And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people _h answered, "Amen, Amen!" while _i lifting up their hands. And they _j bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, _k helped the people to understand the Law; and the people _l stood in their place. ⁸ So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.

1. Cross References
   Ezra 3:1
   And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.
   
2. Cross References
   Nehemiah 3:26
   Moreover the Nethinim who dwelt in Ophel made repairs as far as the place in front of the Water Gate toward the east, and on the projecting tower.
   
3. Cross References
   Ezra 7:6
   This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
   
4. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 31:11
   When all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
   Deuteronomy 31:12
   Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law.
   Nehemiah 8:9
   And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
   
5. Cross References
   Leviticus 23:24
   Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath- rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.
   Numbers 29:1 - 6
   And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets.
   
6. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 31:9 - 11
   So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
   2 Kings 23:2
   The king went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem - the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD.
   
7. Cross References
   Judges 3:20
   So Ehud came to him (now he was sitting upstairs in his cool private chamber). Then Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." So he arose from his seat.
   1 Kings 8:12 - 14
   Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud.
   
8. Cross References
   Nehemiah 5:13
   Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, "So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD. Then the people did according to this promise.
   1 Corinthians 14:16
   Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
   
9. Cross References
   Psalms 28:2
   Hear the voice of my supplications When I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.
   Lamentations 3:41
   Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven.
   1 Timothy 2:8
   I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
   
10. Cross References
    Exodus 4:31
    So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.
    Exodus 12:27
    That you shall say, 'It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.' " So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.
    2 Chronicles 20:18
    And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
    
11. Cross References
    Leviticus 10:11
    "and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses."
    Deuteronomy 33:10
    They shall teach Jacob Your judgments, And Israel Your law. They shall put incense before You, And a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar.
    2 Chronicles 17:7
    Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, BenHail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
    Malachi 2:7
    For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
    
12. Cross References
    Nehemiah 9:3
    And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for one -fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.