Ezra, Public Reading of the Law

The introduction to the narrative of Nehemiah 8 is identical with that of Ezra 3 (Neh. 7:73 to 8:1 cf. Ezra 3:1). The same matter, the assembling of the people on the approach of the seventh month, is described in the same words. But the object of this assembling of the people was different from that mentioned in Ezra 3. In Ezra, they met to restore the altar of burnt offering and the sacrificial worship now they gather for the purpose of celebrating the great feasts of the 7th month and for religious instruction. It does not seem that the people were summoned for this gathering, but habitually arrived at the Temple at that time. It is therefore likely that Ezra had instituted such meetings after his return from Babylon 13 years earlier, and that it had become a habit in Judea to gather in Jerusalem at the beginning of the civil year for instruction and for the celebration of the three great feasts of that month.

It is remarkable that the people came asking for instruction. Though many of them were negligent in observing the law, they nevertheless felt a desire to hear it read. Not content with existing conditions, they desired to reach a higher level in their spiritual experience and were convinced that the hearing of God's Word would benefit them. The people were acquainted with the Pentateuch, here referred to, and knew that Ezra was versed in it.

The reading began on the New Year's Day of the civil calendar. This first day of the 7th month was distinguished above the other new moons of the year as the Feast of Trumpets, and celebrated as a high festival by a solemn assembly and cessation from labor (Lev. 23:23—25 Num. 29:1—6). The instruction lasted five or six hours. That it did not consist of incessant reading is apparent from vs. 4—8, which explain that the reading went on alternately with explanatory interpretations of the law by the Levites.

The portion read must have deeply impressed the assembled throng. The portions of Scripture read consisted of certain sections of Deuteronomy, together with other parts of the Torah, selected to convict the people of their sin in transgressing the commands of the Lord, and to remind them of the punishments to which may they thus exposed themselves. They were so moved that they mourned and wept. This induced Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites to encourage and comfort them.