Nehemiah 8

Nehemiah 8:1

ALl the people] Ezr. 3. 1.

the water-gate] Chap. 3. 26.

the scribe] Ezra 7:6.

Nehemiah 8:2

that could hear with understanding] Heb. that understood in hearing. Which had age and discretion to understand.

Nehemiah 8:3

from the morning] Heb. from the light.

untill mid-day] This declareth the great zeal that all the people had to hear the word of God.

Nehemiah 8:4

pulpit of wood] Heb. tower of wood.

Mattithiah, &c.] These seem to be Levites, that attended upon Ezra.

Nehemiah 8:5

sight] Heb. eyes.

he was above all the people] To the intent that his voyce might be the better heard.

Nehemiah 8:7

caused the people to understand the law] Preached to the peoples capacity, as v. 8. In this work both priests and Levites assisted Ezra; for the people were so many, that one man could not be heard of all.

Nehemiah 8:9

the Tirshatha] Or, the governour. See chap. 7. 70.

all the people wept] In considering their offences against the law: therefore the Levites do not reprove them for mourning, but labour to chear them up, and the rather, because it was a festivall day.

Nehemiah 8:10

for whom nothing is prepared] That is, Remember the poor, Ezr. 9. 22.

the joy of the Lord is your strength] Rejoyce in the LORD, and he will give you strength. Or, rejoyce in Gods benefits, who by his power hath restored to you your land, the city, the temple, and the free use of your religion, which ye could never have compassed by your strength.

Nehemiah 8:12

to sendportions] Esth. 9. 19.

because they had understood the words] Their principall joy was not for the good chear that they were to make, but for the benefit received by the word they had heard: which if they had not well understood, they could not well have rejoyced.

Nehemiah 8:13

the chief of the fathers] To know what was required of them and their people by the law.

to understand the words of the law] Or, that they might instruct in the words of the law, v. 7.

Nehemiah 8:14

by] Heb. by the hand of.

in booths] Leviticus 23:34. Deuteronomy 16:13.

Nehemiah 8:15

proclaim] All publike feasts were to be proclaimed, Leviticus 23:4. Numbers 10:10.

as it is written] Leviticus 23:40.

Nehemiah 8:16

upon the roof of his house] For their houses were made flat above, Deuteronomy 22:8.

water-gate] Chap. 3. 26.

the gate of Ephraim] Which led toward Ephraim. From this gate, to the corner-gate, Joash the king of Israel broke down the wall of Jerusalem, 2 Kings 14:13. 2 Chronicles 25:23. It may be he did it in pride, after he had beaten Amaziah, to ride in in triumph: or in policy, that he might come n at any time without resistance.

Nehemiah 8:17

since the days of Jeshua the son of Num] Which was almost a thousand yeers before.

Nehemiah 8:18

asolemne assembly] Heb. a restraint.

according unto the manner] Levit. 23. 36, 39.