Nehemiah 8:3

3 et legit in eo aperte in platea quae erat ante portam Aquarum de mane usque ad mediam diem in conspectu virorum et mulierum et sapientium et aures omnis populi erant erectae ad librum

Nehemiah 8:3 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 8:3

And he read therein
Some passages in it, here and there, which it was necessary the people should have knowledge of; for it can hardly be thought be began and read on just in the order in which it was: this he did

before the street;
at the top of it, at one end of it:

that was before the water gate;
which looked directly to that:

from the morning until midday;
from the rising of the sun to noon, so that he must read six hours; but very probably was relieved at times by the men with him, after mentioned:

before the men and the women, and those that could understand;
see ( Nehemiah 8:2 ) ,

and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law;
to the hearing of it read, and to the things contained in it; hence Maimonides ^F8 gathers, that as soon as the reader begins the reading of the law, it is not lawful to speak about anything, not even the constitutions of the law, but silently to attend to what is read.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F8 Hilchot Tephillah, c. 12. sect. 9.

Nehemiah 8:3 In-Context

1 et venerat mensis septimus filii autem Israhel erant in civitatibus suis congregatusque est omnis populus quasi vir unus ad plateam quae est ante portam Aquarum et dixerunt Ezrae scribae ut adferret librum legis Mosi quam praecepit Dominus Israheli

2 adtulit ergo Ezras sacerdos legem coram multitudine virorum et mulierum cunctisque qui poterant intellegere in die prima mensis septimi

3 et legit in eo aperte in platea quae erat ante portam Aquarum de mane usque ad mediam diem in conspectu virorum et mulierum et sapientium et aures omnis populi erant erectae ad librum

4 stetit autem Ezras scriba super gradum ligneum quem fecerat ad loquendum et steterunt iuxta eum Matthathia et Sema et Ania et Uria et Helcia et Maasia ad dextram eius et ad sinistram Phadaia Misahel et Melchia et Asum et Asephdana Zaccharia et Mosollam

5 et aperuit Ezras librum coram omni populo super universum quippe populum eminebat et cum aperuisset eum stetit omnis populus