Ezra Reading the Law - Nehemiah 8:3

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month”, and in chapter eight and verse three of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said Ezra, “read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday” where we read,

And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

The verse reads, “And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, ...”Nehemiah began with the words, “and he read therein” which means “and he, Ezra the priest and scribe, read the words within the book of the law” “before the street” or “in the front and presence of the broad or open place or plaza” “that was before the water gate” which means “that existed in front and in the presence of the portal or entrance known as the Water Gate” “from the morning until midday” or “beginning at day-break, light of day or dawn till halfway through the day or noontime”. Nehemiah shared how “Ezra” read the book of the law of God in the presence of the broad plaza beginning at dawn and till the noontime. 

The verse goes on to say, “... before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “before the men and the women” or “in front and within the presence of the male and female human beings”, “and those that could understand” which means “and the people who were capable of perceiving, discerning and knowing”; “and the ears” or “and the physical ears used for hearing” “of all the people were attentive” which means “belonging to each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings both male and females existed as alert, acute, heedful and mindful” “unto the book of the law” or “to the written document containing the statutes, instructions and directives belonging to Jehovah God”. Nehemiah shared how“Ezra” read the “book of the law” in front of the males and females of Israel who were capable to perceive and discern, and their physical ears for hearing were mindful of what God's “law” said. 

When we consider Nehemiah's words in this verse, we learn how the people of Israel who were gathered not only listened to the word of God, but they also were mindful of what was being declared. God wants everyone to know Him, and when we study His word, the Bible, we shall perceive that He loves us and proved His love by sending His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and guide unto into all truth by His Holy Spirit and empower us to live according to what we have discovered. (See John 16:33; Acts 1:8) 

Next time Nehemiah shares how, “Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".