Nehemiah 8:4

a pulpit of wood R.V. marg. Heb. tower. Literally -upon a tower of wood." LXX. ἐπὶ βήματος ξυλίνου, 1 Esdr. ἐπὶ τοῦ ξυλίνου βήματος. Vulg. -super gradum ligneum:" cf. -the stairs" on which the Levites stood in Nehemiah 9:4. The mention of the erection of a platform or tribune which the Jews had erected -for the purpose" shows that the incident was one of exceptional character. This is the first mention of a pulpit or lectern.

for the purpose Literally -for the word," which not being understood was omitted by the LXX. The Vulg. -quem fecerat ad loquen-dum" follows a different vocalization, l'dhabbêrfor laddâbhâr.

Urijah R.V. Uriah: possibly the same as is mentioned in Nehemiah 3:4. -Hilkiah," possibly mentioned also Nehemiah 12:7. -Pedaiah" possibly mentioned Nehemiah 3:25. -Meshullam" possibly mentioned Nehemiah 10:7.

Malchiah … Hashbadana R.V. Malchijah … Hashbaddanah.

There is a discrepancy respecting the numbers and position of the individuals here mentioned. The Hebrew text and the LXX. mention six names on the right hand, seven on the left: the parallel passage in 1 Esdras gives seven on the right hand, inserting an Azariah between Anaiah and Uriah, but six only on the left, omitting the last name Meshullam. If we retain both Azariah and Meshullam we should have seven on either side; if we reject them both, we should have six on either side. It seems probable that the names are those of Levites. There would be especial appropriateness in the number twelve, symbolizing the union of Israel in obedience to the Law. The conjecture of Rawlinson that they -were probably the chief priests of the course which was at the time performing the Temple service" is improbable. (1) They were clearly men who could leave the Temple precincts for six or seven hours consecutively. (2) On such an impressive occasion Ezra, if he were attended by priests, would probably have selected either those who represented the principal houses or those who especially supported his religious attitude. (3) Ezra's supporters in this great religious movement seem to have been Laymen and Levites, not Priests. The popularizing of the knowledge of -the Law" struck a blow at a priestly monopoly. The thirteen names are in one respect of especial interest. They seem to be the names of individuals and not as in Nehemiah 8:7 and ch. Nehemiah 9:4; Nehemiah 10:9 the names of houses or clans, which happened to be represented. The reader should take notice that the high-priest's name is not mentioned on this occasion. If as some critics have supposed, Ezra himself had composed the Priestly Laws, and was now promulgating them for the first time, the high-priest, whose position owed so much of its dignity in later days to those laws, would surely have been mentioned as countenancing Ezra's action. If however, as seems more probable, Ezra was for the first time publishing to the people laws which had hitherto been kept in the priests" hands, we have a possible explanation for the absence of the high-priest and his party, who would regard his action as subversive of their authority.