Nehemiah 8:1-18
THE READING OF THE LAW BY EZRA 1. The street] RV 'the broad place': and so in Nehemiah 8:3; Nehemiah 8:16. THE WATER GATE] This probably led to the spring of Gihon (the Virgin's spring).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE READING OF THE LAW BY EZRA 1. The street] RV 'the broad place': and so in Nehemiah 8:3; Nehemiah 8:16. THE WATER GATE] This probably led to the spring of Gihon (the Virgin's spring).... [ Continue Reading ]
EZRA] It has been argued in the note on Ezra 10:44 that the effort to fortify Jerusalem described in Ezra 4:6 was made whilst Ezra was present there, and that the failure of it destroyed for a time his influence among his countrymen. The interval that elapsed between the destruction of the newly-bui... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LEVITES] omit AND.... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE THE SENSE] i.e. with such additional explanation as was required for the people to understand what was read.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TIRSHATHA] i.e. governor. The same title was borne by Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:63). ALL THE PEOPLE WEPT] from a consciousness of their transgressions which the reading of the Law had awakened.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLD YOUR PEACE] in order to guard against uttering words ill-suited to a holy day.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOULD DWELL IN BOOTHS] This command in connexion with the Feast of Tabernacles (kept on the fifteenth day of the seventh month) occurs only in Leviticus 23:42.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOUNT] better, 'the hill-country.' PINE BRANCHES] RV 'branches of wild olives' (or oleaster).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ROOF OF HIS HOUSE] This was flat, and available for walking or sleeping: cp. Deuteronomy 22:8; 1 Samuel 9:25; 2 Samuel 11:2; 2 Samuel 16:22. THE GATE OF EPHRAIM] in the N. wall, facing the former kingdom of Ephraim.... [ Continue Reading ]
SINCE THE DAYS OF JESHUA] i.e. of Joshua. The exceptional feature in this observance of the ancient Feast of Tabernacles seems to have been the dwelling in 'booths,' though the dwelling in 'tents' had been previously practised (cp. Hosea 12:9). Either the command of Leviticus 23:42 had been disregar... [ Continue Reading ]