Study Desk

Now ^(C1)the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel lived in their cities. ^(C2)And when the seventh month came, the sons of Israel were in their cities.

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And all the people gathered as one person at the public square which was in front of ^(C1)the Water Gate, and they ^(F1)asked ^(C2)Ezra the scribe to bring ^(C3)the Book of the Law of Moses which the LORD had ^(F2)given to Israel.

Then ^(C1)Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding, on ^(C2)the first day of the seventh month.

And he read from it before the public square which was in front of ^(C1)the Water Gate, from ^(F1)early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and ^(F2)all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left.

Then Ezra opened ^(C1)the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people ^(C2)stood up.

Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, "^(C1)Amen, Amen!" with the raising of their hands; then ^(C2)they kneeled down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites explained the Law to the people while the people remained in their place.

They read from the book, from the Law of God, ^(F1)translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.