Or, The People Who Want to Understand
Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-5
Date: May 11, 2025
Speaker: Sean Higgins
Preachers must preach the Word in season and out, whether or not the people are interested. There are times when God’s people are hungry and yet they starve while shepherds are silent. In all circumstances teachers/pastors/watchmen face stricter judgment. And yet, we know that God is moving when the people have a mind to hear and do the Word.
Nehemiah 8 is such a great chapter in the Book (the whole canon of inspired Scripture) about the Book (the law of Moses in particular). There are some fantastic parts of the story that don’t relate to us at all, while also including some principles that changed Jerusalem, then changed Europe, and that drive some of our Lord’s Day liturgy still (as usual, I can’t recommend enough The Book That Made Your World).
Most of the action takes place on two consecutive days. Ezra is back on stage for the first time in Nehemiah, and the Book of the Law is open again. But the most repeated word in verses 1-12 is the word “people.” “People” is used thirteen times in verses 1-12, and nine of those are “all the people.” (Breneman) The people assembled, the people requested the reading, the people say “Amen, Amen,” the people lift their hands, the people bow down, the people report their conviction, and the people want to understand. Then they feasted and obeyed.
Though they had just finished building the wall, rather than retiring to rest, “There was a mood of rare responsiveness.” (Kidner) They had a mind to want the Word.
The Book is center stage, there are large and smaller group effort to give understanding, and again, it’s the people who want it so. My brothers, these things ought to be so for us.
I’m going to read the text, explain the meaning, and give some implications as we go, just as the text itself describes.
And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. (Nehemiah 8:1–2 ESV)
It’s the seventh month of what year? And where has Ezra been in the first 7 chapters of Nehemiah? And why does Nehemiah 8 talk about Nehemiah in the third person rather than the “I” perspective? And are we supposed to believe that Ezra had been back in Jerusalem for 13 years and this part just happened after the walls got built? I mean, yeah.
There is one small addition at the end of chapter 7 that wasn’t in Ezra’s list (found in Ezra 2), a mention of “the seventh month.” Nehemiah arrived in 445, it took 52 days to finish the wall, in Elul (the sixth month). The seventh month was significant in Israel’s calendar. Leviticus 23:23-36 calls for a memorial/holy convocation with trumpets and a food offering on the first day, the Day of Atonement of the tenth day, and the Feast of Booths starting on the fifteenth day for seven days. Deuteronomy 31:10-13 also describes that every seven years, at the Feast of Booths, the law should be read “before all Israel in their hearing.”
All the people gathered as one man. This assembly was not for sacrifices at the altar or blessings from the temple. They ask for the Book guy, Ezra the scribe. They told him, “ Bring the book.”
This seems to be a transition in Israel’s worship, from a focus on blood to a focus on the Book. Of course it was actually a scroll, since the codex (or book, with separate pages bound on one side) hadn’t been invented yet. And this in Nehemiah 8 wasn’t a typical sabbath gathering, though the reading of the Word at the synagogue would become a custom (see Luke 4:16). Here, the practice of the public reading and teaching of Scripture as the center of the assembly’s liturgy is sown in seed.
This assembly is for all who could understand what they heard. Where are the babies? Doesn’t mean they weren’t permitted, it’s just that they weren’t benefited by their own hearing. And maybe some were at home with mom; it was a long day. And also, who knows how many little kids there were in Israel at this time anyway.
But the people requested Ezra to bring the book because they wanted to understand the Book, as is emphasized in verses 2, 3, 7, 8, and 12.
Here’s an emphasis on the reading, on how long he read, and on the eagerness of those listening to the reading.
And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. (Nehemiah 8:3 ESV)
Before the Water Gate means not at the Temple, which is what made this reading even accessible to women.
It’s likely that five or six hours (from “the light” to the noon) wouldn’t be long enough to get through all the Pentateuch (the number of words and average reading speed suggest the whole thing would take two to three times as long). He read from it, so not necessarily that he finished it. The repeated audience, those who could understand, means that the Book wasn’t only for some. It’s all, and any, those who want it, not professionals.
“The ears of the people were toward.” They listened attentively. They were eager for it. They leaned in. They wanted it.
A little more scene setting:
And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. (Nehemiah 8:4–5 ESV)
It wasn’t a spontaneous meeting. Gathering all the people (verse 1) took coordination, and again the 1st of the 7th month had ceremonial significance. We know there was preparation because they built a platform. That’s a good English word, but the Hebrew word means “tower” everywhere else. Because of the 13 names who stood with him, platform works.
The NASB: “Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium.” KJV: “Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood” (and it is the only use of “pulpit” in the KJV, and “pulpit” is nowhere in the ESV). I learned that our word “pulpit” derives from the Latin pulpitum meaning “scaffold, platform.” We think of the pulpit as the desk, when actually, it’s the stage. We also talk like something said “from the pulpit” has more authority. But authority comes from the Book.
I actually really like the pulpit as a piece of furniture. I don’t want a plexiglas stand, I don’t want to sit on a stool. And also, the Word is central.
Ezra’s platform did not seem to be symbolic as much as it was programatic. That Ezra was not standing alone probably has more symbolism. Of note is that these guys in verse 4 are not labeled as priests or Levites (as are the other names in verse 7). This suggests the guys in verse 4 are lay people. The Book was for the non-professionals.
He opened as in “unrolled” and they could see him do it.
We have an embarrassment of riches. Copy and pasting is mostly a metaphor disconnected from paper and scissors and glue. I actually find it easy and effective to put all the Sunday scriptures into my file, which I read off my iPad. And I still have a hard copy Bible with me, open, and for reading extended passages. It’s not for show, and also, it is on purpose.
So all the people stood when the Book was opened to be read. There are any number of ways to show reverence. This is one. We have the congregation and for the dedicated Scripture reading, at multiple points in the service. Can you hear while seated? Of course. And is there a connection between our bodily posture and our heart posture? Yes, also.
More on the reading and responses in verses 6-8, their joyful meals later that day 9-12, and their obedience on the next day 13-18.
This shows a want for Torah over Temple. Book over blood, and buildings. Scripture over sacrifices.
I’m not super big on books and admonitions for listening sermons, and also, do you want it? Long for the pure spiritual milk. Eat the meat. Be people of the Book. Ezra didn’t have to convince them, the people wanted to hear and to understand.
Building and rebuilding, reformation and revival, all by the Word.
Wise men and women want more wisdom. Those who can understand want wisdom from the Lord. Christian, pay attention to the Lord’s Word. Crave it, call out for it. Seek it like silver, search for it as for hidden treasure. Then you will know wisdom and understand every good path.
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32 ESV)