1 and the people gathered together as one in the square beside the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe8:1. "Scribe": as elsewhere in Scripture, a scribe is not merely someone who can write, but a teacher, particularly of God’s Law. to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had ordered Israel to follow.
2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly—men and women, and all those children who could listen and understand. 3 He read from it in front of the square before the Water Gate from early morning till noon to everyone there, the men and the women and those who could understand. All the people listened carefully to the Book of the Law.
8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making clear the meaning so that the people could understand what it said.8:8. Not only was a theological interpretation needed, but since many present had become more accustomed to speaking Aramaic in Babylon, there needed to be a translation from the Hebrew in which the Book was written.
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were teaching the people told them all, "This is a holy day to the Lord your God. Don’t mourn or cry," for everyone was crying as they heard the Law being read.