Ezra Reads the Law
1 And all the people gathered as one person at the public square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they 8:1 Lit said toasked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which the Lord had 8:1 Lit commandedgiven to Israel. 2 Then Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it before the public square which was in front of the Water Gate, from 8:3 Lit the lightearly morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and 8:3 Lit the ears of all...were toall the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, 8:8 Or explainingtranslating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.
18 He read from the Book of the Law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a festive assembly in accordance with the ordinance.