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Selected Verse: Nehemiah 8:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ne 8:1	Strong Concordance	And all the people [05971] gathered themselves together [0622] as one [0259] man [0376] into the street [07339] that was before [06440] the water [04325] gate [08179]; and they spake [0559] unto Ezra [05830] the scribe [05608] to bring [0935] the book [05612] of the law [08451] of Moses [04872], which the LORD [03068] had commanded [06680] to Israel [03478].
	King James	And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
RELIGIOUS MANNER OF READING AND HEARING THE LAW. (Neh 8:1-8) all the people gathered themselves together as one man--The occasion was the celebration of the feast of the seventh month (Neh 7:73). The beginning of every month was ushered in as a sacred festival; but this, the commencement of the seventh month, was kept with distinguished honor as "the feast of trumpets," which extended over two days. It was the first day of the seventh ecclesiastical year, and the new year's day of the Jewish civil year, on which account it was held as "a great day." The place where the general concourse of people was held was "at the water gate," on the south rampart. Through that gate the Nethinims or Gibeonites brought water into the temple, and there was a spacious area in front of it. they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses--He had come to Jerusalem twelve or thirteen years previous to Nehemiah. He either remained there or had returned to Babylon in obedience to the royal order, and for the discharge of important duties. He had returned along with Nehemiah, but in a subordinate capacity. From the time of Nehemiah's appointment to the dignity of tirshatha, Ezra had retired into private life. Although cordially and zealously co-operating with the former patriot in his important measures of reform, the pious priest had devoted his time and attention principally toward producing a complete edition of the canonical Scriptures. The public reading of the Scriptures was required by the law to be made every seventh year; but during the long period of the captivity this excellent practice, with many others, had fallen into neglect, till revived, on this occasion. That there was a strong and general desire among the returned exiles in Jerusalem to hear the word of God read to them indicates a greatly improved tone of religious feeling.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

RELIGIOUS MANNER OF READING AND HEARING THE LAW. (Neh 8:1-8)

all the people gathered themselves together as one man--The occasion was the celebration of the feast of the seventh month (Neh 7:73). The beginning of every month was ushered in as a sacred festival; but this, the commencement of the seventh month, was kept with distinguished honor as "the feast of trumpets," which extended over two days. It was the first day of the seventh ecclesiastical year, and the new year's day of the Jewish civil year, on which account it was held as "a great day." The place where the general concourse of people was held was "at the water gate," on the south rampart. Through that gate the Nethinims or Gibeonites brought water into the temple, and there was a spacious area in front of it.

they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses--He had come to Jerusalem twelve or thirteen years previous to Nehemiah. He either remained there or had returned to Babylon in obedience to the royal order, and for the discharge of important duties. He had returned along with Nehemiah, but in a subordinate capacity. From the time of Nehemiah's appointment to the dignity of tirshatha, Ezra had retired into private life. Although cordially and zealously co-operating with the former patriot in his important measures of reform, the pious priest had devoted his time and attention principally toward producing a complete edition of the canonical Scriptures. The public reading of the Scriptures was required by the law to be made every seventh year; but during the long period of the captivity this excellent practice, with many others, had fallen into neglect, till revived, on this occasion. That there was a strong and general desire among the returned exiles in Jerusalem to hear the word of God read to them indicates a greatly improved tone of religious feeling.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The street - Rather, "the square" or "court." So in Neh 8:16 (compare Ezr 10:9). The court seems to have been one between the eastern gate of the temple and the watergate in the city-wall. It would thus lie within the modern Haram area. Ezra the scribe - This is the first mention of Ezra in the present book, and the first proof we have had that he was contemporary with Nehemiah. Probably he returned to the court of Artaxerxes soon after effecting the reforms which he relates in Ezra 10, and did not revisit Jerusalem until about the time when the walls were completed, or after an absence of more than ten years. It was natural for the people to request him to resume the work of exposition of the Law to which he had accustomed them on his former visit Ezr 7:10, Ezr 7:25.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Neh 8:1-2. The public reading of the law. - Neh 8:1-3. The introduction to this narrative (Neh 7:73b-8:1a) is identical with Ezr 3:1. The same matter, the assembling of the people on the approach of the seventh month, is described in the same words. But the object of this assembling of the people was a different one from that mentioned in Ezr 3:1-13. Then they met to restore the altar of burnt-offering and the sacrificial worship; now, on the contrary, for the due solemnization of the seventh month, the festal month of the year. For this purpose the people came from the cities and villages of Judah to Jerusalem, and assembled "in the open space before the water-gate," i.e., to the south-east of the temple space. On the situation of the water-gate, see rem. on Neh 3:26; Neh 12:37., and Ezr 10:9. "And they spake unto Ezra the scribe" (see rem. on Ezr 7:11). The subject of ויּאמרוּ is the assembled people. These requested, through their rulers, that Ezra should fetch the book of the law of Moses, and publicly read it. This reading, then, was desired by the assembly. The motive for this request is undoubtedly to be found in the desire of the congregation to keep the new moon of the seventh month, as a feast of thanksgiving for the gracious assistance they had received from the Lord during the building of the wall, and through which it had been speedily and successfully completed, in spite of the attempts of their enemies to obstruct the work. This feeling of thankfulness impelled them to the hearing of the word of God for the purpose of making His law their rule of life. The assembly consisted of men and women indiscriminately (אשּׁה ועד אישׁ, like Jos 6:21; Jos 8:25; Sa1 22:19; Ch1 16:3), and לשׁמע מבין כּל, every one that understood in hearing, which would certainly include the elder children. The first day of the seventh month was distinguished above the other new moons of the year as the feast of trumpets, and celebrated as a high festival by a solemn assembly and a cessation from labour; comp. Lev 23:23-25; Num 29:1-6. Neh 8:3 Ezra read out of the law "from the light (i.e., from early morning) till mid-day;" therefore for about six hours. Not, however, as is obvious from the more particular description Neh 8:4-8, without cessation, but in such wise that the reading went on alternately with instructive lectures on the law from the Levites. "And the ears of all the people were directed to the law," i.e., the people listened attentively. המּבינים must be understood according to לשׁמע מבין כּל of Neh 8:2. In Neh 8:4-8 the proceedings at this reading are more nearly described. Neh 8:4 Ezra stood upon a raised stage of wood which had been made for the purpose (לדּבר, for the matter). מגדּל, usually a tower, here a high scaffold, a pulpit. Beside him stood six persons, probably priests, on his right, and seven on his left hand. In 1 Esdras, seven are mentioned as standing on his left hand also, the name Azariah being inserted between Anaiah and Urijah. It is likely that this name has been omitted from the Hebrew text, since it is improbable that there was one person less on his right than on his left hand. "Perhaps Urijah is the father of the Meremoth of Neh 3:4, Neh 3:21; Maaseiah, the father of the Azariah of Neh 3:23; Pedaiah, the individual named Neh 3:25; the Azariah to be inserted, according to 1 Esdras, the same named Neh 3:23; a Meshullam occurs, Neh 3:4, Neh 3:6; and a Malchiah, Neh 3:11, Neh 3:14, Neh 3:31" (Bertheau). Neh 8:5 Ezra, standing on the raised platform, was above the assembled people (he was כּל־העם מעל). When he opened the book, it was "in the sight of all the people," so that all could see his action; and "all the people stood up" (עמדוּ). It cannot be shown from the O.T. that it had been from the days of Moses a custom with the Israelites to stand at the reading of the law, as the Rabbis assert; comp. Vitringa, de Synag. vet. p. 167. Neh 8:6 Ezra began by blessing the Lord, the great God, perhaps with a sentence of thanksgiving, as David did, Ch1 29:10, but scarcely by using a whole psalm, as in Ch1 16:8. To this thanksgiving the people answered Amen, Amen (comp. Ch1 16:36), lifting up their hands (ידיהם בּמעל, with lifting up of their hands; the form מעל occurring only here), and worshipping the Lord, bowing down towards the ground. Neh 8:7 And Jeshua, Bani, etc., the Levites, expounded the law to the people (הבין, to cause to understand, here to instruct, by expounding the law). The ו copulative before הלויּם must certainly have been inserted in the text by a clerical error; for the previously named thirteen (or fourteen) persons are Levites, of whom Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, and Hodijah occur again, Neh 9:4-5. The names Jeshua, Sherebiah, Shabtai, and Jozabad are also met with Neh 12:14; Neh 11:16, but belong in these latter passages to other individuals who were heads of classes of Levites. Neh 8:8 "And they (the Levites) read in (out of) the book of the law of God, explained and gave the sense; and they (the assembled auditors) were attentive to the reading." The Rabbis understand מפרשׁ = the Chaldee מפרשׁ, of a rendering of the law into the vulgar tongue, i.e., a paraphrase in the Chaldee language for those who were not acquainted with the ancient Hebrew. But this cannot be shown to be the meaning of פרשׁ, this word being used in the Targums for the Hebrew נקב (קבב), e.g., Lev 24:16, and for בּאר, Deu 1:5. It is more correct to suppose a paraphrastic exposition and application of the law (Pfeiffer, dubia vex. p. 480), but not "a distinct recitation according to appointed rules" (Gusset. and Bertheau). שׂום is infin. abs. instead of the temp. finit.: and gave the sense, made the law comprehensible to the hearers. במּקרא ויּבינוּ, not with older interpreters, Luther ("so that what was read was understood"), and de Wette, "and they (the Levites) made what was read comprehensible," which would be a mere tautology, but with the lxx, Vulgate, and others, "and they (the hearers) attended to the reading," or, "obtained an understanding of what was read" (בּ הבין, like Neh 8:12, Dan 9:23; Dan 10:11). Vitringa (de syn. vet. p. 420) already gives the correct meaning: de doctoribus narratur, quod legerint et dederint intellectum, de autitoribus, quod lectum intellexerint. The manner of proceeding with this reading is not quite clear. According to Neh 8:5-8, the Levites alone seem to have read to the people out of the book of the law, and to have explained what they read to their auditors; while according to Neh 8:3, Ezra read to the assembled people, and the ears of all were attentive to the book of the law, while we are told in Neh 8:5 that Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people. If, however, we regard Neh 8:4-8 as only a more detailed description of what is related Neh 8:2, Neh 8:3, it is obvious that both Ezra and the thirteen Levites mentioned in Neh 8:7 read out of the law. Hence the occurrence may well have taken place as follows: Ezra first read a section of the law, and the Levites then expounded to the people the portion just read; the only point still doubtful being whether the thirteen (fourteen) Levites expounded in succession, or whether they all did this at the same time to different groups of people.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The street that was before the water gate - The gate which led from the temple to the brook Kidron.

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⁷³ So the priests [03548], and the Levites [03881], and the porters [07778], and the singers [07891], and some of the people [05971], and the Nethinims [05411], and all Israel [03478], dwelt [03427] in their cities [05892]; and when the seventh [07637] month [02320] came [05060], the children [01121] of Israel [03478] were in their cities [05892].

¹ And all the people [05971] gathered themselves together [0622] as one [0259] man [0376] into the street [07339] that was before [06440] the water [04325] gate [08179]; and they spake [0559] unto Ezra [05830] the scribe [05608] to bring [0935] the book [05612] of the law [08451] of Moses [04872], which the LORD [03068] had commanded [06680] to Israel [03478].
² And Ezra [05830] the priest [03548] brought [0935] the law [08451] before [06440] the congregation [06951] both of men [0376] and women [0802], and all that could hear [08085] with understanding [0995], upon the first [0259] day [03117] of the seventh [07637] month [02320].
³ And he read [07121] therein before [06440] the street [07339] that was before [06440] the water [04325] gate [08179] from the morning [0216] until midday [04276] [03117], before the men [0582] and the women [0802], and those that could understand [0995]; and the ears [0241] of all the people [05971] were attentive unto the book [05612] of the law [08451].
⁴ And Ezra [05830] the scribe [05608] stood [05975] upon a pulpit [04026] of wood [06086], which they had made [06213] for the purpose [01697]; and beside [0681] him stood [05975] Mattithiah [04993], and Shema [08087], and Anaiah [06043], and Urijah [0223], and Hilkiah [02518], and Maaseiah [04641], on his right hand [03225]; and on his left hand [08040], Pedaiah [06305], and Mishael [04332], and Malchiah [04441], and Hashum [02828], and Hashbadana [02806], Zechariah [02148], and Meshullam [04918].
⁵ And Ezra [05830] opened [06605] the book [05612] in the sight [05869] of all the people [05971]; (for he was above all the people [05971];) and when he opened [06605] it, all the people [05971] stood up [05975]:
⁶ And Ezra [05830] blessed [01288] the LORD [03068], the great [01419] God [0430]. And all the people [05971] answered [06030], Amen [0543], Amen [0543], with lifting up [04607] their hands [03027]: and they bowed [06915] their heads, and worshipped [07812] the LORD [03068] with their faces [0639] to the ground [0776].
⁷ Also Jeshua [03442], and Bani [01137], and Sherebiah [08274], Jamin [03226], Akkub [06126], Shabbethai [07678], Hodijah [01941], Maaseiah [04641], Kelita [07042], Azariah [05838], Jozabad [03107], Hanan [02605], Pelaiah [06411], and the Levites [03881], caused the people [05971] to understand [0995] the law [08451]: and the people [05971] stood in their place [05977].
⁸ So they read [07121] in the book [05612] in the law [08451] of God [0430] distinctly [06567], and gave [07760] the sense [07922], and caused them to understand [0995] the reading [04744].

²⁵ And thou [0607], Ezra [05831], after the wisdom [02452] of thy God [0426], that is in thine hand [03028], set [04483] magistrates [08200] and judges [01782], which may judge [01934] [01778] all [03606] the people [05972] that are beyond [05675] the river [05103], all [03606] such as know [03046] the laws [01882] of thy God [0426]; and teach [03046] ye them that know [03046] them not [03809].

¹⁰ For Ezra [05830] had prepared [03559] his heart [03824] to seek [01875] the law [08451] of the LORD [03068], and to do [06213] it, and to teach [03925] in Israel [03478] statutes [02706] and judgments [04941].

⁹ Then all the men [0582] of Judah [03063] and Benjamin [01144] gathered themselves together [06908] unto Jerusalem [03389] within three [07969] days [03117]. It was the ninth [08671] month [02320], on the twentieth [06242] day of the month [02320]; and all the people [05971] sat [03427] in the street [07339] of the house [01004] of God [0430], trembling [07460] because of this matter [01697], and for the great rain [01653].

¹⁶ So the people [05971] went forth [03318], and brought [0935] them, and made [06213] themselves booths [05521], every one [0376] upon the roof of his house [01406], and in their courts [02691], and in the courts [02691] of the house [01004] of God [0430], and in the street [07339] of the water [04325] gate [08179], and in the street [07339] of the gate [08179] of Ephraim [0669].

⁷ Also Jeshua [03442], and Bani [01137], and Sherebiah [08274], Jamin [03226], Akkub [06126], Shabbethai [07678], Hodijah [01941], Maaseiah [04641], Kelita [07042], Azariah [05838], Jozabad [03107], Hanan [02605], Pelaiah [06411], and the Levites [03881], caused the people [05971] to understand [0995] the law [08451]: and the people [05971] stood in their place [05977].

³ And he read [07121] therein before [06440] the street [07339] that was before [06440] the water [04325] gate [08179] from the morning [0216] until midday [04276] [03117], before the men [0582] and the women [0802], and those that could understand [0995]; and the ears [0241] of all the people [05971] were attentive unto the book [05612] of the law [08451].

² And Ezra [05830] the priest [03548] brought [0935] the law [08451] before [06440] the congregation [06951] both of men [0376] and women [0802], and all that could hear [08085] with understanding [0995], upon the first [0259] day [03117] of the seventh [07637] month [02320].

⁴ And Ezra [05830] the scribe [05608] stood [05975] upon a pulpit [04026] of wood [06086], which they had made [06213] for the purpose [01697]; and beside [0681] him stood [05975] Mattithiah [04993], and Shema [08087], and Anaiah [06043], and Urijah [0223], and Hilkiah [02518], and Maaseiah [04641], on his right hand [03225]; and on his left hand [08040], Pedaiah [06305], and Mishael [04332], and Malchiah [04441], and Hashum [02828], and Hashbadana [02806], Zechariah [02148], and Meshullam [04918].
⁵ And Ezra [05830] opened [06605] the book [05612] in the sight [05869] of all the people [05971]; (for he was above all the people [05971];) and when he opened [06605] it, all the people [05971] stood up [05975]:
⁶ And Ezra [05830] blessed [01288] the LORD [03068], the great [01419] God [0430]. And all the people [05971] answered [06030], Amen [0543], Amen [0543], with lifting up [04607] their hands [03027]: and they bowed [06915] their heads, and worshipped [07812] the LORD [03068] with their faces [0639] to the ground [0776].
⁷ Also Jeshua [03442], and Bani [01137], and Sherebiah [08274], Jamin [03226], Akkub [06126], Shabbethai [07678], Hodijah [01941], Maaseiah [04641], Kelita [07042], Azariah [05838], Jozabad [03107], Hanan [02605], Pelaiah [06411], and the Levites [03881], caused the people [05971] to understand [0995] the law [08451]: and the people [05971] stood in their place [05977].
⁸ So they read [07121] in the book [05612] in the law [08451] of God [0430] distinctly [06567], and gave [07760] the sense [07922], and caused them to understand [0995] the reading [04744].

⁵ And Ezra [05830] opened [06605] the book [05612] in the sight [05869] of all the people [05971]; (for he was above all the people [05971];) and when he opened [06605] it, all the people [05971] stood up [05975]:
⁶ And Ezra [05830] blessed [01288] the LORD [03068], the great [01419] God [0430]. And all the people [05971] answered [06030], Amen [0543], Amen [0543], with lifting up [04607] their hands [03027]: and they bowed [06915] their heads, and worshipped [07812] the LORD [03068] with their faces [0639] to the ground [0776].
⁷ Also Jeshua [03442], and Bani [01137], and Sherebiah [08274], Jamin [03226], Akkub [06126], Shabbethai [07678], Hodijah [01941], Maaseiah [04641], Kelita [07042], Azariah [05838], Jozabad [03107], Hanan [02605], Pelaiah [06411], and the Levites [03881], caused the people [05971] to understand [0995] the law [08451]: and the people [05971] stood in their place [05977].
⁸ So they read [07121] in the book [05612] in the law [08451] of God [0430] distinctly [06567], and gave [07760] the sense [07922], and caused them to understand [0995] the reading [04744].

¹¹ And he said [0559] unto me, O Daniel [01840], a man [0376] greatly beloved [02532], understand [0995] the words [01697] that I speak [01696] unto thee, and stand [05975] upright [05977]: for unto thee am I now sent [07971]. And when he had spoken [01696] this word [01697] unto me, I stood [05975] trembling [07460].

²³ At the beginning [08462] of thy supplications [08469] the commandment [01697] came forth [03318], and I am come [0935] to shew [05046] thee; for thou art greatly beloved [02532]: therefore understand [0995] the matter [01697], and consider [0995] the vision [04758].

¹² And all the people [05971] went their way [03212] to eat [0398], and to drink [08354], and to send [07971] portions [04490], and to make [06213] great [01419] mirth [08057], because they had understood [0995] the words [01697] that were declared [03045] unto them.

⁵ On this side [05676] Jordan [03383], in the land [0776] of Moab [04124], began [02974] Moses [04872] to declare [0874] this law [08451], saying [0559],

¹⁶ And he that blasphemeth [05344] the name [08034] of the LORD [03068], he shall surely [04191] be put to death [04191], and all the congregation [05712] shall certainly [07275] stone [07275] him: as well the stranger [01616], as he that is born in the land [0249], when he blasphemeth [05344] the name [08034] of the LORD, shall be put to death [04191].

⁸ So they read [07121] in the book [05612] in the law [08451] of God [0430] distinctly [06567], and gave [07760] the sense [07922], and caused them to understand [0995] the reading [04744].

¹⁶ And Shabbethai [07678] and Jozabad [03107], of the chief [07218] of the Levites [03881], had the oversight of the outward [02435] business [04399] of the house [01004] of God [0430].

¹⁴ Of Melicu [04409], Jonathan [03129]; of Shebaniah [07645], Joseph [03130];

⁴ Then stood up [06965] upon the stairs [04608], of the Levites [03881], Jeshua [03442], and Bani [01137], Kadmiel [06934], Shebaniah [07645], Bunni [01138], Sherebiah [08274], Bani [01137], and Chenani [03662], and cried [02199] with a loud [01419] voice [06963] unto the LORD [03068] their God [0430].
⁵ Then the Levites [03881], Jeshua [03442], and Kadmiel [06934], Bani [01137], Hashabniah [02813], Sherebiah [08274], Hodijah [01941], Shebaniah [07645], and Pethahiah [06611], said [0559], Stand up [06965] and bless [01288] the LORD [03068] your God [0430] for ever [05769] and ever [05769]: and blessed [01288] be thy glorious [03519] name [08034], which is exalted [07311] above all blessing [01293] and praise [08416].

³⁶ Blessed [01288] be the LORD [03068] God [0430] of Israel [03478] for ever [05769] and ever [05769]. And all the people [05971] said [0559], Amen [0543], and praised [01984] the LORD [03068].

⁸ Give thanks [03034] unto the LORD [03068], call [07121] upon his name [08034], make known [03045] his deeds [05949] among the people [05971].

¹⁰ Wherefore David [01732] blessed [01288] the LORD [03068] before [05869] all the congregation [06951]: and David [01732] said [0559], Blessed [01288] be thou, LORD [03068] God [0430] of Israel [03478] our father [01], for [05704] ever [05769] and ever [05769].

⁶ And Ezra [05830] blessed [01288] the LORD [03068], the great [01419] God [0430]. And all the people [05971] answered [06030], Amen [0543], Amen [0543], with lifting up [04607] their hands [03027]: and they bowed [06915] their heads, and worshipped [07812] the LORD [03068] with their faces [0639] to the ground [0776].

³¹ After [0310] him repaired [02388] Malchiah [04441] the goldsmith's [06885] son [01121] unto the place [01004] of the Nethinims [05411], and of the merchants [07402], over against the gate [08179] Miphkad [04663], and to the going up [05944] of the corner [06438].

¹⁴ But the dung [0830] gate [08179] repaired [02388] Malchiah [04441] the son [01121] of Rechab [07394], the ruler [08269] of part [06418] of Bethhaccerem [01021]; he built [01129] it, and set up [05975] the doors [01817] thereof, the locks [04514] thereof, and the bars [01280] thereof.

¹¹ Malchijah [04441] the son [01121] of Harim [02766], and Hashub [02815] the son [01121] of Pahathmoab [06355], repaired [02388] the other [08145] piece [04060], and the tower [04026] of the furnaces [08574].

⁶ Moreover the old [03465] gate [08179] repaired [02388] Jehoiada [03111] the son [01121] of Paseah [06454], and Meshullam [04918] the son [01121] of Besodeiah [01152]; they laid the beams [07136] thereof, and set up [05975] the doors [01817] thereof, and the locks [04514] thereof, and the bars [01280] thereof.

⁴ And next unto them [03027] repaired [02388] Meremoth [04822] the son [01121] of Urijah [0223], the son [01121] of Koz [06976]. And next unto them [03027] repaired [02388] Meshullam [04918] the son [01121] of Berechiah [01296], the son [01121] of Meshezabeel [04898]. And next unto them [03027] repaired [02388] Zadok [06659] the son [01121] of Baana [01195].

²³ After [0310] him repaired [02388] Benjamin [01144] and Hashub [02815] over against their house [01004]. After [0310] him repaired [02388] Azariah [05838] the son [01121] of Maaseiah [04641] the son [01121] of Ananiah [06055] by [0681] his house [01004].

²⁵ Palal [06420] the son [01121] of Uzai [0186], over against the turning [04740] of the wall, and the tower [04026] which lieth out [03318] from the king's [04428] high [05945] house [01004], that was by the court [02691] of the prison [04307]. After [0310] him Pedaiah [06305] the son [01121] of Parosh [06551].

²¹ After [0310] him repaired [02388] Meremoth [04822] the son [01121] of Urijah [0223] the son [01121] of Koz [06976] another [08145] piece [04060], from the door [06607] of the house [01004] of Eliashib [0475] even to the end [08503] of the house [01004] of Eliashib [0475].

¹ And in the seventh [07637] month [02320], on the first [0259] day of the month [02320], ye shall have an holy [06944] convocation [04744]; ye shall do [06213] no servile [05656] work [04399]: it is a day [03117] of blowing [08643] the trumpets unto you.
² And ye shall offer [06213] a burnt offering [05930] for a sweet [05207] savour [07381] unto the LORD [03068]; one [0259] young [01241] bullock [06499], one [0259] ram [0352], and seven [07651] lambs [03532] of the first [01121] year [08141] without blemish [08549]:
³ And their meat offering [04503] shall be of flour [05560] mingled [01101] with oil [08081], three [07969] tenth deals [06241] for a bullock [06499], and two [08147] tenth deals [06241] for a ram [0352],
⁴ And one [0259] tenth deal [06241] for one [0259] lamb [03532], throughout the seven [07651] lambs [03532]:
⁵ And one [0259] kid [08163] of the goats [05795] for a sin offering [02403], to make an atonement [03722] for you:
⁶ Beside the burnt offering [05930] of the month [02320], and his meat offering [04503], and the daily [08548] burnt offering [05930], and his meat offering [04503], and their drink offerings [05262], according unto their manner [04941], for a sweet [05207] savour [07381], a sacrifice made by fire [0801] unto the LORD [03068].

²³ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],
²⁴ Speak [01696] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], saying [0559], In the seventh [07637] month [02320], in the first [0259] day of the month [02320], shall ye have a sabbath [07677], a memorial [02146] of blowing [08643] of trumpets, an holy [06944] convocation [04744].
²⁵ Ye shall do [06213] no servile [05656] work [04399] therein: but ye shall offer [07126] an offering made by fire [0801] unto the LORD [03068].

³ And he dealt [02505] to every one [0376] of Israel [03478], both man [0376] and woman [0802], to every one [0376] a loaf [03603] of bread [03899], and a good piece of flesh [0829], and a flagon [0809] of wine.

¹⁹ And Nob [05011], the city [05892] of the priests [03548], smote [05221] he with the edge [06310] of the sword [02719], both men [0376] and women [0802], children [05768] and sucklings [03243], and oxen [07794], and asses [02543], and sheep [07716], with the edge [06310] of the sword [02719].

²⁵ And so it was, that all that fell [05307] that day [03117], both of men [0376] and women [0802], were twelve [08147] [06240] thousand [0505], even all the men [0582] of Ai [05857].

²¹ And they utterly destroyed [02763] all that was in the city [05892], both man [0376] and woman [0802], young [05288] and old [02205], and ox [07794], and sheep [07716], and ass [02543], with the edge [06310] of the sword [02719].

¹¹ Now this is the copy [06572] of the letter [05406] that the king [04428] Artaxerxes [0783] gave [05414] unto Ezra [05830] the priest [03548], the scribe [05608], even a scribe [05608] of the words [01697] of the commandments [04687] of the LORD [03068], and of his statutes [02706] to Israel [03478].

³⁷ And at the fountain [05869] gate [08179], which was over against them, they went up [05927] by the stairs [04609] of the city [05892] of David [01732], at the going up [04608] of the wall [02346], above the house [01004] of David [01732], even unto the water [04325] gate [08179] eastward [04217].

²⁶ Moreover the Nethinims [05411] dwelt [03427] in Ophel [06077], unto the place over against the water [04325] gate [08179] toward the east [04217], and the tower [04026] that lieth out [03318].

¹ And when the seventh [07637] month [02320] was come [05060], and the children [01121] of Israel [03478] were in the cities [05892], the people [05971] gathered themselves together [0622] as one [0259] man [0376] to Jerusalem [03389].
² Then stood up [06965] Jeshua [03442] the son [01121] of Jozadak [03136], and his brethren [0251] the priests [03548], and Zerubbabel [02216] the son [01121] of Shealtiel [07597], and his brethren [0251], and builded [01129] the altar [04196] of the God [0430] of Israel [03478], to offer [05927] burnt offerings [05930] thereon, as it is written [03789] in the law [08451] of Moses [04872] the man [0376] of God [0430].
³ And they set [03559] the altar [04196] upon his bases [04350]; for fear [0367] was upon them because of the people [05971] of those countries [0776]: and they offered [05927] burnt offerings [05930] thereon unto the LORD [03068], even burnt offerings [05930] morning [01242] and evening [06153].
⁴ They kept [06213] also the feast [02282] of tabernacles [05521], as it is written [03789], and offered the daily [03117] [03117] burnt offerings [05930] by number [04557], according to the custom [04941], as the duty [01697] of every day [03117] required [03117];
⁵ And afterward [0310] offered the continual [08548] burnt offering [05930], both of the new moons [02320], and of all the set feasts [04150] of the LORD [03068] that were consecrated [06942], and of every one that willingly offered [05068] a freewill offering [05071] unto the LORD [03068].
⁶ From the first [0259] day [03117] of the seventh [07637] month [02320] began [02490] they to offer [05927] burnt offerings [05930] unto the LORD [03068]. But the foundation [03245] of the temple [01964] of the LORD [03068] was not yet laid [03245].
⁷ They gave [05414] money [03701] also unto the masons [02672], and to the carpenters [02796]; and meat [03978], and drink [04960], and oil [08081], unto them of Zidon [06722], and to them of Tyre [06876], to bring [0935] cedar [0730] trees [06086] from Lebanon [03844] to the sea [03220] of Joppa [03305], according to the grant [07558] that they had of Cyrus [03566] king [04428] of Persia [06539].
⁸ Now in the second [08145] year [08141] of their coming [0935] unto the house [01004] of God [0430] at Jerusalem [03389], in the second [08145] month [02320], began [02490] Zerubbabel [02216] the son [01121] of Shealtiel [07597], and Jeshua [03442] the son [01121] of Jozadak [03136], and the remnant [07605] of their brethren [0251] the priests [03548] and the Levites [03881], and all they that were come out [0935] of the captivity [07628] unto Jerusalem [03389]; and appointed [05975] the Levites [03881], from twenty [06242] years [08141] old [01121] and upward [04605], to set forward [05329] the work [04399] of the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].
⁹ Then stood [05975] Jeshua [03442] with his sons [01121] and his brethren [0251], Kadmiel [06934] and his sons [01121], the sons [01121] of Judah [03063], together [0259], to set forward [05329] the workmen [06213] [04399] in the house [01004] of God [0430]: the sons [01121] of Henadad [02582], with their sons [01121] and their brethren [0251] the Levites [03881].
¹⁰ And when the builders [01129] laid the foundation [03245] of the temple [01964] of the LORD [03068], they set [05975] the priests [03548] in their apparel [03847] with trumpets [02689], and the Levites [03881] the sons [01121] of Asaph [0623] with cymbals [04700], to praise [01984] the LORD [03068], after the ordinance [03027] of David [01732] king [04428] of Israel [03478].
¹¹ And they sang together by course [06030] in praising [01984] and giving thanks [03034] unto the LORD [03068]; because he is good [02896], for his mercy [02617] endureth for ever [05769] toward Israel [03478]. And all the people [05971] shouted [07321] with a great [01419] shout [08643], when they praised [01984] the LORD [03068], because the foundation [03245] of the house [01004] of the LORD [03068] was laid [03245].
¹² But many [07227] of the priests [03548] and Levites [03881] and chief [07218] of the fathers [01], who were ancient men [02205], that had seen [07200] the first [07223] house [01004], when the foundation [03245] of this house [01004] was laid [03245] before their eyes [05869], wept [01058] with a loud [01419] voice [06963]; and many [07227] shouted [08643] aloud [07311] for joy [08057]:
¹³ So that the people [05971] could not discern [05234] the noise [06963] of the shout [08643] of joy [08057] from the noise [06963] of the weeping [01065] of the people [05971]: for the people [05971] shouted [07321] with a loud [01419] shout [08643], and the noise [06963] was heard [08085] afar off [07350].