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fore the water gate from the morning until mid day, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people [were attentive] unto the book of the law. This is a general account of what was done; the particulars 4follow. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit, or gallery, of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, [and] Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people ;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up, to show their reverence for the word of God: And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. He began with a solemn adoration of God for giving his law, and prayed for his blessing to attend the reading and explanation of it. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands, expressed their concurrènce with great affection: and they bowed their heads, and worship7ped the LORD with [their] faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law :* and the people [stood] in their place, listening attentively to the law and 8 the explanation. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading; they read with a clear voice, and distinct pronunciation; explaining the meaning, design, and spiritual intention of the law.

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And Nehemiah, which [is] the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day [is] holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep for all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law; the people wept on account of the ignorance in which they had so long lived, and their violation of the law, though it was a festival day, and ought to have been kept with rejoicing. 10 Then he said unto them, about noon, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared for [this] day [is] holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. He exhorts them to keep the feast, that is, the feast of trumpets, (Lev. xxiii. 24.) and relieve their poor brethren; and do all with holy joy, con sidering the great things which God had done for them. This was proper in itself, would make them cheerful in duty, fortify them against their troubles, and secure that blessing of God, which was I promised after keeping the feast with gladness. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day [is] holy; neither be ye grieved; what Nehemiah said to those who could

These probably read and explained it in their turns, being too much for one man to read and explain it for six hours together.

Probably after Ezra had set them in a methed, he divided the people into companies for the convenience of hearing the better.

12 hear him, the Levites repeated to the rest. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them better than before."

13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto 14 Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.* And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in 15 the feast of the seventh month. And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branch. es, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of 16 thick trees, to make booths, as [it is] written. So the people went forth, and brought [them] and made themselves booths ev ery one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. All this was within 17 the city, none were made without, for fear of their enemies." And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness; no feast since Joshua's time was kept with such solemnity, cheerfulness, and 18 devotion. Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day [was] à solemn assembly, ac. cording unto the manner.

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REFLECTIONS.

O have the holy scriptures in our hands, and helps to un derstand them, should be esteemed a very great blessing. These people were wise, because they had the law read and explained to them. This shows how blameable the church of Rome is, in keeping the scriptures from the common people, that there was a particular appointment in the law of Moses, for keeping up and spreading the knowledge of it. Its preachers should know how to teach, not to hide the knowledge of God. Ministers and the bible are the joy of God's Israel. Let us be thankful for them.

2. We are taught by this example, that the reading and expound ing the scriptures in public assemblies is an important and useful exercise; it is doing great honour to God and his word, and is much

The second day was no festival; but their zeal was so great, and they were so d. sirous to understand the law, that they came for further instructions: yea, the priests and the Le vites ca.ne to learn their own duty more perfectly from Ezra, and particularly those duties which were to be performed in this month

+ This was the feast of tabernacles, or booths, in commemoration of their dwelling in tents in the wilderness.

The law did not expressly appoint this; but the warmth of their zeal made them desira ous of improving this opportunity to know more of the law,

for the edification and instruction of the church. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. It is the business of ministers to read the law, to give the sense of it according to their best abilities, and cause the people to understand the meaning; and to enforce on their consciences the duties required in it. It is to the honour of many churches that this practice is still retained among them; and it is much to be wished that it was as general as it is - proper and useful.

3. Heads of families should bring their households with them to the public worship of God, that they may join in devotion, and hear the divine law. The congregation assembled were men and women, and those children who could understand any thing. Children are early capable of receiving instruction; and even before that period are capable of receiving some impressions of the seriousness and solemnity of worship on their minds, which may be of great impor tance to them in future life. Parents should therefore bring their children with them as soon as they know how to behave properly, and not disturb those who are near them, and should endeavour to instruct them in the nature and design of these services. Servants also should attend upon the worship of God; for detaining them at home on one part of the Lord's day, when there is no absolute necessity for it, is very injurious to them, and contrary to the will of God. The rule under the law was, (Deut. xxxi. 12.), Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of his law : and the same reason for it holds good under the gospel.

4. We ought to exercise ourselves to religious services with great seriousness and solemnity, v. 5, 6. Nehemiah began with prayer, the people joined, and used a very reverent posture. It is very proper when we take the word of God into our hands, to begin with devotion, to be thankful for it, and pray for wisdom to understand and improve it. There is a peculiar propriety in beginning our public worship with prayer for the divine presence, assistance, and blessing; and those persons are worthy of blame who are sel dom in time to join in that act of devotion in the solemn assembly.

5. It becomes us, when the word of God is read and expounded, to pay the utmost attention to it, v. 7. Notice is taken that the people stood in their place; there was no moving about, shifting their places, or any other marks of irreverence or inattention. On the contrary, v. 3. the people were attentive to the book of the law: a good pattern for us all. When God speaks, it is fit his creatures should give attention. Looking about to observe who comes in, is highly indecent; it is an affront to God, whose word we read, disrespectful to those who read and explain it, and depriving ourselves of the benefit we might gain by it. Let us all learn by this example, to give diligent heed to the things that are spoken.

6. We learn the benefit of holy joy, and keeping holy days with cheerfulness. Sabbaths, or holy convocations, ought to be kept with

joy; the mind should be cheerful and thankful. Joy in God and his goodness, especially in giving us spiritual blessings, should be maintained; the joy of the Lord is our strength. It is our duty to go on with vigour and dispatch; this will support and encourage us under adversities, and secure his blessing; for he meets those that rejoice in him, and work righteousness. We are allowed to eat the fat and drink the sweet on holy days; but it should be done with moderation, lest it make us drowsy, and unfit us for religious exercises, and should always be attended with charity to the poor. We should send portions to those who have not our plenty. Works of charity are peculiarly proper on solemn feast days; and the goodness of God to us should make us bountiful and charitable to our poor brethren. We serve a good master, who loves to see his servants cheerful, easy and happy; and nothing will contribute more to this, than to do all in our power to make our devotion lively, and our charity warm and extensive, God loves a devout worshipper and a cheerful giver.

CHAP. IX.

Gives an account of a solemn fast, and the humiliation of the Levites and the people.

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Nchildren of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with

OW the twenty and fourth day of this month, the

2 sackcloths, and earth upon them.* And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed 3 their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God [one] fourth part of the day; and [another] fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God; they read and explained the book of the law for three hours, and then 4 had solemn devotions for three hours more. Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, [and] Chenani, and cried with a loud 5 voice unto the LORD their God. Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, [and] Pethahiah, said, Stand up [and] bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise: they called upon the people, who were now prostrate on the ground, to stand up and praise 6 the Lord, and directed them how to do it. Thou, [even] thou,

They had observed the feast of tabernacles; and having heard the law read, were so humbled under a sense of their breach of it, that they piously set apart this twenty fourth day as an extraordinary fast.

There was now a further reformation of their intermarriages with the heathen, which had been contracted since that general reformation we had an account of in Ezra. Those stood at a distance from the rest and lamented their own sins, and the sins of their fathers, by whose ill example they had been led to these practices.

Probably the whole multitude was divided into many congregations, with a Levite or two to preside over each. Then follows the beads or particulars of their prayer, which the Levites enlarged upon, or else it would not have taken up so much time,

art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all [things] that [are] therein, the seas and all that [is] therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee; they began with adoring God, as the creator and preserver of the universe, and the object of worship both of angels and men; and then briefly recite the history of God's wonderful appearances for their nation, particu larly in choosing Abraham, and entering into covenant with him. Thou [art] the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him 8 the name of Abraham; And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give [it, I say,] to his seed, 9 and hast performed thy words; for thou [art] righteous: And → didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their 10 cry by the Red sea; And shewedst signs and wonders upon

Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. 11 So didst thou get thee a name, as [it is] this day. And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters, 12. Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way 13 wherein they should go. Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: 14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy 15 servant: And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess 16 the land which thou hadst sworn to give them. But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, showed great ingratitude and 17 obstinacy, And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and therefore for18 sookest them not. Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This [is] thy god that brought thee up out of 19 Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;. Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them 20 light, and the way wherein they should go. Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, as a spirit of prophecy, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water

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