Ezra Reads the Law to the People 1All of the people gathered as
one to the public square before the Water Gate. They asked Ezra
the scribe to bring the book of the law#Hebrew torah of Moses
that Yahweh had commanded Israel. 2So Ezra the priest brought
the law#Hebrew torah before the assembly for each man and woman
to hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh
month. 3He read from it facing the public square before the
Water Gate from dawn until noon that day, opposite the men,
women, and those with understanding. The ears of all the people
were attentive to the book of the law.#Hebrew torah 4Then Ezra
the scribe stood on a wooden podium that had been made for the
occasion. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah,
Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right. On his left was Pedaiah,
Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and
Meshullam. 5Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people,
because he was above all of the people. When he opened it all
the people stood up. 6Then Ez