Nehemia 7:73--8:2

7:73 The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all the rest of Israel lived in their cities.

The People Respond to the Reading of the Law

When the seventh month arrived and the Israelites ¹  were settled in their cities, ²  8:1 all the people gathered together ³  in the plaza which was in front of the Water Gate. They asked ⁴  Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had commanded Israel. 8:2 So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh month.)

[7:73]  ¹ tn Heb “the sons of Israel.” So also in vv. 14, 17; 9:1.

[7:73]  ² tn The traditional understanding of the chapter and verse division here is probably incorrect. The final part of v. 73 is best understood as belonging with 8:1.

[8:1]  ³ tn Heb “like one man.”

[8:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “said [to].”