The First Public Reading Of The Law

"Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men, women and all the children who could understand what was being read.  It was the first day of the seventh month.  So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from dawn till noon, before the men, women and those children who could understand.  All the people were eager to hear the book of the law.

Ezra, the teacher of the law, stood on a wooden platform built for that occasion; and to his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hikiah and Maaseiah; and to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hasbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was in a higher place; and when he opened it, all the people stood.  Ezra praised YAHWEH the great GOD; and all the people lifted up their hands and answered, 'Amen!  Amen.'  And they bowed their heads to the ground.

The Levites Joshua, Bani and the rest of their brothers explained the law to the people who were standing.  They read from the book of the law of GOD, clarifying and interpreting the meaning, so that everyone might understand what they were hearing.

Then Ezra, the teacher of the law, said to the people, 'This day is dedicated to YAHWEH, your GOD, so do not be sad or weep.'  He said this because all wept when they heard the reading of the law.  Then he said to them, 'Go and eat rich foods, drink sweet wine and share with him who has nothing prepared.

This day is dedicated to the LORD, so do not be sad.  The joy of YAHWEH is our strength.'" - Nehemiah 8:2-10 

Ezra Reading The Book Of The Law

(This first public reading of the law marks a very important date of sacred history.  Until that time, the people of Israel lived their faith through praying and taking part in the temple ceremonies.  Decisions and preaching came to them through priests and prophets.  They did not feel the need to read the Scriptures.

Several books of our Scriptures were already in existence but they were kept in the temple or the kings' palace: they were not within reach of the people nor were they the foundation of their faith.  Now, however, new demands are made and they no longer have prophets as before.  Ezra understands that in the future, the Jewish community will grow through the reading, meditation on and interpretation of the sacred book.  Ezra himself tries to gather and complete the sacred books, and a new age begins wherein the Scriptures will be everyone's book and the basis of their faith.

This religious and cultural transition is similar in the Church in recent years.  People went to church: they prayed and they were taught, but Scripture was foreign to them.  However, now the Christian faith can only become strong through the word of GOD read and heard in the community.  Indeed we are behind time: this renewal should have started four centuries ago when Protestantism began.

The assembly gathered by Ezra will serve as the model for the religious life of the Jewish community.  The solemn worship in the Jerusalem temple is not suppressed but, from that time on, in every city the Jews will have a synagogue, that is, a meeting place where they will gather on the Sabbath to hear GOD's word and to sing psalms.)

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