John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the watergate , etc.] A large and commodious street for such a company of people, which led to the water gate, of which (see Nehemiah 3:26) hither the people gathered with great unanimity, zeal, and affection: and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe ; the same who is called Ezra the priest, and scribe of the law of God, and said to be a ready one, ( Ezra 7:6,11,12), who came to Jerusalem thirteen years before this time; but very probably returned to Babylon again, and was lately come from thence: to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel ; to observe what was commanded in it, and which he had ordered to be read, particularly every seventh year, at the feast of tabernacles, ( Deuteronomy 31:10,11) which was now drawing near, though this was not the precise time of reading it; hence some have thought this year was the sabbatical year; (see Nehemiah 5:11).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Sacrifices were to be offered only at the door of the temple; but praying and preaching were, and are, services of religion, a acceptably performed in one place as in another. Masters of familie should bring their families with them to the public worship of God Women and children have souls to save, and are therefore to acquain themselves with the word of God, and to attend on the means of grace Little ones, as they come to reason, must be trained up in religion Ministers when they go to the pulpit, should take their Bibles with them; Ezra did so. Thence they must fetch their knowledge; according to that rule they must speak, and must show that they do so. Reading the Scriptures in religious assemblies is an ordinance of God, whereby he is honoured, and his church edified. Those who hear the word, shoul understand it, else it is to them but an empty sound of words. It is therefore required of teachers that they explain the word, and give the sense of it. Reading is good, and preaching is good, but expoundin makes reading the better understood, and preaching the more convincing It has pleased God in almost every age of the church to raise up, no only those who have preached the gospel, but also those who have give their views of Divine truth in writing; and though many who have attempted to explain Scripture, have darkened counsel by words withou knowledge, yet the labours of others are of excellent use. All that we hear must, however, be brought to the test of Scripture. They hear readily, and minded every word. The word of God demands attention. I through carelessness we let much slip in hearing, there is danger tha through forgetfulness we shall let all slip after hearing.
Original Hebrew ויאספו622 כל3605 העם5971 כאישׁ376 אחד259 אל413 הרחוב7339 אשׁר834 לפני6440 שׁער8179 המים4325 ויאמרו559 לעזרא5830 הספר5608 להביא935 את853 ספר5612 תורת8451 משׁה4872 אשׁר834 צוה6680 יהוה3068 את854 ישׂראל׃3478
