The Bible Study Podcast, episode 628. Today, the Bible Study podcast continues the study of the book of Nehemiah with chapter 8.

Welcome to the Bible Study podcast. I'm your host, Chris Christensen. I am excited to get to chapter 8 just because it is not a list chapter. And I'm looking for a break. Nehemiah chapter 8. We're going to start this with the last verse of Nehemiah 7. Because remember, I kept that for this particular part because that's when this section starts.

Ezra reads the law.

When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people

came together as one in the square before the water gate.

They told Ezra the teacher of the law to bring out the book of the law of Moses,

which the Lord had commanded for Israel.

So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,

which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand.

He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the water gate

in the presence of the men, women, and others who could understand.

And all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.

Ezra, the teacher of the law, stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion.

Beside him, on his right stood Matathaya, Shema, Anaya, Yeraya, Hicaa, and Masaya.

And on his left were Padaya, Michelle, Halkajah, Hashmum, Hashbadanah, Zechariah, and

Mesulam. Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them,

and as he opened it, the people

all stood up.

Ezra praised the Lord, their great God, and all the people lifted their hands and responded,

Amen, amen.

Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

The Levites, Jeshua, Benai, Sarabaya, Jamim, Akub, Shabathai, Houdia, Maseya, Kalita,

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