Nehemiah 8:3
And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
The verse belongs to the public reading of the law at Jerusalem after the wall and gates had been rebuilt, while much of the city still lay in ruins, held in the broad street before the Water Gate. The reading took place because the returned Jews requested the Scriptures, and such public reading was commanded but had not been observed during the captivity. Ezra stood on a raised wooden platform holding open the Book of the Law of Moses, which contains the Ten Commandments, with priests, Levites and other men beside him. He read distinctly from morning until midday.
Before him was gathered a large assembly from the surrounding country of men, women and all who could understand. They listened attentively and reverently from morning until midday, showing readiness to hear God's instruction. Some raised their hands and leaned forward, and after the blessing they answered with amen, bowed their heads and worshiped. Because intermarriage with other nations had corrupted the Hebrew language, careful explanation was required. So the reading was given in the language of the people and those who understood explained the sense of its principles to the many who were ignorant, so that all might understand it.
What was read set forth God's requirements and recalled His blessings for obedience and warnings for disobedience, and its influence revealed the people's response to His word. As the meaning was explained the people recognized their guilt and mourned their sins with sorrow over their national sins. It was a deep response of repentance and return to the Lord of the kind later expected when the law was read.
The occasion was a high privilege and joyful one on a commanded festival day of rejoicing, so the people were told to restrain their grief and rejoice in God's mercy. The day was devoted first to religious exercises and then to sharing food, recounting God's blessings and sending portions to the poor. And they rejoiced because the law had been read and understood.