Nehemiah 8:1-8 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the open place which is before the water-gate; and they said unto ‘Ezra the expounder that he should bring forward the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord commanded to Israel.

Leeser⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the open place which is before the water-gate; and they said unto ‘Ezra the expounder that he should bring forward the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord commanded to Israel. ² Then did ‘Ezra the priest bring forward the law before the congregation both of men and women, and every one that had understanding to listen attentively, on the first day of the seventh month; ³ And he read therein in the open place which is before the water-gate from the first daylight until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand: and the ears of all the people were directed unto the book of the law. ⁴ And ‘Ezra the expounder stood upon an elevated stand of wood, which they had made for the purpose: and beside him stood Matthithyah, and Shema’, and ‘Anayah, and Uriyah, and Chilkiyah, and Ma’asseyah, on his right hand; and on his left, Pedayah, and Mishael, and Malkiyah, and Chashum, and Chashbadanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. ⁵ And ‘Ezra opened the book before the eyes of all the people; for he was standing higher than all the people; and as he opened it, all the people became silent. ⁶ And ‘Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God: and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads, and prostrated themselves before the Lord with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Also Jeshua’, and Bani, and Sherebyah, Jamin, ‘Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiyah, Ma’asseyah, Kelita, ‘Azaryah, Jozabad, Chanan, Pelayah, and the Levites, explained to the people the law: while the people remained where they stood. ⁸ So they read in the book, in the law of God distinctly, and exhibiting the sense: so that the people understood what was read.