Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 8:4
And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, [and] Meshullam.
4. a pulpit of wood ] R.V. marg. Heb. tower. Literally ‘upon a tower of wood.’ LXX. , 1 Esdr. . Vulg. ‘super gradum ligneum:’ cf. ‘the stairs’ on which the Levites stood in Neh 9:4. The mention of the erection of a platform or tribune which the Jews had erected ‘for the purpose’ shows that the incident was one of exceptional character. This is the first mention of a pulpit or lectern.
for the purpose ] Literally ‘for the word,’ which not being understood was omitted by the LXX. The Vulg. ‘quem fecerat ad loquen-dum’ follows a different vocalization, l’dhabbr for laddbhr.
Urijah ] R.V. Uriah: possibly the same as is mentioned in Neh 3:4. ‘Hilkiah,’ possibly mentioned also Neh 12:7. ‘Pedaiah’ possibly mentioned Neh 3:25. ‘Meshullam’ possibly mentioned Neh 10:7.
Malchiah Hashbadana ] R.V. Malchijah Hashbaddanah.
There is a discrepancy respecting the numbers and position of the individuals here mentioned. The Hebrew text and the LXX. mention six names on the right hand, seven on the left: the parallel passage in 1 Esdras gives seven on the right hand, inserting an Azariah between Anaiah and Uriah, but six only on the left, omitting the last name Meshullam. If we retain both Azariah and Meshullam we should have seven on either side; if we reject them both, we should have six on either side. It seems probable that the names are those of Levites. There would be especial appropriateness in the number twelve, symbolizing the union of Israel in obedience to the Law. The conjecture of Rawlinson that they ‘were probably the chief priests of the course which was at the time performing the Temple service’ is improbable. (1) They were clearly men who could leave the Temple precincts for six or seven hours consecutively. (2) On such an impressive occasion Ezra, if he were attended by priests, would probably have selected either those who represented the principal houses or those who especially supported his religious attitude. (3) Ezra’s supporters in this great religious movement seem to have been Laymen and Levites, not Priests. The popularizing of the knowledge of ‘the Law’ struck a blow at a priestly monopoly. The thirteen names are in one respect of especial interest. They seem to be the names of individuals and not as in Neh 8:7 and ch. Neh 9:4, Neh 10:9 the names of houses or clans, which happened to be represented. The reader should take notice that the high-priest’s name is not mentioned on this occasion. If as some critics have supposed, Ezra himself had composed the Priestly Laws, and was now promulgating them for the first time, the high-priest, whose position owed so much of its dignity in later days to those laws, would surely have been mentioned as countenancing Ezra’s action. If however, as seems more probable, Ezra was for the first time publishing to the people laws which had hitherto been kept in the priests’ hands, we have a possible explanation for the absence of the high-priest and his party, who would regard his action as subversive of their authority.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The 13 persons mentioned were probably the chief priests of the course (shift) which was at the time performing the temple service.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Stood upon a pulpit of wood] migdal, a tower, a platform, raised up for the purpose, to elevate him sufficiently for the people both to see and hear him; for it is said, Ne 8:5, that he was above all the people. This is the first intimation we have of a pulpit, or structure of this kind. But we must not suppose that it was any thing similar to those tubs or barrels ridiculously set up in churches and chapels, in which a preacher is nearly as much confined, during the time of his preaching, as if he was in the stocks.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Partly to declare their consent and concurrence with Ezra in what-he said and did; and partly that they, or some of them, might bear a part in the work.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. Ezra . . . stood upon a pulpit ofwoodNot made in the form known to us, but only a raisedscaffold or platform, broad enough to allow fourteen persons to standwith ease upon it. Ezra’s duty was very laborious, as he continuedreading aloud from morning until midday, but his labor was lightenedby the aid of the other priests present. Their presence was ofimportance, partly to show their cordial agreement with Ezra’sdeclaration of divine truth; and partly to take their share with himin the important duty of publicly reading and expounding theScripture.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose,…. Or to speak out of, as the Syriac and Arabic versions; this, in the Hebrew text, is called a “tower” i, partly because of its height, and partly because in the form of one; and also for its largeness, considering the use it was for; for it was so large as to hold fourteen men, as appears by what follows: a pulpit of wood was made for the king in the court, to read the law from k; though, according to Jacob Leo, it was a throne like an high tower,
[See comments on 2Ki 11:14], the pulpits, in the Jewish synagogues, made after the same manner, as Aben Ezra observes, are called by the same l name:
and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah; and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam; in all thirteen; there were six on his right, and seven on his left, who stood here, not merely in honour to him, and as approvers and supporters of the truth of what he read, but to relieve him when weary.
i “super turrem ligni”, Montanus; so Dionysius is said, “concionari ex turri alta”, Ciceron. Tuscul. Quaest. l. 5. k Schulchan Aruch, par. 1. c. 141. sect. 7. l Misn. Sotah, c. 7. sect. 8.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4) Pulpit of wood.Literally, a tower of wood. Fourteen persons, however, were on what is afterwards called a platform, or stair, by his side.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. A pulpit of wood Septuagint, a wooden platform. Some elevated stage or platform, from which a speaker could easily be seen and heard by the people.
Mattathiah Shema Anaiah The persons named in this verse, who stood beside Ezra and assisted him, were priests; those named in Neh 8:7 were Levites.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Neh 8:4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, [and] Meshullam.
Ver. 4. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood ] Heb. A tower of wood, because high and round, as ours are. The Capuchins and other Popish preachers are said to have long pulpits, wherein they may walk and act, as upon a stage, in Lent especially; at which time it is the custom of Italy for the same man to preach six days in the week upon the gospel of the days, and on the Saturday in honour and praise of the Virgin Mary.
And beside him stood Mattithiah, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
pulpit = high platform. Eng. “pulpit” from Latin. pulpitum, a stage of a theatre.
beside him. Thirteen priests with him: fourteen in all.
and. Some codices, with five early printed editions, omit this “and”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
pulpit: Heb. tower
Maaseiah: Neh 10:25, Neh 11:5
Malchiah: Neh 10:3
Hashum: Neh 10:18, Ezr 10:33
Meshullam: Neh 10:7, Neh 10:20, Neh 11:7, Neh 12:13, Ezr 10:29
Reciprocal: 1Ch 9:7 – Sallu 2Ch 6:13 – scaffold Ezr 7:6 – scribe Ezr 10:18 – Maaseiah Neh 3:23 – Maaseiah Neh 3:25 – Pedaiah Neh 8:1 – Ezra Neh 8:7 – Maaseiah Neh 9:3 – they stood Neh 13:13 – Pedaiah Mat 23:2 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 8:4. Ezra stood upon a pulpit of wood To raise him higher than the people; that he might be better seen and heard by them all; whence, in the Hebrew, it is called a tower of wood: but it was not like our pulpits, made to contain only one or two persons, but large and long, that many might stand in it at once, as appears from so many as fourteen, here mentioned, standing in it. And beside him stood Mattithiah, &c. These stood with him, partly to declare their consent and concurrence with what he said and did; and partly that they, or some of them, might bear a part in the work.