Reading for December 16th

Read Nehemiah 7.73b-8.12. In 7.73b-8.12: The community gathers to hear the law. This section brings back into the narrative the figure of Ezra, of whom nothing has been said since the close of the book of Ezra. This sudden reemergence of Ezra and the focus on the importance of the law has led many scholars to conclude that this narrative was originally part of the account of Ezra and was moved to its present position by the editor who has brought Ezra-Nehemiah into its present form. The focus, howeve, remains on the community's request for the reading of the law, and the way the section is placed makes it clear that the goal is to reform itself into a more obeient community on the even of the dedication of the city walls. This ceremony also forms the backdrop to the conclusion of this large section in 13.1-3. In verse 73b: When the seventh month came: the walls were completed inthe month of Elul (6.15), the sixth month of the year. A rough chronological sequence is maintained by the placement, though there is some question if enough time is allowed for the people to return to be settled in their towns before reassembling in Jerusalem. The seventh month was traditonally the time of the day of Atonement (on the tenth day) and the Feast of Tabernacle (for a week starting on the fifteenth day). Several scholars have noted that this was also the month specfied in Deut 31.10-13 for an assembly of the people to hear a reading of the law every seven years. This is apparently the model on which the account is structured. In 8.1: They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book: The way Ezra is portrayed as subservient to the wishes of the "assembly," rather than the forceful leader of the community as in the Ezra tends to weigh the idea that this narrative was originally part of the book of Ezra. In the account of this gathering Ezra is variously termed scribe (vv. 1, 4), the priest (v. 2), and the priest and scribe (v. 9), both being roles attributed to him in the book of Ezra. In verse 7: The Levities helped the people to understand: One of the traditional roles of the Levities was to teach the meaning of the law to Israel (deut 33.10), and this may have involved a brief exposition of the passage. The Levities may have moved about the crowd answering queries since the people remained in thir places. In verse 9: Nehemiah ... and Ezra: This one of only two places inthe Hebrew text of Ezra-Nehemiah where the two reformers appear together. This day is holy: The day of the assembly is a specific sacred occasion. While the specific time of of the reading of the law could be considered a holy day, the account may imply that the day is the Feast of Trumpets, set onthe first day of the eventh month, which was a sacred day (Lev 23.23-25), although no reading of the law is connected with the Feast of Trumpets. Possibly recognizing how far they had strayed from the law, the people wept. In verse 10: Then he said to them: The he may be Ezra. The specified foos are typical of a feastive meal celebrating a scared occassion. The phrase the joy of the Lord is your stregth uses an unusual term for joy, one the occurs here and in 1 Chr 16.27, when strength and joy are in his place. In verse 12: All the people went their way ... to make great rejoicing: Unlike 1 and 2 Chronicles, where the rejoicing takes place in a great corporate sscenes, this account portrays the people retiring to their homes to rejoice. Their ablity to understand the law provides the opportunity to live in accord witht he divine will (Ps 119.34-35). Commenst or Questions..