SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:3
Y leyó en el libro delante de la plaza que está delante de la puerta de las Aguas, desde el alba hasta el mediodía, en presencia de varones y mujeres y entendidos; y los oídos de todo el pueblo estaban atentos al libro de la ley.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. And he read therein , etc.] Some passages in it, here and there, which it was necessary the people should have knowledge of; for it can hardly be thought be began and read on just in the order in which it was: this he did before the street ; at the top of it, at one end of it: that was before the water gate ; which looked directly to that: from the morning until midday ; from the rising of the sun to noon, so that he must read six hours; but very probably was relieved at times by the men with him, after mentioned: before the men and the women, and those that could understand ; (see Nehemiah 8:2), and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law ; to the hearing of it read, and to the things contained in it; hence Maimonides gathers, that as soon as the reader begins the reading of the law, it is not lawful to speak about anything, not even the constitutions of the law, but silently to attend to what is read.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Sacrifices were to be offered only at the door of the temple; but praying and preaching were, and are, services of religion, a acceptably performed in one place as in another. Masters of familie should bring their families with them to the public worship of God Women and children have souls to save, and are therefore to acquain themselves with the word of God, and to attend on the means of grace Little ones, as they come to reason, must be trained up in religion Ministers when they go to the pulpit, should take their Bibles with them; Ezra did so. Thence they must fetch their knowledge; according to that rule they must speak, and must show that they do so. Reading the Scriptures in religious assemblies is an ordinance of God, whereby he is honoured, and his church edified. Those who hear the word, shoul understand it, else it is to them but an empty sound of words. It is therefore required of teachers that they explain the word, and give the sense of it. Reading is good, and preaching is good, but expoundin makes reading the better understood, and preaching the more convincing It has pleased God in almost every age of the church to raise up, no only those who have preached the gospel, but also those who have give their views of Divine truth in writing; and though many who have attempted to explain Scripture, have darkened counsel by words withou knowledge, yet the labours of others are of excellent use. All that we hear must, however, be brought to the test of Scripture. They hear readily, and minded every word. The word of God demands attention. I through carelessness we let much slip in hearing, there is danger tha through forgetfulness we shall let all slip after hearing.
Original Hebrew
ויקרא 7121 בו לפני 6440 הרחוב 7339 אשׁר 834 לפני 6440 שׁער 8179 המים 4325 מן 4480 האור 216 עד 5704 מחצית 4276 היום 3117 נגד 5048 האנשׁים 376 והנשׁים 802 והמבינים 995 ואזני 241 כל 3605 העם 5971 אל 413 ספר 5612 התורה׃ 8451
