SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:4
Y Esdras el escriba estaba sobre un púlpito de madera, que habían hecho para ello; y junto a él estaban Matatías, y Sema, y Anías, y Urías, e Hilcías, y Maasías, a su mano derecha; y a su mano izquierda, Pedaías, Misael, y Malquías, y Hasum, y Hasbadana, Zacarías, y Mesulam.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 8:4
Verse 4. Stood upon a pulpit of wood] ldgm 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, ver. 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose , etc.] Or to speak out of, as the Syriac and Arabic versions; this, in the Hebrew text, is called a “tower” f47 , 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 f48 ; though, according to Jacob Leo, it was a throne like an high tower, (See Gill on “ 2 Kings 11:14”), the pulpits, in the Jewish synagogues, made after the same manner, as Aben Ezra observes, are called by the same 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.
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
ויעמד 5975 עזרא 5830 הספר 5608 על 5921 מגדל 4026 עץ 6086 אשׁר 834 עשׂו 6213 לדבר 1697 ויעמד 5975 אצלו 681 מתתיה 4993 ושׁמע 8087 ועניה 6043 ואוריה 223 וחלקיה 2518 ומעשׂיה 4641 על 5921 ימינו 3225 ומשׂמאלו 8040 פדיה 6305 ומישׁאל 4332 ומלכיה 4441 וחשׁם 2828 וחשׁבדנה 2806 זכריה 2148 משׁלם׃ 4918
