The Law read at the Water Gate; covenant renewed
Ezra read from the Book of the Law from early morning until midday, the Levites gave the sense, and the people wept and then feasted, for the joy of the LORD is your strength (Nehemiah 8:8-10); the community sealed a renewed covenant.
1At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. 2On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. 3So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.