8:4 Ezra the scribe stood on a towering wooden platform 1 constructed for this purpose. Standing near him on his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Masseiah. On his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 8:5 Ezra opened the book in plain view 2 of all the people, for he was elevated above all the people. When he opened the book, 3 all the people stood up.
1 tn Heb “a tower of wood.”
2 tn Heb “to the eyes.”
3 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the book) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Heb “confessing.” The words “their sins” are not present in the Hebrew text of v. 3, but are clearly implied here because they are explicitly stated in v. 2.
5 tn Heb “in [accord with] the commandment of.”