Discovery BoxNehemiah 8:4-5 
Context8:4 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.
Nehemiah 9:3
Context9:3 For one-fourth of the day they stood in their place and read from the book of the law of the LORD their God, and for another fourth they were confessing their sins 4 and worshiping the LORD their God.
Nehemiah 12:24
Context12:24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their colleagues, who stood opposite them to offer praise and thanks, one contingent corresponding to the other, as specified by 5 David the man of God.
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.”
