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2 Esdras viii.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1.
Were in, or had been at home, (Haydock) after the dedication of the walls, (Calmet) till they assembled (Haydock) at
the beginning of the civil year, on the feast of trumpets, which was a day of rejoicing, (ver. 9., and Numbers xxix. 1.) the
festival of the new moon. (Ribera) (Menochius) --- Gate, near the temple, chap. iii. 26. (Calmet) --- Moses;
the pentateuch. (Menochius) --- He is not desired to restore what was lost. (Tirinus) --- As many copies had been preserved
by the prophets, which Esdras revised. (Worthington)
Ver. 2.
Women, who were in a separate place. --- Understand, being come to the use of reason. (Calmet)
Ver. 3.
It plainly. Protestants, "therein, before the street." (Haydock) --- Esdras probably read select pieces from Leviticus,
&c., but principally from Deuteronomy. (Menochius)
Ver. 4.
Step. Hebrew, "wooden tower." (Calmet) --- Protestants, "pulpit," (Haydock) made in the form of a cup," (Calmet) like
the cior, or tribune of Solomon, 2 Paralipomenon vi. 13. --- Mosollam. We should imagine that this was not the
person who had given his daughter in marriage to the son of Tobias, chap. vi. 18. (Haydock)
Ver. 5.
Stood, out of respect, as we do while the gospel is read. See Numbers xxiii. 18. (Calmet)
Ver. 8.
Understood, by those who were near enough, and were skilled in Hebrew, (Haydock) though many began to forget that language;
(chap. xiii. 24.) and for their benefit, an explanation was given in Chaldean, (ver. 9.; Calmet) or Syriac, the vulgar tongue
after the captivity. Pure Hebrew was still retained in the public liturgy. (Tirinus) --- Thus the Catholic Church retains
the use of the language first use in the conversion of the respective people, whether Greek, Latin, &c., while she takes
care to explain to the people what is necessary, in their own language. Any change might be attended with more serious inconveniences
than benefit. Our Saviour never blamed this practice, which subsisted among the Jews in his time, no more than that which
obliged the people to keep without, while the priest offered incense, &c., Luke i. 10, 21. --- And plainly.
Protestants, "and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading," as much as they were able, though many
would, no doubt, still find difficulties, as we do at present. (Haydock)
Ver. 9.
Interpreted. St. Jerome renders the same term, made silence, (ver. 7.) as it was the office of the Levites to
keep the people in awe, ver. 11. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "taught." They had also (Haydock) to instruct, 1 Esdras viii. 16.
(Menochius) --- Weep. The Jews had only one feast for mourning, the day of expiation. On all the rest, a holy joy was
commended. For the same reason, the Church does not fast on such days. (Calmet) --- Law, reflecting on the threats
denounced against transgressors, which they had so lately witnessed. (Tirinus)
Ver. 10.
Wine. Hebrew and Septuagint, "things." Syriac and Arabic have simply, "drink." --- Portions. The Greeks styled
them, merides; and the Latins, sportulæ. The custom prevailed not only among the Jews, (Esther ix. 19.)
but also among Christians and pagans. Moses frequently exhorts the people to invite the poor; (Deuteronomy xvi. 14.) and St.
Paul blames the rich Corinthians, for giving no part of their feast to them, 1 Corinthians xi. 21. --- Strength. By
this holy joy, we shall be encouraged to perform all our duties. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "Be not downcast, because he (the
Lord) is our strength." (Haydock)
Ver. 13.
Law, concerning some difficulties, particularly the manner of keeping the ensuing festival. (Tirinus) --- Thus Christ
explained to his disciples what he had spoken to the people. (Haydock)
Ver. 15.
And that. This is not expressed in the law, though it was probably practised. (Calmet) --- Some translate, "And they
proclaimed," &c. (Vatable) --- Beautiful. Literally, "very or most beautiful." (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "of
oily wood." Septuagint, "cypress." Syriac, "nut-tree." Others understand the pine, (Pagnin) balm, (Mariana) citron, (Haydock)
or any other species of branches, which might then be used. (Calmet) (Tirinus)
Ver. 16.
House, which was flat. (Haydock) --- The tents might be erected in any place; in the open air. (Tirinus)
Ver. 17.
Done so, with such alacrity, though they had displayed more magnificence. See the meaning of similar expressions, 4
Kings xxiii. 22. (Calmet)
Ver. 18.
Assembly. Literally, "the collect." (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "the day of retention;" the people being kept at the temple.
(Calmet) --- Septuagint, "the dismission;" as they were afterwards permitted to depart. (Haydock) See Leviticus xxiii.
26. --- It was probably on this occasion, that the sacred fire was found again; (2 Machabees i. 18.; Calmet) and also the
ark, the tabernacle, and the altar of incense, which had been hidden by Jeremias, 2 Machabees ii. 4. (Torniel, the year of
the world 3610.) (Cano, &c.) --- But this is not so certain. (Haydock) (Calmet, Diss.)
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
Esdras readeth the law before the people. Nehemias comforteth
them. They celebrate the feast of tabernacles.
1 And *the seventh month came: and the children of Israel were in their
cities. And all the people were gathered together as one man, to the street which is before the water-gate, and they spoke
to Esdras, the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
2 Then Esdras, the priest, brought the law before the multitude of men
and women, and all those that could understand, in the first day of the seventh month.
3 And he read it plainly in the street that was before the water-gate,
from the morning until mid-day, before the men, and the women, and all those that could understand: and the ears of all the
people were attentive to the book.
4 And Esdras, the scribe, stood upon a step of wood, which he had made
to speak upon: and there stood by him, Mathathias, and Semeia, and Ania, and Uria, and Helcia, and Maasia, on his right hand:
and on the left, Phadaia, Misael, and Melchia, and Hasum, and Hasbadana, Zacharia and Mosollam.
5 And Esdras opened the book before all the people: for he was above
all the people: and when he had opened it, all the people stood.
6 And Esdras blessed the Lord, the great God: and all the people answered:
Amen, amen: lifting up their hands: and they bowed down, and adored God with their faces to the ground.
7 Now Josue, and Bani, and Serebia, Jamin, Accub, Sephthai, Odia, Maasia,
Celita, Azarias, Jozabed, Hanan, Phalaia, the Levites, made silence among the people to hear the law: and the people stood
in their place.
8 And they read in the book of the law of God distinctly and plainly
to be understood: and they understood when it was read.
9 And Nehemias (he is Athersatha) and Esdras, the priest and scribe,
and the Levites, who interpreted to all the people, said: This is a holy day to the Lord, our God: do not mourn, nor weep:
for all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
10 And he said to them: Go, eat fat meats, and drink sweet wine, and
send portions to them that have not prepared for themselves: because it is the holy day of the Lord, and be not sad: for the
joy of the Lord is our strength.
11 And the Levites stilled all the people, saying: Hold your peace, for
the day is holy, and be not sorrowful.
12 So all the people went to eat and drink, and to send portions, and
to make great mirth: because they understood the words that he had taught them.
13 And on the second day the chiefs of the families of all the people,
the priests, and the Levites, were gathered together to Esdras, the scribe, that he should interpret to them the words of
the law.
14 And they found written in the law, that the Lord had commanded by
the hand of Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in tabernacles, on the feast in the seventh month:
15 And that they should proclaim and publish the word in all their cities,
and in Jerusalem, saying: Go forth to the mount, and fetch branches of olive, and branches of beautiful wood, branches of
myrtle, and branches of palm, and branches of thick trees, to make tabernacles, as it is written.
16 And the people went forth, and brought. And they made themselves tabernacles
every man on the top of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water-gate,
and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
17 And all the assembly of them that were returned from the captivity,
*made tabernacles, and dwelt in tabernacles: for since the days of Josue, the son of Nun, the children of Israel had not done
so, until that day: and there was exceedingly great joy.
18 And he read in the book of the law of God, day by day, from the first
day till the last, and they kept the solemnity seven days, and in the eighth day a solemn assembly according to the manner.
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*
1: Year of the World 3551, Year before Christ 453.
17: Leviticus xxiii. 39.
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