And Ezra the scribe stood upon a high stage of wood, which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkijah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddana, Zechariah, Meshullam.
The scene is an open square in Jerusalem, the wall finished, and the whole people asking for the book of the law. Verse 4 stops on details that look small: a wooden stand built for the day, and thirteen named men at Ezra's shoulders. Commentators find in them a picture of how God's people give His word its place.
The stand had a plain purpose. A crowd that size had to see the reader and hear him. One writer notes that purpose, and the honour God gave the men who stood beside Ezra. His older translation says "pulpit" where the ESV says "a wooden platform":
First, we are told that Ezra "stood upon a pulpit" (or tower) "of wood, which they had made for the purpose." The aim, just as today, was that everyone in the congregation could see him and hear him. Six men stood beside him on his right hand, and seven on his left. The Spirit of God has kept their names on record, for it was a memorable day, and the privilege given to them of standing by Ezra was great.
That day still teaches anyone who reads and explains the Bible to others.
This public reading was a great occasion. It gives us valuable instruction, above all for those who minister the word in public. Ezra stood on a platform, so that both he and the book he read from were in full view of the people. Others helped to make the meaning plain to all who listened.
Ezra stood high, and the book stood higher — opened above the heads of the crowd. One writer compares the scene with King Josiah:
As Josiah had done before him (2 Kings 23:3), Ezra stood on a raised platform, with the elders, or chief fathers, at his right and at his left. With a solemn gesture he opens the book in the sight of all the people and above their heads. So he gives the law the place of authority that belonged to it. Then he blesses Jehovah, the great God. It was in this book that God had revealed Himself and claimed their obedience.
A long list of names is easy to skip. Yet one writer sees God's own approval in the fact that Scripture keeps them.
They read the word of God clearly and gave the sense, so that the people might understand the reading. And God showed His approval of this return to His word by recording the names of those who had a special part in this work. Some stood with Ezra and turned to God in praise when the book was opened; others read the word and gave its sense (4-8).
Commentators read the arrangement in different ways. One finds a picture of shared service in the numbers themselves:
Ezra stood on a wooden platform, made for this purpose, so that all the people could see him and hear his voice. Six men stood at his right hand, making 7 with Ezra himself, and seven at his left. This symbolizes complete fellowship, for 14 is 7 x 2. Seven is the complete number, and two speaks of testimony or fellowship.
Another writer says the men shared the reading itself, and finds meaning in their names:
Alongside of Ezra were thirteen men; in all, counting in Ezra, fourteen men faced the people. They probably took turns in reading from the law. Their names are interesting if we look at their meaning: Mattithiah (gift of the LORD); Shema (hearing); Anaiah (answer of the LORD); Uriah (the LORD is Light); Hilkiah (portion of the LORD); Maaseiah (work of the LORD); Mishael (who is as God is); Malchijah (King is the LORD); Hashum (wealthy); Hashbaddanah (esteemed by judging); Zechariah (the LORD remembers); Meshullam (reward). These names point to the Word itself.
- Built — they made the platform "for the purpose," so the whole congregation could see Ezra and hear the book read.
- Raised — Ezra stood high so the opened book could be held above the people. That gave the law the place of authority which belonged to it.
- Shared — thirteen men stood at his right and left, and they probably took turns reading. The work of the word was never one man's alone.
- Recorded — God kept every name. That was His approval of the men who brought His people back to His word.
- Applied — the pattern still guides public ministry: the speaker in view, the book at the centre, helpers ready to make the meaning plain.
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
Ezra opened a scroll on a wooden platform, and a whole nation rose to its feet. Why did the crowd stand, and why did the reader need a height?
This reading came after the people had returned to the land and taken their true place before God. One writer sees that setting as the reason the law could finally take hold.
Notice, friends: they studied, learned, and profited from the law of the Lord after they had found themselves in their true position. You will never find that men grow in knowledge while in a false position. No doubt they may learn enough of the gospel to bring their souls to God. They may learn certain moral duties too, and we must thank God for it. But never expect understanding of the mind of God unless you are where God would have you be.
Another writer puts the principle in one line for God's people now.
The abounding evils demand separation, and separation makes obedience to the word of God possible.
Ezra stood above the crowd for a plain, practical reason.
First, Ezra stood on a wooden platform, or tower, which they had made for this purpose. The aim, as in our own day, was that the whole crowd could see and hear him.
The height made Ezra easy to see. The crowd's attention went elsewhere.
Ezra is named here several times. Yet the verse says, "the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law." It was the commandment of God that had its effect on the people. God used the servant, but the people's thoughts went to the law itself.
Everyone rose the moment Ezra opened the scroll. That reaction had a history. The Lord had first spoken those same words at Sinai, the mountain where He gave Israel His law.
This was no mere form, for the book Ezra opened was the voice of the living God to the people, and they acknowledged it as such by reverently standing. The Lord had first spoken its words at Sinai, "out of the midst of the fire." Israel had trembled before the holy One who spoke them, and begged that He would not speak that word to them any more. Those who now stood before Ezra were bound to remember all of it. So they stood up, as in the presence of their God.
What they believed about the scroll shaped what they did with their bodies. One writer draws a sharp contrast with our own day.
Then Ezra unrolled the parchment where all the people could see it. All the people showed great reverence to the Word by standing up… Ezra and the people believed that what they read is the Word of God. So came this reverence, this praise, this attitude of submission. How little reverence for the Word of God our generation shows.
How people hold themselves in a meeting is a small thing. One writer reads it as a sign of their spiritual state.
When things are spiritually barren and in decline, you can often notice God's people settling into easy positions during praise or prayer. But the moment the Spirit shows His power, all this changes. Those most under His influence at once take the posture — kneeling or standing — that best suits the presence of God.
Notice the order. Before they heard a single command, the people were on their feet and God Himself filled their view.
We see that before the Word regulated the people in any way, God Himself came before their souls. It is a grand start to the understanding of divine truth if God has His rightful place in our affections.
One writer pictures the whole scene at once: the reading, the standing, the blessing, the worship.
Ezra read on a raised platform, with elders standing on either side. The people stood up at the opened book, and Ezra blessed Jehovah. They lifted their hands, answered Amen, Amen, and bowed in worship to the ground. It was a beautiful and moving sight… It was no empty superstitious ceremony.
- Place first. You grow in the knowledge of God's mind when you stand where God wants you. In the wrong place, that growth does not come.
- Platform second. The platform existed so the crowd could see and hear Ezra. God used the servant; the people's attention went to the book.
- Posture third. Standing at the opened scroll was not empty form. They rose as if in God's presence, for He had spoken those words at Sinai.
- Proof fourth. Easy postures mark spiritual decline. When the Spirit works, people take the posture that suits God's presence.
- Praise last. God Himself came before their souls first, before any command shaped their conduct. The open book ended in "Amen, Amen" and faces to the ground.