Ezra Reads the Law

8 So all the Israelites met together in the seventh month of the year. They were united and in complete agreement. They all met together in the open place in front of the Water Gate. All the people asked Ezra the teacher to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given to the Israelites. ² So Ezra the priest brought the law before those who had met together. This was on the first day of the month.^[a] It was the seventh month of the year. Men, women, and anyone old enough to listen and understand were at the meeting. ³ Ezra read in a loud voice from the Book of the Law from early morning until noon. He was facing the open place that was in front of the Water Gate. He read to all the men and women, and to everyone old enough to listen and understand. All the people listened carefully and paid attention to the Book of the Law.