2. So Ezra brought it to the place where the people had gathered — men, women, and the children who were old enough to understand.
3. There in the square by the gate he read the Law to them from dawn until noon, and they all listened attentively.
4. Ezra was standing on a wooden platform that had been built for the occasion. The following men stood at his right: Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and the following stood at his left: Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5. As Ezra stood there on the platform high above the people, they all kept their eyes fixed on him. As soon as he opened the book, they all stood up.
6. Ezra said, “Praise the Lord, the great God!”All the people raised their arms in the air and answered, “Amen! Amen!” They knelt in worship, with their faces to the ground.
7. Then they rose and stood in their places, and the following Levites explained the Law to them: Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah.