8 ¹ all the people gathered together^(A) at the square in front of the Water Gate.^(B) They asked Ezra the scribe^(C) to bring the book of the law of Moses^(D) that the Lord had given Israel.

⁴ Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform^(A) made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.