They stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God a fourth part of the day; and a fourth part they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 3. Stand, to hear the law, out of reverence; ( Menochius.) or the Levites ascended the pulpit to read, four times in the day. Tirinus.—After each lecture psalms were sung, ( Calmet.) to praise God, and to declare the sins of the people, and their sincere repentance. Bible.—On days of mourning, the Jews assembled four times to pray, and thrice on other days, by the institution of Esdras. Maimonides. See Acts 3:1.—On their fasts, they refrained from all meat, as well as from work, spending their time in prayer. They began at the first hour, and continued their exercises of devotion till the third, when they recommenced for other three hours. They did the like at the sixth and ninth hours; hearing the law, then prostrating themselves to confess their sins. Afterwards they rose to join with the Levites in praising the Lord. Calmet.