Study note

Nehemiah 8:7–9

The Levites were responsible for teaching people God’s word (Deuteronomy 33:10; Malachi 2:5–6). They likely explained the Hebrew Scriptures to smaller groups in Aramaic. Most people spoke Aramaic, the language of Babylon, instead of Hebrew as their first language. Jewish leaders later translated large parts of the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic, so people could hear and study the Bible in a language they understood.