On the second day were gathered to him the chief of the fathers, the priests, &c. Thus manifesting both humility and serious godliness, in that they chose rather to confess their ignorance, in order that they might be instructed, than vainly to pretend to more knowledge than they had, and were more careful to learn and practise their duty than to preserve their reputation with the people. To understand the words of the law That they might obtain a more perfect knowledge of some things, which they had heard, and partly knew before, and so might instruct the people in them.
Related Commentaries of Nehemiah 8:13
Nehemiah 8:13
13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understandd the words of the law.