So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading.
Ver. 8. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly] Exposite, clare, vel cum expositione (Explanate, Junius). They read aloud, and so treatably and plainly, that all might know what they read. Some stumble over the chapter so fast that few are little the better.
And gave the sense] viz. By comparing place with place, and interpreting one Scripture by another. See the like done by St Paul at Damascus, Acts 9:22; he laid one text to another (ουμβιβαζων), as artificers do the several pieces of their work, that they may perfectly agree the one with the other.
Causing the people to understand the reading] Dabant intelligentiam per scripturam ipsam, They gave the meaning though the scriptures themselves. so Tremellias rendereth it. Of the law it may be said, Et latet, et lucet. Both obscure and clear. The prophets are as so many expositors and explainers thereof; they do excellently unfold and draw out that arras A rich tapestry fabric, in which figures and scenes are woven in colours which was folded together before; they give us Moses unveiled. Search the Scriptures, therefore, and compare them. Parallel texts, like glasses, set one against another, do cast a mutual light; like the sun, the Scriptures show other things, and themselves too.