John Trapp on Nehemiah 8:5

Verſe 5. And Ezra opened the Book] Gods Book: not Ariſtotles Ethiks, as Melancthon ſaith, he heard ſome Popiſh Prieſts preaching upon Texts thence taken. And C[illegible: 1 letter]roloſtadius was eight years Doctour, when he firſt opened the Bible: and yet at the taking of his degree, he had been pronounced Sufficientiſſimus.

For he was above all the people] Both in place, and office: as repreſenting the perſon of God, and bearing his Name unto his People.

All the people ſtood up] For reverence ſake. So did Eglon that fat King of Moab, when he heard of a meſſage from God, Judg. 3.20. Balaam being to utter his parable, biddes Balak ariſe up and hear him. Our Saviour ſtood up to read his Text. Luk. 4.16. Conſtantine the Great, and our King Edward the ſixth would not hear a Sermon but ſtanding. The modern Jewes ſhew their reverence to their Law by a like geſture; and their adoration is by bowing forward of their bodies: for, kneeling they uſe none, neither ſtir they their bonnets in their Synagogues, but remain ſtill covered.