coming to occupy pride of place in the religious life of the people, and that it was already more important than the offering of victims for the purpose of sacrifice. When they hear the commandments of the Law read out, the people weep because they have not been keeping some of them and they are afraid that God will punish them on that account. But Ezra and the Levites make them see that what they have to do is to start again, on that day, for it is a “holy” day. It was the festival day of the new