Also day by day … . he read in the book of the law. Ezra must be intended in the form "he read," though there has been no mention of him since verse 13. The continuous and systematic reading seems to imply that the year was a Sabbatical one, and that the rehearsal commanded in Deuteronomy 31:10-13 now took place. The observance was perhaps a new thing to the newly-formed community, and is therefore recorded with so much emphasis. They kept the feast seven days. See Le 23:34; Numbers 29:12-34; Deuteronomy 16:13. On the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the manner. Such a mode of solemnising the octave was commanded in Le 23:36 and Numbers 29:35. By "according to the manner" seems to be meant "according to the regularly established custom"—one proof out of many that the feast had been constantly observed, though not perhaps with all the proper ceremonies (see the comment on Numbers 29:17).
HOMILETICS