And he closed the book,.... "Or rolled it up"; and so the high priest did, after he read in the book of the law, on the day of atonement, all that was necessary to be read, hrwt rpo llwg, "he rolled the book of the law", and put it in his bosom :and he gave it again to the minister; the Chazan , who was the minister, or servant of the congregation, who had the affairs of it upon him, to let in, and bring out, and to order all things; and particularly to take care of the book of the law, and the chest, or ark in which it was.
If the same rule was observed giving and taking the book of any prophet, as the book of the law; then Christ gave it to the minister, and he received it with his right hand: for so it is said ,"he that gives the book of the law to his friend, may not give it but with the right hand; and he that receives it may not receive it but with the right hand; for so was the giving of it on Mount Sinai, according to De 33:2.'
'And sat down; as was the manner of the Jews, when they taught, or preached; See Gill on "Mt 5:1".and the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him: they looked very wistly at him, and were very attentive to what he should say, upon such a passage of Scripture, which they knew referred to the Messiah; and the rather, as they had known him formerly, and had heard that he was said to be the Messiah.
Misn. Yoma, c. 7. sect. 1. Bartenora in Misn. Sota, c. 7. sect. 7. Massechet Sopherirn, c. 3. sect.