Pulpit

PULPIT (מִגְדָּל, H4463). The word is common in the OT, and it means simply a raised platform. Ezra stood upon a wooden pupit to read the Scriptures, meaning that he stood upon some kind of raised wooden platform, prob. reached by steps (Neh 8:4). He did not stand by the kind of pulpit found in modern churches.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

pool’-pit: Ne 8:4, "Ezra the scribe stood upon a mighdol of wood." Mighdol is one of the commonest words in the Old Testament and means simply a high object--here a scaffolding or platform (bema, 1 Esdras 9:42). "Tower" (so the Revised Version margin) gives an entirely wrong picture.