7 Since the days H3117 of our fathers H1 have we been in a great H1419 trespass H819 unto this day; H3117 and for our iniquities H5771 have we, our kings, H4428 and our priests, H3548 been delivered H5414 into the hand H3027 of the kings H4428 of the lands, H776 to the sword, H2719 to captivity, H7628 and to a spoil, H961 and to confusion H1322 of face, H6440 as it is this day. H3117
8 And now for a little H4592 space H7281 grace H8467 hath been shewed from the LORD H3068 our God, H430 to leave H7604 us a remnant to escape, H6413 and to give H5414 us a nail H3489 in his holy H6944 place, H4725 that our God H430 may lighten H215 our eyes, H5869 and give H5414 us a little H4592 reviving H4241 in our bondage. H5659
9 For we were bondmen; H5650 yet our God H430 hath not forsaken H5800 us in our bondage, H5659 but hath extended H5186 mercy H2617 unto us in the sight H6440 of the kings H4428 of Persia, H6539 to give H5414 us a reviving, H4241 to set up H7311 the house H1004 of our God, H430 and to repair H5975 the desolations H2723 thereof, and to give H5414 us a wall H1447 in Judah H3063 and in Jerusalem. H3389
10 And now, O our God, H430 what shall we say H559 after H310 this? for we have forsaken H5800 thy commandments, H4687
11 Which thou hast commanded H6680 by H3027 thy servants H5650 the prophets, H5030 saying, H559 The land, H776 unto which ye go H935 to possess H3423 it, is an unclean H5079 land H776 with the filthiness H5079 of the people H5971 of the lands, H776 with their abominations, H8441 which have filled H4390 it from one end H6310 to another H6310 with their uncleanness. H2932
12 Now therefore give H5414 not your daughters H1323 unto their sons, H1121 neither take H5375 their daughters H1323 unto your sons, H1121 nor seek H1875 their peace H7965 or their wealth H2896 for H5704 ever: H5769 that ye may be strong, H2388 and eat H398 the good H2898 of the land, H776 and leave it for an inheritance H3423 to your children H1121 for ever. H5769
13 And after H310 all that is come H935 upon us for our evil H7451 deeds, H4639 and for our great H1419 trespass, H819 seeing that thou our God H430 hast punished H2820 us less H4295 than our iniquities H5771 deserve, and hast given H5414 us such deliverance H6413 as this;
14 Should we again H7725 break H6565 thy commandments, H4687 and join in affinity H2859 with the people H5971 of these abominations? H8441 wouldest not thou be angry H599 with us till thou hadst consumed H3615 us, so that there should be no remnant H7611 nor escaping? H6413
15 O LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 thou art righteous: H6662 for we remain H7604 yet escaped, H6413 as it is this day: H3117 behold, we are before H6440 thee in our trespasses: H819 for we cannot stand H5975 before H6440 thee because of this.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezra 9
Commentary on Ezra 9 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 9
Ezr 9:1-4. Ezra Mourns for the Affinity of the People with Strangers.
1, 2. Now when these things were done—The first days after Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem were occupied in executing the different trusts committed to him. The nature and design of the office with which the royal authority had invested him was publicly made known to his own people by the formal delivery of the contribution and the sacred vessels brought from Babylon to the priests to be deposited in the temple. Then his credentials were privately presented to the provincial governors; and by this prudent, orderly proceeding he put himself in the best position to avail himself of all the advantages guaranteed him by the king. On a superficial view everything contributed to gratify his patriotic feelings in the apparently flourishing state of the church and country. But a further acquaintance discovered the existence of great corruptions, which demanded immediate correction. One was particularly brought under his notice as being the source and origin of all others; namely, a serious abuse that was practised respecting the law of marriage.
the princes came to me, saying—The information they lodged with Ezra was to the effect that numbers of the people, in violation of the divine law (De 7:2, 3), had contracted marriages with Gentile women, and that the guilt of the disorderly practice, far from being confined to the lower classes, was shared in by several of the priests and Levites, as well as of the leading men in the country. This great irregularity would inevitably bring many evils in its train; it would encourage and increase idolatry, as well as break down the barriers of distinction which, for important purposes, God had raised between the Israelites and all other people. Ezra foresaw these dangerous consequences, but was overwhelmed with a sense of the difficulty of correcting the evil, when matrimonial alliances had been formed, families had been reared, affections engaged, and important interests established.
3. when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, &c.—the outer and inner garment, which was a token not only of great grief, but of dread at the same time of the divine wrath;
plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard—which was a still more significant sign of overpowering grief.
4. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, &c.—All the pious people who reverenced God's word and dreaded its threatenings and judgments joined with Ezra in bewailing the public sin, and devising the means of redressing it.
I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice—The intelligence of so gross a violation of God's law by those who had been carried into captivity on account of their sins, and who, though restored, were yet unreformed, produced such a stunning effect on the mind of Ezra that he remained for a while incapable either of speech or of action. The hour of the evening sacrifice was the usual time of the people assembling; and at that season, having again rent his hair and garments, he made public prayer and confession of sin.
Ezr 9:5-15. Prays to God.
5-15. I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God—The burden of his prayer, which was dictated by a deep sense of the emergency, was that he was overwhelmed at the flagrant enormity of this sin, and the bold impiety of continuing in it after having, as a people, so recently experienced the heavy marks of the divine displeasure. God had begun to show returning favor to Israel by the restoration of some. But this only aggravated their sin, that, so soon after their re-establishment in their native land, they openly violated the express and repeated precepts which commanded them to extirpate the Canaanites. Such conduct, he exclaimed, could issue only in drawing down some great punishment from offended Heaven and ensuring the destruction of the small remnant of us that is left, unless, by the help of divine grace, we repent and bring forth the fruits of repentance in an immediate and thorough reformation.