Ezra 9

Ezra is is informed, that the people had grievously offended in making mix marriages with the heathen, vers.1. For which he mourneth exceedingly, and maketh a mournful and fervent prayer unto God in publick, 3, etc.

1. Now when these things were finished, the Princes came near to me, saying; The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, are not separated from the nations of these lands, [Which persisted in the heathenish abominations of Idolatry, with whom God had expressly (Deut.7.2,3, etc. And elsewhere oft) forbidden his people to marry] (doing) according to their abominations, (namely) of the Canaanites, of the Hethites, of the Pherezites, of the Jebusites, of the Ammonites, of the Moabites, of the Egyptians, and of the Amorites.

2. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons, so that the holy seed [That is, the holy generation, which Israel was, in respect of the covenant, that God had made with Abraham and his seed. Comp.Gen.6.2. 1 Cor.7.14.] have mixed themselves with the nations of these lands: yea the hand of the Princes, and Rulers [or, Governors, magistrate, Protectors] hath been the first in this transgression. [Having thus given had example unto others.]

3. Now when I heard this thing, I ret my garment and my mantle: [See Genes.37.on vers.29.] and I plucked out (some) of the hair of mine head, and of my heard, [not out of doubting or despair, or out of superstitition, (forbidden, Levit.19.27.) but out of exceeding great grief and perplexity at this abomination] and sate down astonished. [Or, solitary, desolate.]

4. Then there assembled themselves unto me, all those that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, [That is, those that feared the Lord and his Word from the heart. Compare Isai 66.2,5.] because of the transgression of those that had been carried away: [Hebr. of the carrying away: as above chap.35. and elsewhere often] but I sate still astonished until the evening-offering. [See Exod.29.39, 41.Numb.28.on vers.4.]

5. And about the evening-offering I rose up from my heaviness, when I had now rent my garment, and my mantle. And I bowed my self on my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD, my God.

6. And I said; My God, I am ashamed, and blush, to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our transgressions are multiplied even above (our) head, and our guilt is grown great unto the heaven. [Compare 2 Chron.28.on v.9.]

7. From the days of our Fathers are we in great guilt unto this day: and for our iniquities have we, our kings (and) our Priests, been delivered into the hands of the kings of the lands, in sword, in captivity, and in prey, and in confusion of face, as it is this day.

8. And now as it were, (for) a little moment, grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaping, [That is, some that have escaped: so vers.13,14,15.] and to give us a nail, [that is, some of our estate. Compare Isai 22.23.] in his holy place, [Hebr. in the place of his holiness] to enlighten our eyes, [That is, to refresh, or revive us. Compare 1 Sam.14.27,29.] O our God, and to give us a little life in our bondage [That is, reparation, revving, that we may (as it were) fetch breach; a little forbearance.]

9. For we are bond men; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage; but he hath inclines mercy [As above chapter 7.28.] unto us before the face of the kings of Persia, that he might give us (a little) life, to exalt the house of our God, and to set up the desolations thereof, [that is, to repair and reform the decayed house and worship of God] and to give us a fence [or, Wall; such as are wont to be cast up about vineyards of loose stones] in Juda, and at Jerusalem. [Intimating that God had already in a manner begun to secure and safeguard them against their enemies round about.]

10. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy commandments:

11. Which thou hast commanded by the ministry [Hebr. hand] of thy servants, the Prophets, saying; The land, into which ye go to inherit it, is a filthy land, [Hebr. a land of separation: a comparison taken from a woman, or some other person, that is separated from the company and society of men reason of some uncleanness. See Levit.12.on vers.2. and Numb.19.on ver.9, etc.] through the filthiness of the nations of the lands, because of their abominations, wherewith they have filled it, from the one end to the other end, [Hebr. from mouth to mouth; that is, every where from one end to another: or thus that one uncleanness hath continually followed and succeded another. Compare 2 Kings 10:21 and 21.16.] with their uncleanness.

12. Now then ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, neither shall ye seek their peace, [That is, their welfare, prosperity] or their good, for ever; that ye may grow strong; and eat the good of the land, and cause your children to inherit (it) for ever. [See Gen.17.on v.7.]

13. And after all that is come upon us, for our evil works, and for our great trespass: because thou, O our God, hast hindered (that we) are (not) (quite brought) low by reason of our iniquity, [as thou hast threatened us, Deut.28.43. Others, thou hast kept back (thy self, or, thy wrath, thy rod) beneath our iniquity. That is, thou hast punished us less, than we have deserved by our sins] and hast given us an escaping as this is;

14. Should we now return to frustrate thy commandments, to join in affinity with the nations of these abomination? Wouldest thou not be angry against us, until thou hadst consumed us, (so) that there should be no remnant, nor escaping?

15. O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous, for we are left for an escaping, as it is this day: behold, we are before thy face in our guilt, for there is no man able to stand before thy face, because of this. [Or, with this. The meaning is, Thou art the righteous God, that keepeth his covenant and promise for the Messiah’s sake, who shall satisfy thy justice for the peoples sins; the same appearing thereby, that we are escaped, although burdened and loaden with a great guilt, in respect whereof we were not able to stand before thee, if thou shouldest deal with us according to our deserts. Compare Nehem.9.8,etc.]