1 Ezra encouraged to reform the strange marriages
6 Ezra assembles the people
9 The people repent, and promise amendment
15 The care to perform it
18 The names of them which had married strange wives

when Ezra Da 9:3,4,20 Ac 10:30

when he had Le 26:40,41 Ps 32:5 Ho 14:2 1Jo 1:8-10

weeping Ps 119:136 Jer 9:1 13:17 Zec 12:10 Lu 19:41 Ro 9:2

before the house 1Ki 8:30 9:3 2Ch 20:9

a very great De 31:12 2Ch 20:13 Ne 10:28 Joe 2:16-18 Ac 21:5

very sore. Heb. a great weeping Jud 2:4,5 Ne 8:9

2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

Shechaniah 26 Ne 3:29

Elam 2:7,31 Ne 7:12,34

We have trespassed (Shechaniah here speaks in the name of the people, not acknowledging himself culpable; for he is not in the following list.)

Compare Jas 2:9 Ex 34:12 Ne 13:27

yet now there is hope Ex 34:6,7 Isa 55:6,7 Jer 3:12,13 1Jo 1:7-9

3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

let us make. Nichrath berith, 'let us cut a covenant:' see on De 29:12 Jos 9:6 2Ki 11:17 2Ch 29:10 34:31,32 Ne 9:38 10:29

put away. Heb. bring forth. according to the counsel 2Ch 30:12

of those that 9:4 2Ch 34:21,27 Ps 119:59,120 Isa 66:2 Eze 9:4

at the commandment De 7:2,3 Jos 23:12,13

let it Ne 8:14 13:1-3 Isa 8:20 (Shechaniah's counsel, which he was then so clear in, will not hold now: such marriages, it is certain, are contrary to the will of God, and ought not to be made; but they are not null. Our rule under the gospel is Quod fieri non debuit, factum valet, 'That which ought not to have been done must, when done, abide.') See 1Co 7:12,13

4 Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.

Arise Jos 7:10 1Ch 22:16,19 Ec 9:10

for this matter (By the decree of Artaxerxes, Ezra was authorised to do every thing that the law of God required.) 7:23-28 Mr 13:34

we also will Jos 1:16-18 1Ch 28:10,21

be of good Isa 35:3,4 Heb 10:24 12:12,13

5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.

arose Pr 1:5 9:9 15:23 25:11,12 27:9

made 3 Ne 5:12 10:29 13:25 Mt 26:63

6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

the chamber Ne 13:5

Johanan Ne 3:1,20 12:10,22 13:28

he did eat De 9:18 Job 23:12 Joh 4:31-34

he mourned 9:4 Isa 22:12 Da 9:3

7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;

they made 1:1 2Ch 30:5

8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.

And that whosoever 7:26 Jud 21:5 1Sa 11:7

forfeited. Heb. devoted Le 27:28 Jos 6:19

himself separated Ne 13:3 Mt 18:17 Joh 9:22,34 16:2 1Co 5:13

9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

the ninth month (That is, some time in December, which is the coldest and most rainy time of the year in Palestine. Dr. Russel, in his account of the weather at Aleppo, which very much resembles that in Judea, says, that the natives reckon the severity of the winter, which they call marbania, to last but forty days, beginning from the 12th of December, and ending the 20th of January, and that this computation comes in fact very near the truth: and that the air during this time is excessively piercing, even to those that are just come from a cold climate.) 7:8,9 Es 2:16

trembling 1Sa 12:17,18 Jer 10:10,13

great rain. Heb. showers

10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.

taken. Heb. caused to dwell. or, brought back. to increase 9:6 Nu 32:14 Jos 22:17,18 2Ch 28:13 Mt 23:32

11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

make confession Le 26:40-42 Jos 7:19 Ps 32:5 Pr 28:13 Jer 3:13 1Jo 1:7-9

do his Isa 1:16-18 56:4 Ro 12:2 Col 1:10 Heb 13:21

separate 9:1 Ne 13:3 2Co 6:17

and from the De 7:3,4 1Co 2:12-14

12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.

As thou hast said (They all resolved to do what Ezra had commanded; and they did put away their wives, even those by whom they had children, (ver. 44,) each of whom doubtless received a portion according to the circumstances of her husband, and was not turned away desolate. Humanity must have dictated this, and no law of God is contrary to humanity.)

so must we do 3,4 Ne 13:23 Ps 78:37,57

13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.

the people 18-44 Mt 7:13,14

we are many that have transgressed in this thing. or, we have greatly offended in this thing

14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.

our rulers De 17:9,18,19 2Ch 19:5-7

the fierce Nu 25:4 De 13:17 Jos 7:26 2Ch 29:10 30:8 Ps 78:38 Isa 12:1

for this matter be turned from us. or, be turned from us, till this matter be dispatched

15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

were employed. Heb. stood. Meshullam Ne 3:6 10:20 12:33

Shabbethai Ne 11:16

16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

to examine the matter De 13:14 Job 29:16 Joh 7:51

17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.

A.M. 3548. B.C. 456. the first day (The cases brought before the council were either so many, or so complicated, that, though they separated themselves from other employments, yet they were three whole months in examining into their affairs, and making the necessary separations required by the law.)

18 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.

the sons 9:1 Le 21:7,13-15 1Sa 2:22-24 Ne 13:28 Jer 23:11,14 Eze 44:22 Mal 2:8,9 1Ti 3:11

Jeshua. See on 2:2 3:2 5:2 1Ch 6:14,15 Ne 12:10 Hag 1:1 Zec 3:1

Joshua. Maaseiah Ne 8:4,7

19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.

gave their hands (They bound themselves in the most solemn manner to do as the rest of the delinquents had done, and make and acknowledgment to God of their iniquity, by offering each a ram for a trespass offering.) 2Ki 10:15 1Ch 29:24 2Ch 30:8 La 5:6 Ga 2:9

a ram Le 5:15,16 6:4,6

20 And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.

Immer 2:37 1Ch 24:14 Ne 7:40

21 And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.

Harim 2:39 1Ch 24:8 Ne 7:42

22 And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

Pashur 2:38 1Ch 9:12 Ne 7:41

23 Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

Jozabad 8:33 Ne 11:16

Kelita Ne 10:10

24 Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.

25 Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.

Moreover of Israel (That is, as Calmet observes, simple Israelites; thus distinguished from the priests, Levites, and singers, mentioned in ver. 18, 23, 24.)

sons of Parosh 2:3 Ne 7:8

26 And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.

Elam 2 2:7,31 8:7 Ne 7:12,34

Jehiel 2

27 And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

Zattu 2:8 Ne 7:13

28 Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

Bebai 2:11 8:11 Ne 7:16

29 And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.

Bani 2:10 Ne 7:15

Binnui. Malluch Ne 10:4

30 And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.

Pahath-moab 2:6 8:4 Ne 7:11

31 And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

Harim 2:32 Ne 7:35

Malchiah (This variation only exists in the translation, the original being uniformly Malchijah, or rather, Malkeeyah.) Ne 3:11

Malchijah

32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

33 Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

Hashum 2:19 Ne 7:22

34 Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,

Bani 29

35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,

36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,

38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,

39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,

40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

Machnadebai. or, Mabnadebai, according to some copies

41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

43 Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.

Nebo 2:29 Ne 7:33

44 All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

strange wives Pr 2:16 5:3,20

and some of them (This observation was probably intended to shew that only a few of them had children, and also how rigorously the law was put in execution. According to a passage in Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho, a Jew, Ezra offered a paschal lamb on this occasion, and addressed the people thus: 'And Ezra said to the people, This pass-over is our Saviour and our Refuge; and if ye will be persuaded of it, and let it enter into your hearts, that we are to humble to Him in a sign, and afterwards shall believe in Him, this place shall not be destroyed for ever, saith the Lord of hosts; but, if ye will not believe in Him, nor hearken to his preaching, ye shall be a laughing-stock to the Gentiles.' This was probably a marginal note added by some early Christian.

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE BOOK OF EZRA

This book details the events of a very interesting period of the Sacred History, when, according to the decree of Providence, the Jewish people were to be delivered from their captivity, at the expiration of seventy years, and restored to the land of their fathers. This book informs us how the Divine goodness accomplished this most gracious design, and the movers and agents He employed on the occasion. Ezra was undoubtedly the chief agent under God in effecting this arduous work; and his zeal, piety, knowledge, and discretion, appear here in a most conspicuous point of view, and claim our utmost admiration. Descended from Seraiah, in a direct line from Aaron, he seems to have united all the requisites of a profound statesmen with the functions of the sacerdotal character. He appears to have made the Sacred Scriptures, during the captivity, his peculiar study; and, perhaps assisted by Nehemiah and the great synagogue, he corrected the errors which had crept into the Sacred Writings, through the negligence or mistake of transcribers; he collected all the books of which the Sacred Scriptures then consisted, disposed them in their proper order, and settled the canon of Scriptures for his time; he occasionally added, under the dictation of the Holy Spirit, whatever appeared necessary for the purpose of illustrating, completing, or connecting them; he substituted the modern for the ancient names of some places, which had now become obsolete; and transcribed the whole of the Scriptures into the Chaldee character. He is said to have lived to the age of 120 years, and, according to Josephus, was buried in Jerusalem; but the Jews believe he died in Persia, in a second journey to Artaxerxes, where his tomb is shown in the city of Zamusa. Though not styled a prophet, he wrote under the Divine Spirit; and the canonical authority of his book has never been disputed. It is written with all the spirit and fidelity that could be displayed by a writer of contemporary times; and those parts which chiefly consist of letters, decrees, etc., are written in Chaldee, because it seemed more suitable to the fidelity of a sacred historian to give these official documents, as they may be termed, in the original language, especially as the people, recently returned from the captivity, were familiar, and perhaps more conversant with the Chaldee, than with the Hebrew.