Ezra 10:1-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 10:1-5

We are here told, I. What good impressions were made upon the people by Ezra's humiliation and confession of sin. No sooner was it noised in the city that their new governor, in whom they rejoiced, was himself in grief, and to so great a degree, for them and their sin, than presently there assembled to him a very great congregation, to see what the matter was and to mingle their tears with his, Ezra 10:1. Our weeping for other people's sins may perhaps set those a weeping for them themselves... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 10:6-14

We have here an account of the proceedings upon the resolutions lately taken up concerning the strange wives; no time was lost; they struck when the iron was hot, and soon set the wheels of reformation a-going. 1. Ezra went to the council-chamber where, it is probable, the priests used to meet upon public business; and till he came thither (so bishop Patrick thinks it should be read), till he saw something done, and more likely to be done, for the redress of this grievance, he did neither eat... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 10:15-44

The method of proceeding in this matter being concluded on, and the congregation dismissed, that each in his respective place might gain and give intelligence to facilitate the matter, we are here told, 1. Who were the persons that undertook to manage the matter and bring the causes regularly before the commissioners?Jonathan and Jahaziah, two active men, whether of the priests or of the people does not appear; probably they were the men that made that proposal (Ezra 10:13, 14) and were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:1

Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping ,.... Had confessed the sins of the people in prayer and supplication, with many tears: and casting himself down before the house of God ; in the outward court before the temple, his face turned towards it, where he lay prostrate: there assembled to him out of Israel a very great congregation of men, and women, and children ; it was quickly spread abroad, both in Jerusalem and places adjacent, that such a great man, a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:2

And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra ,.... This man seems to be one of those that now came with Ezra from Babylon, see Ezra 8:3 , we have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land ; not that he had taken any himself, being but just come into the land, nor is his name in the list of those that had; but inasmuch as many of the nation, of which he was a part, and his own father, and several of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:3

Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God ,.... Renew our covenant with him, and lay ourselves under fresh obligation by promise and oath, and unanimously agree to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them ; he means all the strange wives, such marriages being unlawful; and such wives might the more easily be put away, since bills of divorce were in frequent use with the Jews, and the children of such also being illegitimate; and the rather they were to be put away,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:4

Arise ,.... From the ground, where he lay prostrate: for this matter belongeth unto thee ; as a priest and scribe of the law, well versed in it, and therefore could direct what was to be done according to it; and as a ruler under the king of Persia, and a commissioner of his, to inquire whether the law of God was observed by the Jews, Ezra 7:14 and so had authority to put the law in execution: we also will be with thee ; to help and assist in the reformation of this evil: be of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:5

Then arose Ezra ,.... From the ground where he lay: and made the chief priests, and the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word : he took an oath of all that were present to do what was proposed, namely, to put away strange wives and their children: and they sware ; by means of which they were kept to their word of promise, an oath being a solemn, sacred, thing. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:6

Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God ,.... Departed from thence: and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib ; who was of the family of the high priest. Eliashib was grandson of Joshua the high priest, and succeeded his father Joiakim as such; but though Johanan was never high priest, being a younger son, however he was a person of note, and had a chamber in the temple, whither Ezra went, either to advise with the princes and elders in it, Ezra 10:8 or to refresh... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:7

And they made proclamation ,.... By the voice of an herald: throughout Judah and Jerusalem, unto all the children of the captivity ; who were returned from it: that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem ; within a time after mentioned. read more

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