And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives ,.... Finished their inquiry and examination of them: by the first day of the first month ; the month Nisan, answering to part of March and April; so that they were three months about this work. read more
The first day of the first month - So they were three whole months in examining into this affair, and making those separations which the law required. read more
The reformations. Roused by the speech of Shechaniah to the work of reformation, Ezra promptly took his measures. These are set forth in the words before us. The consideration of the subject may be conveniently arranged under three heads, viz.— I. THE PROCLAMATION . 1. This was drawn up in the temple (verses 6, 7). 2. Its measures were strong and peremptory. (3) There was also a civil penalty, viz; "that all his substance should be forfeited." The Hebrew for... read more
Sin and repentance. A very memorable scene was witnessed that day, the twentieth of the ninth month, in the year of Ezra's return. All the Israelites of Judah and Benjamin assembled together in the courts of the temple, shaken, troubled, trembling for fear of the anger of an offended God, ready to yield to the demands of his faithful servant who spoke in his name, even to the breaking up of their domestic ties; it was an hour when sin was coming out into the light, and was to be sternly... read more
A satisfactory close. When a nation has openly resolved on the reformation of a national sin, there is still one thing remaining to be accomplished, viz; that reformation itself. This, accordingly, is that which we read of in the remaining part of this chapter. "As thou hast said, so must we do." Such was the resolve of all as expressed in Ezra 10:12 . In Ezra 10:13-44 , which come before us now, we see that resolve carried out. We shall find that it was so carried out, first, with... read more
SETTLEMENT OF THE WHOLE MATTER BY THE REPUDIATION OF THE STRANGE WIVES ( Ezra 10:16 , Ezra 10:17 ). The opposition made did not delay the business more than a few days. The great assembly had been held on the twentieth day of the ninth month. On the first day of the tenth month, little more than a week later, the commission for examining into the matter met under the presidency of Ezra, and commenced proceedings. The method of proceeding suggested at the great... read more
They made an end with all the men . They ran through the whole list of those who were accused of having taken strange wives, and adjudicated on every case, by the first day of the first month , Nisan, corresponding nearly with our April. Deducting Sabbaths, the number of days in the three months would be seventy-five or seventy-six; but it is of course possible that the court did not sit continuously. read more
The business occupied the commission full two months. In some cases, it may be presumed, they had to summon persons before them who did not wish to part with their foreign wives; in all, they had to assure themselves that the wives were foreign; finally, they had in every case where they decreed a divorce to make out the “writing of divorcement” Ezra 10:3. read more
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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