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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 10:19-43

And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives ,.... They proposed to do it, and actually did it: and being guilty ; of which they were fully convinced: they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass ; to make atonement for it, and thereby set an example to others to do the like. Aben Ezra observes, that we do not find that the trespass offering was a mulct to such who married strange wives, and conjectures, that it was the advice of the chief men to do it. From... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 10:6-44

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 10:9-44

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 10:13-44

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 10:18-44

THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAD MARRIED THE STRANGE WIVES ( Ezra 10:18-44 ). Aware of the danger that the nation might relapse into the sin which he was seeking to root out, Ezra punishes the wrong-doers by placing their names on record, that others might fear to do the like. He assigns the first place in his catalogue of offenders to the priests, doubtless because in them the sin was greatest; they, as the special custodians of the Law, were most bound to have observed the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezra 10:18-44

Compare with the list in Ezra 2:0.Ezra 10:19They gave their hands - i. e., “solemnly pledged themselves” (compare the marginal references).Ezra 10:44The guilty persons, it would seem, were 113 in number. They comprised 4 members of the high priest’s family, 13 other priests, 10 Levites, and 86 lay Israelites belonging to at least 10 distinct families. The fact noted in the second clause of the verse must have increased the difficulity of Ezra’s task. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:1-44

The problem solved (10:1-44)People heard of Ezra’s grief and gathered with their families to meet him. They confessed their wrongdoing and promised on oath before Ezra that they would correct it (10:1-5). But the problem could not be solved in a day, for it was widespread and its consequences were far-reaching. Ezra therefore went away to a quiet room in a friend’s house where he could spend the night considering the matter before God. The result was that a meeting of all families was arranged... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ezra 10:16-44

The completion of the proceedings 10:16-44The people were able to complete the divorce proceedings in three months (Ezra 10:9; Ezra 10:17). A total of 113 Israelites had married and now divorced their foreign wives, only a small fraction of the total number of Jews then living in Judah. Of these, 16 were priests and 10 were Levites, about 25 percent of the total 113. Perhaps no Jewish women had married any Gentile men. A more likely possibility is that since women could not divorce their... read more

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