Ezra 9:1, Ezra 9:12, Ezra 9:2 KJV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezra 9:1

Abominations - The mixed marriages had prevented that complete separation of the people of God from the idolatrous rites, or “abominations,” which the Law required, and which was necessary for purity of religion. See 1 Kings 11:2 note. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezra 9:1

Ezra 9:1. The princes came to me Those who feared God, and understood that Ezra was come with a large commission and ample powers from the king, and with a design to reform all disorders, whereof this which they came to complain of was not the least: saying, The people, and the priests, &c., have not separated themselves from the people of the lands From the heathen nations round about them, which God had expressly commanded them to do, (Deuteronomy 7:2-3,) but have associated with... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezra 9:1-15

9:1-10:44 THE PROBLEM OF MIXED MARRIAGESEzra’s grief (9:1-15)One of the first problems that Ezra dealt with was that of mixed marriages. Israelite men had married non-Israelite wives and had families by them. The practice was widespread and involved even the leaders of the community. If allowed to continue, it could destroy Israel’s religion and even Israel’s identity as a distinct race (9:1-2).When told of the matter, Ezra was overcome with grief and shame. He turned to God to confess the sin... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ezra 9:1

the princes. Not all of them. Compare Ezra 9:2 . People of Israel. See note on Ezra 2:2 and 1 Kings 12:17 . people = peoples, or nations. Canaanites. Contrary to the law (Exodus 34:12-16 . Deuteronomy 7:1-3 ). See App-23 and App-25 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ezra 9:1

EZRA'S PRAYERFUL RESPONSE TO THE MIXED MARRIAGES OF ISRAEL WITH PAGANSActually, both of these final chapters of Ezra are devoted to the solution of the problem presented by Israel's intermarriage with foreigners. It is easy for us to see how this problem developed. In the first place there might have been a shortage of women in that company of returnees which came with Zerubbabel; and again, the great men of Israel's history had repeatedly taken foreign wives. Both Abraham and Joseph had... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ezra 9:1

Ver. 1. The people of Israel and the priests, &c.— See Deuteronomy 7:3. The manner in which Ezra is said to have expressed his concern for the people's unlawful marriages is, by rending his garment and his mantle, ver. 3 i.e. both his inner and upper garment, which was a token not only of great grief and sorrow, but of his apprehension likewise of the divine displeasure; and by pulling off the hair of his head and beard, which was still a higher sign of exceeding great grief among other... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ezra 9:1

1, 2. Now when these things were done—The first days after Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem were occupied in executing the different trusts committed to him. The nature and design of the office with which the royal authority had invested him was publicly made known to his own people by the formal delivery of the contribution and the sacred vessels brought from Babylon to the priests to be deposited in the temple. Then his credentials were privately presented to the provincial governors; and by this... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ezra 9:1-4

The news of apostasy 9:1-4The Mosaic Law strictly forbade intermarriage with the native Canaanites (Exodus 34:11-16; Deuteronomy 7:1-5). Furthermore, intermarriage with other non-Israelites had resulted in tragic consequences in Israel’s earlier history (cf. 1 Kings 11:1-8)."Thus the action in Ezra 10 is not directed against inter-Israelite marriages between the returnees and the ’peoples of the land’ but specifically against Israel’s old wilderness and early conquest enemies, namely, the... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 9:1-15

Ezra’s Indignation at Intermarriages with the Heathen1. The Canaanites, etc.] In the Law it was only with the various Canaanite nations that marriage was altogether forbidden (Exodus 34:12-16; Deuteronomy 7:1-3). David was descended from a union between an Israelite and a Moabitess (Ruth 1:4; Ruth 4:17), and Solomon had married an Egyptian princess without reproach (1 Kings 3:1). But the principle which excluded alliances with certain nations was doubtless felt to be applicable to others also,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ezra 9:1-4

IX.(1) Now when these things were done.—The remainder of the book is occupied with the execution of Ezra’s function as a moral reformer. One chief disorder is mentioned, that of the mixed marriages (Ezra 9:2), which the new lawgiver evidently regarded as fatal to the purity of the Divine service, and to the design of God in separating for a season this peculiar people.(1-4) The report of the abuse of mixed marriages is formally brought before Ezra.(1) The princes—Heads of tribes, native rulers... read more