Ezra 9:14 KJV

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 9:14

Should we . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ezra 9:5-15

Ezra’s prayer 9:5-15The priests presented the evening offering (Ezra 9:5) between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Jesus’ day. [Note: Alfred Edersheim, The Temple: Its Ministry and Service, p. 144.] This was the traditional time for this offering. Ezra’s prayer contains four primary characteristics: solidarity, confession, readiness to change, and faith in God’s mercy. [Note: McConville, pp. 63-65.] In his sermonic prayer, Ezra identified with the body of believers, even though he had not personally... 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 9:5-15

(5-15) Ezra’s prayer of confession and deprecation.(5) And at the evening sacrifice I arose up.—Until the afternoon Ezra had sat silent and in grief before the Temple, and in presence of the people. Then, amidst the solemnities of the sacrifice, he uttered the prayer which he had been meditating.(6) And said, O my God.—The confession begins with “O my God;” but Ezra is the representative of the people, and it proceeds “O our God” (Ezra 9:10), without once returning to the first person.(7) Since... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Ezra 9:1-15

FOREIGN MARRIAGESEzra 9:1-15The successful issue of Ezra’s undertaking was speedily followed by a bitter disappointment on the part of its leader, the experience of which urged him to make a drastic reformation that rent many a happy home asunder and filled Jerusalem with the grief of broken hearts.During the obscure period that followed the dedication of the temple-a period of which we have no historical remains-the rigorous exclusiveness which had marked the conduct of the returned exiles... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ezra 9:1-15

CHAPTER 9 1. Ezra’s astonishment and grief (Ezra 9:1-4 ) 2. Ezra’s confession and prayer (Ezra 9:5-15 ) Ezra 9:1-4 . When all these things had been done (that are related in chapter 8:33-36) Ezra was confronted by a very sad condition of the people, and even the priests and the Levites. The princes (civil leaders) came to Ezra and told him that the demanded separation according to the law, between God’s people and the Canaanitish inhabitants of the land, had not been obeyed. The people had... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 9:1-15

HUMBLED BECAUSE OF MIXED MARRIAGES (vv. 1-4) If Ezra expected to engage in the pleasant work of the priesthood, it must have been a keen disappointment to find soon after his arrival that there was very unpleasant work to do.For the priest's work was not only to offer sacrifices to God.He must deal with failure and sin among the people, and such cases were soon brought to his attention by the leaders(v. 1).They reported that, not only had the common people mixed with the peoples of the land,... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Ezra 9:1-15

EZRA AND HIS REFORMS THE COMMISSION AND ITS EXECUTION (Ezra 7-8) The first of these chapters tells who Ezra was (Ezra 7:1-6 ), the date and object of his journey to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:7-10 ), the nature and extent of his commission from the king (Ezra 7:11-26 ), and his feelings in the premises (Ezra 7:27-28 ). The second, gives the number and genealogic record of the Jews who accompanied him (Ezra 7:1-20 ), the spirit in which they entered upon the pilgrimage (Ezra 7:21-25 ), the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Ezra 9:1-15

Ezra 9:0 1. Now when these things were done, the princes [native rulers of Jerusalem] came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations [ rather, as it regards their abominations], even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and... read more