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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 9:5-15

What the meditations of Ezra's heart were, while for some hours he sat down astonished, we may guess by the words of his mouth when at length he spoke with his tongue; and a most pathetic address he here makes to Heaven upon this occasion. Observe, I. The time when he made this address?at the evening sacrifice, Ezra 9:5. Then (it is likely) devout people used to come into the courts of the temple, to grace the solemnity of the sacrifice and to offer up their own prayers to God in concurrence... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 9:5

And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my heaviness ,.... The signs and tokens of it, particularly sitting on the ground; or "from my fasting" F14 מתעניתי "jejunio meo", Michaelis; so Jarchi. , having eaten nothing that day, it being early in the morning when he was told the above case: and having rent my garment and my mantle ; which he had done before, and still kept them on him in the same case: fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God ; in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 9:5

Fell upon my knees - In token of the deepest humility. Spread out my hands, as if to lay hold on the mercy of God. We have already had occasion to explain these significant acts. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:1-15

§ 2. REFORMATION OF RELIGION ACCOMPLISHED BY EZRA AT JERUSALEM . 1. The complaint made by the princes to Ezra concerning the mixed marriages ( Ezra 9:1 , Ezra 9:2 ); 2. Ezra's astonishment and horror ( Ezra 9:3 , Ezra 9:4 ); 3. His confession and prayer to God ( Ezra 9:5-15 ); 4. Repentance of the people, and covenant sworn to, on the recommendation of Shechaniah ( Ezra 10:1-5 ); 5. Ezra's fast ( Ezra 10:6 ); 6. Proclamation summoning... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:4-15

Sensibility. Ezra was a man not only of vigorous mind and strong will, with whom things soon took shape and form, but also of keen sensibility, into whose heart things cut deeply, and whose soul was stirred with strong emotion. Therefore he knew not only great joys, but great sorrows also. "Dearly bought the hidden treasure Finer feelings can bestow; Chords that vibrate deepest pleasure Thrill the deepest notes of woe." When he learnt how the children of Israel had gone astray in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:5

At the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness. The time of sacrifice was the fittest time for prayer, especially for a prayer in which acknowledgment of sin was to form a large part. Sacrifice symbolized expiation; and Ezra probably felt that his supplication would be helped by the expiatory rite which was being performed at the time. He rent his garment and his mantle a second time, as a renewed indication of sorrow, and with the view of impressing the people who "were assembled... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:5

The dawn of hope. Here is a graphic scene. Behold Ezra, the chief man of his nation, and a prince of the Persian Empire, with his garment and his mantle rent, his hair and beard torn and disordered, bowed in silent grief, and surrounded by the best men of his people, all trembling at the word of God. But lo! a ray of hope from the fire of the altar kindles in his soul. "And at the evening sacrifice," etc. Here learn— I. THAT THE ONE WAY TO GOD IS THROUGH THE BLOOD ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:5-15

EZRA 'S CONFESSION AND PRAYER TO GOD ( Ezra 9:5-15 ). The most remarkable feature of Ezra's confession is the thoroughness with which he identifies himself with his erring countrymen, blushes for their transgressions, and is ashamed for their misconduct. All their sins he appears to consider as his sins, all their disobedience as his disobedience, all their perils as his perils. Another striking feature is his sense of the exceeding sinfulness of the particular sin of the time... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:5-15

A flood of tears. As we noticed before, and as is here noticed again, the approach of the evening sacrifice seems to have been the first thing which opened Ezra's lips. Speaking to him at last as he sat like a rock (comp. Psalms 105:41 ), it was answered immediately by a mingled outburst of confession and tears. Again by outward gesture expressing his sorrow, but not, as before, his indignation, he added now, by falling on his knees and spreading out his hands, the outward tokens of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:5-15

A good man's sight of sin. I. That the sight of sin AWAKENS WITHIN THE GOOD MAN A SPIRIT OF EARNEST PRAYER . "I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God" ( Ezra 9:5 ). 1. The humility of the prayer. Ezra fell upon his knees in deepest self-abasement; he did not stand erect like the Pharisee in the temple, but smote upon his breast like the publican ( Luke 18:13 ). Surely the sin of God's chosen people could not but inspire humility... read more

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