Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice ,.... That they might be heard, and to show that they were willing and ready to comply with what was proposed: as thou host said, so must we do ; being convinced of their sin, they saw it was a duty incumbent on them to put away their strange wives, and that there was a necessity of it, to avert the wrath of God from them. read more
As thou hast said , so must we do - They all resolved to do what Ezra then commanded, they did put away their wives, even those by whom they had children; Ezra 10:44 ; : this was a great hardship on the women and children. Though by the Jewish laws such marriages were null and void, yet as the women they had taken did not know these laws, their case was deplorable. However, we may take it for granted that each of them received a portion according to the circumstances of their... read more
A national call. We have traced before the probable influence of Ezra's piety and instructions; how they seem to have aroused the national conscience, and so to have brought to light the secret national sin; and how they afterwards brought together so many of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, first to grieve for it, and then to renounce it, and resolve to suppress it. But these men, however influential, were only a fractional part of the nation. If their resolves were to be carried out... 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
ADDRESS OF EZRA , AND CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE TO PUT AWAY THE STRANGE WIVES ( Ezra 10:10-14 ). Hitherto Ezra seems to have allowed the leading part in the matter to be taken by the civil authorities, whom he had found established in Jerusalem on his arrival ( Ezra 9:1-8 ). Now he came forward boldly, denouncing the sin committed, and as supreme governor commanding the repudiation of the strange wives. The assembled multitude consented, but urged that the matter... read more
Ezra 10:11-12 . Make confession unto the Lord; and do his pleasure You have sinfully pleased yourselves, now please God, by your obedience to his command. And separate yourselves from your strange wives There being no mention made here of putting away their children, but only their wives, it has been thought by some that they kept their children, and, by circumcision, dedicated them to God. For, though Shechaniah proposed the putting them away, yet it may seem not improbable that Ezra, to... read more
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
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 10:6-14
We have here an account of the proceedings upon the resolutions lately taken up concerning the strange wives; no time was lost; they struck when the iron was hot, and soon set the wheels of reformation a-going. 1. Ezra went to the council-chamber where, it is probable, the priests used to meet upon public business; and till he came thither (so bishop Patrick thinks it should be read), till he saw something done, and more likely to be done, for the redress of this grievance, he did neither eat... read more