Ezra 10:6-44

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

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 10:6

Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God ,.... Departed from thence: and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib ; who was of the family of the high priest. Eliashib was grandson of Joshua the high priest, and succeeded his father Joiakim as such; but though Johanan was never high priest, being a younger son, however he was a person of note, and had a chamber in the temple, whither Ezra went, either to advise with the princes and elders in it, Ezra 10:8 or to refresh... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:7

And they made proclamation ,.... By the voice of an herald: throughout Judah and Jerusalem, unto all the children of the captivity ; who were returned from it: that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem ; within a time after mentioned. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:8

And that whosoever would not come within three days ,.... Or at the end of three days, as Jarchi, this was the space of time allowed, and which was decided upon for the quick dispatch of this affair, to prevent any schemes that might be formed to obstruct it, and lest those who had agreed to it, and promised to assist in it, should repent and go from their word: according to the counsel of the princes, and of the elders ; for though Ezra had a commission at large from the king of Persia,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:9

Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin ,.... And such of the ten tribes that returned and dwelt among them: gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days ; the time fixed: which they were the more careful to observe, since it was enjoined by the authority of princes and elders, and the punishment in case of disobedience very severe: it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month ; the month Chisleu, which answers to part of November and part of December, so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:10

And Ezra the priest stood up ,.... In the midst of the assembly to make his speech, acquainting them with the reason of their meeting together: and said unto them, ye have transgressed ; the law of God in the following instance: and have taken strange wives ; of the people of the land and others, idolatrous persons: to increase the trespass of Israel ; to add to former iniquities, which had been the cause of the captivity. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:11

Now therefore make confession to the Lord God of your fathers ,.... Of their sin, and express their detestation of it, and repentance for it: and do his pleasure ; obey his will, and particularly in this case: and separate yourselves from the people of the land ; the Canaanites, &c.; have no fellowship with them, make no covenants, contracts, and alliances with them for the future: and from the strange wives ; they had taken; put them away. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:12

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 10:13

But the people are many ,.... Who have been guilty of this evil: and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without : in the street, because of the rain: neither is this a work of one day or two ; to inquire into this affair, who they are that have taken strange wives, and to persuade or oblige them to put them away: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing ; in marrying strange wives. read more

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