Ezra 9:5 - Exposition

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 unto him" (verse 4) the more, and stirring them up to penitence. " Segnius irritant animum demissa per aures Quam quae sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus. "