ezra-9:1-9

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:6

I am ashamed and blush. Jeremiah had complained that in his day those who "committed abominations were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush" ( Jeremiah 6:15 ; Jeremiah 8:12 ). Ezra, with these words in his thoughts possibly, begins his confession with a protestation that he at any rate is not open to this reproach—he blushes and burns with shame for the sins of his people . Our iniquities are increased over our head. i.e. have kept on rising like a flood; "gone over our head"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:6-15

Ezra's prayer. While the smoke of the altar rises to heaven from the evening sacrifice, lo! there is Ezra before the temple of the Lord with rent garments and disordered hair, bowed upon his knees, and with lifted hands, pouring out confession of sin in tones of plaintive grief and shame and terror. "O my God,! am ashamed," etc. In this prayer we mark— I. THE CRIME CONFESSED (verses 11, 12). 1. Here were open violations of the law of God. 2. The reasons given for this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:7

Since the days of our fathers. The historical sketches in Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 9:6-35 ) and the Acts ( Acts 7:2-53 ) show that this phrase might be taken in a very wide sense, and be regarded as including the "fathers" of the nation who came out of Egypt; but perhaps Ezra has rather in his mind the series of idolatries belonging to the kingly period, and extending from Solomon to Zedekiah. We , our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:8

And now for a little space grace hath been showed. The "little space" must be understood relatively to the long enjoyment of Divine favour from Abraham to Zedekiah. It was a space of more than eighty years. A remnant to escape. The Hebrew has simply p'leythah , "a remnant," the "remnant" being that which had escaped the two dangers of destruction and absorption, and had returned from Babylon to Palestine. To give us a nail. "A nail" seems to mean here "a firm and sure abode,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:9

For we were bondsmen. Rather, "we are. " The Jews had not recovered their independence. They continued to be the subjects of a despotic monarch, and were therefore 'abddim , "slaves." All the favour shown them by the kings of Persia had not changed this fact. To give us a wall. That is to say, "a shelter." The city wall still lay in ruins (see Nehemiah 1:3 ; Nehemiah 2:13 , etc.). read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:5-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:5-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:5-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:6-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 9:9

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