Ezra
Ezra 9
Chapter IX · Vol. II, pp. 903–905
1 Ezra mourneth for the intermarriages of the people with strangers. 5 He prayeth unto God with confession of sins.
1 Now, when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel,1 and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
1 By comparing ver. 1, 2, the princes seem to have become first sensible of the popular sin in which they had been the original leaders. This is no uncommon event—men, for example, discover the evil of drunkenness, not so readily from their own feeling of its effects in themselves as from seeing them exemplified in the folly, madness, and ruin of others.—C.
2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons; so that the fholy2 seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
f 1 Co.7.14. Ge.6.2. Mal.2.7,8,11. ch.10.18-44.
2 So the Israelites were called, because of God's covenant with them, by which they were separated from all others and constituted a peculiar people.—I.
3 And when I heard this thing, I grent my garment and my mantle, and hplucked off the hair of my head3 and of my beard, and isat down astonied.
4 Then were assembled unto me every one that ktrembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
k Is.66.2; 57.16. 2 Ki.22.11,19. Ps.4.4. ch.10.3.
5 And at lthe evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and, having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell mupon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,
6 And said, O my God, nI am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: ofor our iniquities are increased over our head,4 and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.5
n Ro.6.21. Eze.16.63; 36.31. Job 42.5,6. Ps.130.3; 40.11,12.
o Ps.38.4. Da.9.5. 2 Ch.28.9. Ge.13.13. Is.1.18. 2 Sa.24.10.
A.M. 3547. B.C. 457.
4 Even as exhalations from the earth are increased into dark clouds, charged with irresistible lightning ready to descend and destroy.—C.
5 That is, builded up as the tower of impious Babel, or as an enormous beast of prey, not merely devouring men, but if it were possible assailing heaven itself.—C.
7 Since the pdays of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
p 2 Ch.xxiii.xxxvi. Je.ii.-xxiii. xxxix. lii. De.xxviii.-xxxii. Le.xxvi. Ju.ii. 2 Ki.xvii.
8 And now for a qlittle space grace hath been showed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant6 to escape, and to give us7 a nail8 in his holy place, that our God may rlighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
q Heb. moment, ch.i.-viii. Hag.i.ii. Zec.i.-iv.
6 Those that had returned were but a remnant of the whole people. The ten tribes, as such, were lost; and many even of Judah and Benjamin were still in Babylon.—I.
7 Or, a pin. That is, a constant and sure abode.
8 From consulting Is. 22. 23-25, 'the nail' seems to represent certain fixtures in the temple walls, for suspending the sacrificial vessels; and consequently it will here signify a permanent establishment of religious ordinances.—C.
9 For swe were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the tsight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us ua wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
11 Which thou hast commanded yby thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever; zthat ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God ahast punished us less than our iniquities9 deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
a Ps.103.10; 106.45,46. La.3.22,32. Hab.3.2. Job 11.6.
9 Were God to punish in proportion equal to our iniquities, the judgment must be immediate as is the sin; and were he to send an evil for every sin, the life of the transgressor must be as constant in misery as in sinning. But the Lord is gracious, and full of compassion, and by his goodness leads us to repentance, Ps.103.8-10. Ro.2.4.—C.
14 Shouldb we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? cwouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
15 Od LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous;1 for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses; for we cannot estand before thee because of this.
1 Merciful. Or, the next words may be rendered not 'for we remain,' but 'though we remain' God's justice will not suffer us to escape, though for the present he forbear to punish us to the extent of our deserts. Though the Jews had endured many and heavy sufferings, yet they had been punished less than they deserved; for they had broken their covenant, and merited utter ruin.—I.
A.M. 3547. B.C. 457.
Notes
Reflections.—It is vain to expect perfection in the militant church. And the comforts of saints on earth are quickly imbittered with a mixture of griefs. But how infatuated are many professed Christians, who think of no sin, no danger, in being unequally yoked with unbelievers! A little skin-deep beauty, or a little earthly wealth or honour, is often preferred to the image of Jesus Christ! And when the most ruinous sins become fashionable few are affected with them. But to such as are Israelites indeed, the word of God appears awfully important. And that which seems light or lawful to carnal professors lies heavy on tender consciences. These take grief and shame to themselves for such as are hardened in their sins: and to join with such in their sorrow and zeal is both our duty and honour: for the most fearful aggravations appear attending our sins and those of our land when we consider the matter as in the sight of God. It therefore becomes us faithfully and humbly to repent of and acknowledge our sins, over our great sacrifice, our great propitiation; once offered in the evening, the end of the world; and in the believing view of God's sacrificial relation and pardoning mercy, to justify him and condemn ourselves. But often-repeated provocations weary out the patience of God. And hopeless is their case when neither corrections humble nor mercies constrain.