Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, 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 Amm... [ Continue Reading ]
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. Ver. 2. _For they have taken of their daughters_] Taken them for wives... [ Continue Reading ]
And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. Ver. 3. _I rent my garment and my mantle_] In token of his deep and downright humiliation, indignation, detestation of their dealing therein. _And plucked off t... [ Continue Reading ]
Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled 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. Ver. 4. _Then were assembled unto me_] It was soon noised and noticed among the godly party how ex... [ Continue Reading ]
And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, Ver. 5. _I arose up from my heaviness_] In affliction, _sc._ of spirit, wherewith his heart was leavened and soured, as David's wa... [ Continue Reading ]
And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Ver. 6. _And said, O my God_] This was a prayer of faith, and founded upon the covenant, that beehive of heavenly honey, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Since the days 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. Ver. 7.... [ Continue Reading ]
And now for a little space grace hath been [shewed] from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. Ver. 8. _And now for a little space_] Heb. point, or moment of time.... [ Continue Reading ]
For we [were] bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight 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 a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. Ver. 9. _For we... [ Continue Reading ]
And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments, Ver. 10. _And now, O our God, what shall we say after this?_] _q.d._ We have nothing to say for ourselves, wherever thou shouldst not presently pronounce against us, and execute upon us the sentence of utter re... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which thou hast commanded by 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._ Ver. 11. _Which thou hast comm... [ Continue Reading ]
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: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave [it] for an inheritance to your children for ever. Ver. 12. _Now therefore give not your... [ Continue Reading ]
And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities [deserve], and hast given us [such] deliverance as this; Ver. 13. _And after all that is come upon us_] Affliction, like foul weather, cometh before... [ Continue Reading ]
Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed [us], so that [there should be] no remnant nor escaping? Ver. 14. _Should we again break thy commandments_] There is so much unthankfulness... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD God of Israel, thou [art] righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as [it is] this day: behold, we [are] before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this. Ver. 15. _O Lord God of Israel_] So called, because he is their portion, they his, Deuteronomy 32:9. He had av... [ Continue Reading ]