Ezra 9:14

should we again, &c. R.V. shall we again.

break thy commandments The work rendered -break" is found with -commandment" in Numbers 15:31, and is especially frequently found with -covenant", e.g. Genesis 17:14; Deuteronomy 31:16; Judges 2:1; Isaiah 24:5; Jeremiah 31:32; Ezekiel 17:16 in the sense of -annul", -violate". Compare its use in Ezra 4:5 -frustrate their purpose".

join in affinity This word occurs once only in the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy 7:3.

with the people of these abominations R.V. with the peoples that do these abominations. See note on Ezra 9:11.

wouldest thou not be angry, &c. The question expects the answer -yes". Ezra recalls the declarations of God's displeasure in such passages as Deuteronomy 7:4 -For he will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods; so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and he will destroy you utterly", Deuteronomy 11:17; Joshua 23:16. The tense is missed in the LXX. μὴ παροξυνθῇς and the Vulg. -numquid iratus es".

tillthou hadst consumedus] The precise form of this phrase only occurs elsewhere in 2 Kings 13:17; 2 Kings 13:19 -till thou have (hadst) consumed them"; but a very similar form of it appears in 2 Chronicles 24:10 -until they had made an end", 2 Chronicles 31:1 -until they had destroyed them all". It means -up to the point of extinction". Cf. LXX. ἕως συντελείας. Vulg. -usque ad consummationem".

no remnant nor escaping R.V. no remnant nor any to escape. It is hard to render the two words in English. -Any to escape" is the same word as -remnant" in Ezra 9:8; Ezra 9:13. The two words occur together in 1 Chronicles 4:43 -they smote the remnant of the Amalekites that escaped". The former word denotes simply the -remainder"; the latter has the idea of -survival from flight" (cf. Ezra 9:15). The LXX. distinguishes by ἐγκατάλειμμα καὶ διασωζόμενον. The Vulgate renders -reliquias ad salutem".