Ezra 9:2

they have taken i.e. -taken wives" as in Ezra 10:44; 2Ch 11:21; 2 Chronicles 13:21.

the holy seed i.e. the race set apart and consecrated to God, cf. Exodus 19:5-6. The term -the holy seed" is found also in Isaiah 6:13.

have mingled themselves The same phrase occurs in a passage which well illustrates our verse. Psalms 106:34-35. -They did not destroy the peoples (-ammîm) as the Lord commanded them; but mingled themselveswith the nations (haggoyyim) and learned their works".

with the people of those lands R.V. with the peoples of the lands, as in Ezra 9:1.

the hand of the princes and rulers marg. -princes and deputies". compare the same phrase Nehemiah 5:7.

The word rendered -rulers" (marg. -deputies") -segânîm" is of Assyrian origin. It occurs in Isaiah 41:25, and preceded by -pekhah" in Jeremiah 51:23; Jeremiah 51:28; Jeremiah 51:57; Ezekiel 23:6; Ezekiel 23:12; Ezekiel 23:23 as -governors and deputies"; in Nehemiah 4:14; Nehemiah 4:19; Nehemiah 5:7; Nehemiah 7:5; Nehemiah 12:40; Nehemiah 13:11 as -rulers" (marg. -deputies").

-The princes" seem to have been the chief authorities. A ruler or deputy (sagan) held under the governor a post of subordinate responsibility.

chief in this trespass R.V. marg. first. This is probably more correct; the chiefs and rulers had set the example of wrong-doing, -Trespass" Ezra 9:4; Ezra 10:6. Compare the use of this word with reference to national sin, Joshua 7:1; Joshua 22:16.