Ezra 9 - Introduction
_THE PRINCES RELATE TO EZRA, THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE, AND OF THE PRIESTS, HAD INTERMARRIED WITH THE IDOLATROUS NATIONS. EZRA, RENDING HIS GARMENTS, PRAYS EARNESTLY TO GOD._ _Before Christ 457._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PRINCES RELATE TO EZRA, THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE, AND OF THE PRIESTS, HAD INTERMARRIED WITH THE IDOLATROUS NATIONS. EZRA, RENDING HIS GARMENTS, PRAYS EARNESTLY TO GOD._ _Before Christ 457._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 1. _THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND THE PRIESTS,_ &C.— See Deuteronomy 7:3. The manner in which Ezra is said to have expressed his concern for the people's unlawful marriages is, by _rending his garment and his mantle,_ ver. 3 i.e. both his inner and upper garment, which was a token not only of grea... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 6. _AND SAID, O MY GOD,_ &C.— Nothing can be more humble, devout, and pathetic than this address, in which Ezra acknowledges that he was confounded when he thought of the greatness of their sins, which were ready to overwhelm them; and of the boldness and insolence of them beyond measure, eve... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 8. _TO GIVE US A NAIL IN HIS HOLY PLACE_— _To give us a seat,_ &c. Houbigant. See Pilkington, p. 200. The idea seems to be taken from the _nails or pins_ with which the tabernacle was fastened to the ground.... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 13. _SEEING THAT THOU OUR GOD HAST PUNISHED US,_ &C.— _Shall it be, that when thou, our God, withholdest the rod from our iniquities, and leavest for us this remnant,_ ver. 14. _Shall it be that we shall again break,_ &c.? Houbigant. REFLECTIONS.—1st, All things appeared very fair and promis... [ Continue Reading ]