Ezra 10:12

_NOW THEREFORE MAKE CONFESSION UNTO THE LORD GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, AND DO HIS PLEASURE: AND SEPARATE YOURSELVES FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND, AND FROM THE STRANGE WIVES._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

6-14 There is hope concerning people, when they are convinced, not only that it is good to part with their sins, but that it is necessary; we must do it, or we are undone. So rich is the mercy, and so plenteous the redemption of God, that there is hope for the vilest who hear the gospel, and are willing to accept of free salvation. When sinners mourn for their sins, and tremble at the word of God, there is hope that they will forsake them. To affect others with godly sorrow or love to God, we must ourselves be affected. It was carefully agreed how this affair should be carried on. That which is hastily resolved on seldom proves lasting....

Verse 12. _AS THOU HAST SAID, SO MUST WE DO._] They all resolved to do what Ezra then commanded, they did put away their wives, even those by whom they had children; Ezra 10:44: this was a great hardship on the _women_ and _children_. Though by the Jewish laws such marriages were _null_ and _void_, yet as the _women_ they had taken did not know these laws, their case was deplorable. However, we may take it for granted that each of them received a portion according to the circumstances of their husbands, and that they and their children were not turned away desolate, but had such a provision as their necessities required. _Humanity_ must have dictated this, and no law of God is contrary to humanity. After all, there is some room to doubt whether they did put them _finally_ away, for several years after Nehemiah found Jews that had married wives of Ashdo...

EXPOSITION REPENTANCE OF THE PEOPLE, AND COVENANT SWORN TO, ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF SHECHANIAH (Ezra 10:1). While Ezra was uttering his prayer aloud, upon his knees, in front of the temple, where the evening sacrifice was being offered upon the great brazen altar (Ezra 3:2), the people gathered about him, heard what he said, and had their feelings so stirred that numbers of them burst into tears and "wept very sore" (Ezra 10:1). When he had ended, Sheehaniah, the son of Jehiel, took the word, and suggested an

THEN ALL THE CONGREGATION ANSWERED AND SAID WITH A LOUD VOICE,.... That they might be heard, and to show that they were willing and ready to comply with what was proposed: AS THOU HOST SAID, SO MUST WE DO; being convinced of their sin, they saw it was a duty incumbent on them to put away their strange wives, and that there was a necessity of it, to avert the wrath of God from them....

CHAPTER 10 _ 1. The effect of Ezra's prayer on the people (Ezra 10:1)_ 2. Ezra summons an assembly (Ezra 10:5) 3. The gathering, confession and the evil judged (Ezra 10:9) 4. The register of those who had married strange women (Ezra 10:18) Ezra 10:1. Ezra's prayer, confession and humiliation were before the house of the LORD.” The people saw his great sorrow and his tears, they heard his words confessing the nation's sins. It produced a wonderful effect among the people. “There assembled unto him out of Israel a great congregation of me

THE JEWS ASSEMBLE IN JERUSALEM; OFFICERS ARE APPOINTED FROM EACH CITY TO SEE THAT THE FOREIGN WIVES ARE PUT AWAY. Ezra 10:6. Jehohanan: _cf._ Nehemiah 12:13. AND WHEN HE CAME THITHER: read, and he lodged there (_mg.), i.e._ spent the night there. Ezra 10:8. forfeited: devoted, _i.e._ put under a religious ban (see pp. 99, 114, Deuteronomy 2:34 * Joshua 6:17 *). SEPARATED FROM THE CONGREGATION: equivalent to the later put out of the synagogue; _cf._...

AS THOU HAST SAID. according to thy words. Hebrew margin reads "word"....

_Then all the congregation_, &c. The deliberations are not recorded. The substance of their decision is here paraphrased. The method of its expression was probably by unanimous acclamation. We can hardly suppose that there was free discussion. The princes debated and harangued the multitude: the multitude listened and expressed disapproval or approbation by cries and shouting. with _a loud voice_ Cf. Ezra 3:12; 2 Samuel 15:23. _As thou hast said, so must we do_ R.V. AS THOU HAST SAID CONCERNING US, SO MUST WE DO. R.V. marg. - _As thou hast said, so it behoveth us to do_". Literally the clause runs -According to thy word (or words) upon us to do". It is a disputed point whether -upon us" is to be taken with what precedes or with what follows, i.e. -according to thy word resp

3. The decision is accepted by all, in the assembly. TEXT, EZRA 10:9-15 9 So all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month on the twentieth of the month, and all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and the heavy rain. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, You have been unfaithful and have married foreign wives adding to the guilt of Israel. 11 Now, therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers, and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives. 12 Then all the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, That's right! As you have said, so it is our duty to do. 13 But there are many people, it is the rainy season, and we are not able to stand