Ezra 10:15

_ONLY JONATHAN THE SON OF ASAHEL AND JAHAZIAH THE SON OF TIKVAH WERE EMPLOYED ABOUT THIS MATTER: AND MESHULLAM AND SHABBETHAI THE LEVITE HELPED THEM._ Shabbethai - Sabbath-born: cf. Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 8:11; Nehemiah 8:16 (in margin)....

15-44 The best reformers can but do their endeavour; when the Redeemer himself shall come to Zion, he shall effectually turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And when sin is repented of and forsaken, God will forgive it; but the blood of Christ, our Sin-offering, is the only atonement which takes away our guilt. No seeming repentance or amendment will benefit those who reject Him, for self-dependence proves them still unhumbled. All the names written in the book of life, are those of penitent sinners, not of self-righteous persons, who think they have no need of repentance....

Some translate it: “Nevertheless, Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah opposed this.” The opposition was useless Ezra 10:16....

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

ONLY JONATHAN THE SON OF ASAHEL, AND JAHAZIAH THE SON OF TIKVAH, WERE EMPLOYED ABOUT THE MATTER,.... To see that this affair was conducted in the manner proposed; that the magistrates of every city brought the persons that had been delinquents, in their turns, of which they gave them notice, and took the account of them as they came: AND MESHULLAM AND SHABBETHAI THE LEVITE HELPED THEM; assisted them in this work; the other two perhaps were priests, and both these Levites; and these four were the only persons appointed over this matter, as the phrase in the preceding clause may signify; though Jarchi interprets it to a quite contrary sense, that they were the only persons that opposed and objected to it; and so Dr. Lightfoot r understands it, and renders it, "stood against this matter"; in which they were seconded by the two Levites, and the sense is very probable. r Works, vol. 1. p. 1...

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._...

ONLY. But, or. Nevertheless. TIKVAH. Compare 2 Kings 22:14 and 1Ch 34:22. WERE EMPLOYED, &C.. superintended [the business]....

Slight opposition. _Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this_matter] R.V. STOOD UP AGAINST (Marg. Or, _were appointed over_) THIS matter. The word -only", the English reader should take notice, is not used in the sense of -alone", but as an adversative, -notwithstanding", -nevertheless". It would therefore naturally introduce the mention of an exception or of an opposition. There are two views as to the correct rendering of the verse. The point of difference lies in the Hebrew words variously rendered -were appointed over" and -stood up against". (1) The rendering of the A.V. -were employed about", though less accurate, agrees with that of the R.V. margin -were appointed over". The Hebrew literally translated is -stood over"; (_a_) it is noticeable that this verb to -stand" is the same as that used in the previous...

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