Ezra
Verse 1. God, in the court of the people, before the eastern gate.
EXPLANATIONS
Ezra 10
Historical chapter commentary
Ezra
Verse 2. Sechenias. 3 Esd. calls him “Jechoias.” See Calmet. 8:5. The name of Sechenias is not found among the transgressors; (verse 20) but that of Jehiel is, verse 26. It seems, however, that the former returned with Esdras, and speaks in the name of the people, to encourage them to confess their guilt, ( Calmet.) unless his name be omitted. Menochius.—Repentance. Hebrew “yet there is hope, (Prot.) or an assembly of Israel.” Du Dieu.
Ezra
Verse 3. Covenant. The marrying with strange women seemed to have annulled the covenant of God.—Of them. The children were to follow the mothers, as in other unlawful connections. Their being suffered to remain behind, might have had dangerous consequences. Calmet.—The custom of divorcing was then in force, ( Tirinus.) and the Jews looked upon all as null, which was done contrary to the law; (V. Bede. E. Calmet. Grot.) though here the law was only prohibitory. Cajet. Tirinus.—As all was directed by the will of God, the dictates of humanity would not be disregarded ( Calmet.) on this trying occasion. Bible.—The children migth be placed in houses for education. Cajet. Tirinus.
Ezra
Verse 4. Thy part. The high priest not acting, ( Menochius.) Esdras was appointed chief, ( Bible.) and his abilities were universally acknowledged. Calmet.
Ezra
Verse 6. Before. 3 Esd. “the court or hall of the temple.” Bible.—Eliasib. His son and successor is styled Joiada. 2 Ezra 12:10. The same person had often many names, ( Calmet.) or Johanan might be a younger son. Menochius.—Josephus (xi. 5.) says, that Esdras went to the apartments of John and Eliasib. Bible.—Esdras, though sent extraordinarily by God, repairs to the son of the priest, as Saint Paul conferred with other apostles. Galatians 2. Worthington.
Ezra
Verse 8. Away. Hebrew and Septuagint “subjected to anathema,” ( Calmet.) and utterly destroyed; ( Bible.) or, according to some editions of the Septuagint and Josephus, “consecrated to the temple.” Esdras exercised the power which had been entrusted to him. Calmet. 7:16.
Ezra
Verse 9. Ninth. Casleu, (Zechariah 7:1) which corresponds with our November and December. Menochius.—Street. Court, which afforded as yet no shelter from the rain. Calmet.—This would tend to punish them for their sin, and to make them more sensible to it. Worthington.
Ezra
Verse 11. Confession. Septuagint “give praise;” which is done by repentance and virtue. Menochius.—Confess your faults, and submit to the justice of God. Joshua 7:19. Calmet.
Ezra
Verse 14. Cities. It is not clear whether the rulers went to the different cities, or the principal men of each gave information, and caused the guilty to appear before Esdras, at Jerusalem. Bible.
Ezra
Verse 16. So. Cajetan improperly concludes, that the sentence was not put in execution; because Nehemias (Calmet. 13:23.) complains of such marriages. Calmet.—But the guilty might have resumed their women. Bible.—Went. Hebrew “were separated.” Bible.—By making a small change, we may translate, with 3 Esd. “and Esdras separated or chose the men.” Josephus seems generally to have followed the Greek of 3 Esd. The Syriac says there were 20 judges.
Ezra
Verse 19. Hands. Thus the Persians confirmed their most solemn engagements. Calmet.
Ezra
Verse 25. Israel. Laymen, ( Calmet.) not of the tribe of Levi. Menochius.
Ezra
Verse 30. Moab. The inhabitants of this town, as well as of Nebo, (verse 43) are specified.
Ezra
Verse 44. Children. Hebrew may be, “and some of these women had exposed their children.” But most follow the Septuagint and Vulg. 3 Ezra 9:36, “and they ejected them with their children.” None was spared. Calmet.—One great inconvenience of such connections is, that the offspring is illegitimate. Worthington.—Only 17 priests, 10 Levites, and 86 laymen, are stigmatized as guilty of this scandal; yet these fill Israel with confusion, and Esdras with extreme affliction. Bible.
2 ESDRAS
THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAS;
commonly called THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS