Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 9:4

Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.

4. There are, collected unto Ezra those who believed in the word of God and dreaded the displeasure consequent upon such transgression. Perhaps the reference is especially to the threats contained in the Law. Cf. Deu 7:1-4.

every one that trembled at the words &c.] cf. Ezr 10:3, ‘those that tremble at the commandment of our God’. Isa 66:2, ‘to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word’, and Ezr 9:5, ‘Hear the word of God, ye that tremble at his word’. The dread of the consequences of disobedience rather than horror at the nature of the offence seems here depicted. But if the nature of sin was not yet realised, the sovereignty of a Higher Law was recognised, and ‘sin is lawlessness’ (1Jn 3:4).

of those that had been carried away ] R.V. of them of the captivity. Heb. ‘hagglah’, the collective abstract name for those who had shared the captivity.

until the evening sacrifice ] R.V. until the evening oblation. This is the daily evening minkhah or meal offering. See note on Neh 10:33.

It is here mentioned as a common division of the day, as in 1Ki 18:29. Cf. Jdt 9:1 , ‘about the time that the incense of that evening was offered in Jerusalem’. Ezra probably spent the greater part of the day in this posture.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 4. Those that had been carried away] Those that had returned long before with Zerubbabel; see Ezr 9:1.

Until the evening sacrifice.] The morning sacrifice was the first of all the offerings of the day, the evening sacrifice the last. As the latter was offered between the two evenings, i.e., between sunset and the end of twilight, so the former was offered between break of day and sunrise. Ezra sat astonied-confounded in his mind, distressed in his soul, and scarcely knowing what to do. He probably had withdrawn himself into some sequestered place, or into some secret part of the temple, spending the time in meditation and reflection.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Then were assembled unto me; to join with me both in lamenting the sin, and in endeavouring the redress of it.

Every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, i.e. who stood in awe of God, and of his word, and durst not violate his commands; or who feared his threatenings against those that did so, and trembled for fear of Gods judgments upon them, and upon the whole land for their sakes, as the following words imply. Compare Isa 66:2,5.

Those that had been carried away, to wit, into captivity, and were safely returned from it, and yet were not reformed either by their former affliction, or by their latter deliverance.

Until the evening sacrifice, when the people used to assemble together. See Psa 141:2; Act 3:1.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

4. Then were assembled unto me everyone that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, c.All thepious people who reverenced God’s word and dreaded its threateningsand judgments joined with Ezra in bewailing the public sin, anddevising the means of redressing it.

I sat astonied until theevening sacrificeThe intelligence of so gross a violation ofGod’s law by those who had been carried into captivity on account oftheir sins, and who, though restored, were yet unreformed, producedsuch a stunning effect on the mind of Ezra that he remained for awhile incapable either of speech or of action. The hour of theevening sacrifice was the usual time of the people assembling and atthat season, having again rent his hair and garments, he made publicprayer and confession of sin.

Ezr9:5-15. PRAYS TO GOD.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

There were assembled unto me everyone that trembled at the words of the God of Israel,…. That had a reverence for the word of God, and the things contained in it; feared to break the laws of God, and trembled at his judgments, which they might apprehend would come upon transgressors, see Isa 46:2,

because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; into Babylon, and were now returned, and which was an aggravation of their transgression:

and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice: or until the ninth hour, as the Syriac version, which was about our three o’clock in the afternoon, at which time the evening sacrifice was offered; perhaps it was in the morning when Ezra first received his information from the princes.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

4. Every one that trembled Ezra was not alone in grief and dismay over the sins of the people. Others with him realized the peril of the hour, and trembled with a profound sense of their danger. For should Divine vengeance burst upon the camp, the innocent and guilty would suffer together. Among those that trembled at the words of the God of Israel were also, doubtless, some of the transgressors who had been brought to realize their guilt and danger.

The evening sacrifice The law ordained that a lamb should be offered each day, morning and evening, and these offerings were called respectively the morning and evening sacrifices. See Exo 29:38-41. Comp. also 1Ki 18:29, note. While the people mingled with the heathen, and openly transgressed, they continued to sacrifice to Jehovah, thus apparently forgetting that obedience is better than sacrifice.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezr 9:4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.

Ver. 4. Then were assembled unto me ] It was soon noised and noticed among the godly party how exceedingly Ezra was troubled; they therefore trouble themselves, as our Saviour is said to have done, Joh 11:33 , and as Paul felt twinges when others were hurt. “Who is offended,” saith he, “and I burn not?” 2Co 11:29 . Sheep, when frighted, will get together; swine, when lugged, will grunt together. What should saints do (in case of national sins or judgments) but assemble and tremble together, as here; but vow and perform reformation to the Lord their God, as in the next chapter.

Every one that trembled at the words ] At the judgments of God whilst they yet hang in the threatenings. To such looketh the Lord with special intimations of his love, Isa 66:2 . When as those that tremble not in hearing shall be crushed to pieces in feeling, said Mr Bradford the martyr.

That had been carried away ] But had not learned by the things that they had suffered, were as bad as before, if not worse, having lost the fruit of their afflictions, . This is fearful; a bad sign of an incorrigible castaway, Jer 6:30 .

Until the evening sacrifice ] This time of the day good people usually took to pray at; that, together with the sacrifice, their prayers might come up for a memorial before God in those pillars of smoke, Son 3:6 Act 10:4 . See Luk 1:10 Act 3:11 .

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

trembled at the words, &c. Compare Isa 66:2.

transgression = defection. Hebrew. ma’al. App-44.

sacrifice = meal offering. Hebrew. minchah. App-43.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

trembled: Ezr 10:3, 2Ch 34:27, Psa 119:136, Isa 66:2, Eze 9:4

until: Exo 29:39, Dan 9:21, Act 3:1

Reciprocal: Exo 29:41 – offer Num 28:4 – and the other Jdg 20:26 – wept 1Ki 18:36 – at the time 2Ki 22:19 – wept Ezr 10:6 – he mourned Neh 13:8 – it grieved Psa 141:2 – the evening Jer 38:17 – the God of Israel Dan 10:2 – I Daniel Joe 2:1 – let Mal 2:15 – That he Act 10:30 – I was 2Co 7:15 – with

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezr 9:4. Then were assembled unto me To join with me, both in lamenting the sin, and in endeavouring to effect the redress of it; every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel Who stood in awe of God and of his word, and durst not violate his commands; or who feared his threatenings against those that did so, and trembled for fear of Gods judgments upon them, and upon the whole land for their sakes, as the following words imply. Compare Isa 66:2; Isa 66:5. Because of the transgression of those that had been carried away To wit, into captivity, and were safely returned from it, but yet were little amended, either by their former banishment, or their late restoration. He speaks not of those who had lately come back with himself, but of those who had returned with Zerubbabel, and of their children. And I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice When the people used to assemble together. All good people ought to own those that appear and act for God against vice and profaneness. Every one that fears God ought to stand by them, and do what he can to strengthen their hands.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments