Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 10:12
Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
12. 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. Ezr 3:12; 2Sa 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 respecting us, it is necessary to do’ or ‘according to thy word, it falls upon us to do’. ( a) The rendering of the R.V. text is that of the Vulgate ‘juxta verbum tuum ad nos, sic fiat’, and is supported by the traditional Jewish interpretation supplied by the Hebrew accents. The sentence is then clearly greatly condensed, and although the construction of the verb ‘to do’ is very harsh, the meaning is clear. ( b) As however the rest of the people’s reply shows no symptom of such compression, the alternative explanation of the rendering in the margin seems preferable. The use of the preposition ‘upon’, with a sense of ‘duty’ or ‘obligation’ occurred in Ezr 10:4. Cf. Neh 13:13; 2Sa 18:11. The people then accept the responsibility in which their assent involves them.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
12 14. The resolution of the general assembly epitomised. A general assent to Ezra’s proposal. The time of the year and the magnitude of the task make it necessary to appoint a commission to carry it into execution.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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; Ezr 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 Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab; Ne 13:23. And if these were not the same women, we find that the same offense was continued.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The whole assembly replied with a loud voice, and therefore with firm resolve: According to thy word it is our duty to do. must not be drawn to what precedes, as in the Vulgate, juxta verbum tuum ad nos , sic fiat , but to what follows, as in Ezr 10:4, Neh 13:13; 2Sa 18:11. But – they further remark, Ezr 10:13 – the people are many, – i.e., the assemblage is very large to be able to deal immediately with the several cases; and it is (now) the time of the heavy rains, and there is no power to stand without, – i.e., at the present season we are not able to remain in the open air until the business is discharged; neither is this the work of one day, or of two, for we have transgressed much in this matter, – i.e., one or two days will not suffice to investigate and decide upon all cases, because very many have broken the law in this respect.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
12. All answered It was the loud uttered vow and pledge of a vast assembly to conform to the Divine requirement. Compare Jos 1:16-18, notes.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ezr 10:12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
Ver. 12. Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice ] But not with a true heart, Heb 10:22 . For within a few years they returned to their vomit again.
As thou hast said, so must we do
Iussa sequi tam velle mihi, quam posse, necesse est.
But many of these fair promisers turned back, and dealt unfaithfully, like their fathers; they were turned aside like a deceitful bow, Psa 78:57 . Look how a rotten bow, though otherwise fair, when an arrow is drawn to the head, and both eye and arrow is levelled to the mark, yet it miscarrieth; so do the desires, purposes, and promises that unsound hearts conceive in their afflictions, and under just convictions.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
As thou hast said = according to thy words. Hebrew margin reads “word”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
As thou hast said: They all resolved to do what Ezra had commanded; and they did put away their wives, even those by whom they had children – Ezr 10:44, each of whom doubtless received a portion according to the circumstances of her husband, and was not turned away desolate. Humanity must have dictated this, and no law of God is contrary to humanity.
so must we do: Ezr 10:3, Ezr 10:4, Neh 13:23, Psa 78:37, Psa 78:57
Reciprocal: Lev 5:5 – confess Neh 5:12 – We will restore