Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 10:4

Arise; for [this] matter [belongeth] unto thee: we also [will be] with thee: be of good courage, and do [it].

4. The appeal to Ezra.

Arise ] Not a reference to Ezra’s prostration but a summons to energetic action, Jos 1:2; Jdg 4:14; 1Sa 16:12 and often.

for this matter belongeth unto thee:] R.V. for the matter &c. Literally ‘for this matter is upon thee’. Cf. Neh 13:13, ‘And their business was (lit. and it was upon them) to distribute unto their brethren’. Isa 9:6, ‘And the government shall be upon his shoulder’. Ezra was marked out for the duty, partly because he had so publicly testified to his condemnation of the people’s sin, partly because he had received the royal commission ‘to teach’ them that knew not the laws of his God (Ezr 7:25).

we also will be with thee ] R.V. and we are with thee. The R.V. gives the full meaning, by placing only a comma after ‘thee’. The lead in the work was Ezra’s, but Shechaniah and his friends were ready to cooperate at once in the reform. The present tense is therefore more appropriate than the future.

be of good courage, and do it] Literally, ‘be strong, and do’. The responsibility of initiative required especial courage, when the policy would inevitably produce widespread discontent with no material compensation. David uses the same words to Solomon when entrusting to him the work of constructing the Temple. 1Ch 28:10, ‘Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it’: cf. 2Ch 19:11, ‘Deal courageously’ (Heb. Be strong and do), are the words of encouragement given to Amariah, Zebadiah and the Levites by Jehoshaphat, as he commissioned them to act as judges among the people.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 4. Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee] By the decree of Artaxerxes, he was authorized to do everything that the law of God required: see Ezr 7:23-28. And all officers were commanded to be aiding and assisting; hence Shechaniah says, We are with you.

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

This matter belongeth unto thee; because thou hast both skill to manage it, and authority both from God and from the Persian king to do it.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Arise,…. From the ground, where he lay prostrate:

for this matter belongeth unto thee; as a priest and scribe of the law, well versed in it, and therefore could direct what was to be done according to it; and as a ruler under the king of Persia, and a commissioner of his, to inquire whether the law of God was observed by the Jews, Ezr 7:14 and so had authority to put the law in execution:

we also will be with thee; to help and assist in the reformation of this evil:

be of good courage, and do it; do not despair of going through it, though there may be some opposition to it; begin, and doubt not of succeeding.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

“Up! for this matter concerns thee (thou art called to carry it out), and we are with thee (will assist thee therein); be strong (courageous) and do it.”

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

4. Arise Ezra was probably still bowed down before the temple. Ezr 10:1, note.

Unto thee Ezra possessed the proper authority from the king, (Ezr 7:25,) and the wisdom to institute the needed reformation.

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

Ezr 10:4 Arise; for [this] matter [belongeth] unto thee: we also [will be] with thee: be of good courage, and do [it].

Ver. 4. Arise ] Surge, age, Summe Pater, Arise, act, most high father, said Mantuan to the pope, exciting him to take arms against the Turk: to the same sense Shechaniah here to Ezra; or rather as Jehovah to Joshua, Jos 7:10 , Get thee up: why liest thou here on thy face?

For this matter belongeth unto thee ] Who hast both a heart to do it, as appears by thine humiliation, and also power in thine hand, as witnesseth thy commission.

We also will be with thee ] Every man must show himself forward to further the work of reformation, moving regularly within his own sphere, and trading every talent for that end and purpose.

Be of good courage, and do it ] These were verba non inflantia, sed inflammantia. Not words, spoken but inflammed. And thus may one, by his hearty good counsel, become an angel, nay, a god, to another. Senarclaeus, in an epistle to Bucer, telling how John Diazius, the martyr, discoursed unto him the night before he was butchered by the appointment of his own brother Alphonsus, hath this notable expression, Ego vero illius oratione sic incendebar, &c., I was so inflamed with his words, as if I had heard the Holy Ghost himself speaking unto me.

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

Arise. It would seem that Ezra continued kneeling.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Arise: Jos 7:10-26, 1Ch 22:16, 1Ch 22:19, Ecc 9:10

for this matter: By the decree of Artaxerxes, Ezra was authorised to do every thing that the law of God required. Ezr 7:23-28, Mar 13:34

we also will: Jos 1:16-18, 1Ch 28:10, 1Ch 28:21

be of good: Isa 35:3, Isa 35:4, Heb 10:24, Heb 12:12, Heb 12:13

Reciprocal: Gen 42:1 – Why do ye Exo 14:15 – General Jos 1:18 – only be 1Ch 19:13 – of good Ezr 10:12 – so must we do

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezr 10:4-5. Arise, for this matter belongeth unto thee Who hast a perfect knowledge of the law, and full power from the king of Persia to see every thing done according to it; and who hast most skill to manage this matter. We also will be with thee: be of good courage He promises him his assistance, and that of many other principal persons, which might give him confidence of success. Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, &c., to swear He admonished them of their duty in the name of God, and then persuaded them to take a solemn oath, which they did, to put away their strange wives.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

10:4 Arise; for [this] matter {d} [belongeth] unto thee: we also [will be] with thee: be of good courage, and do [it].

(d) Because God has given you authority and learning to persuade the people in this and to command them.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes