Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 9:2

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

2. they have taken ] i.e. ‘taken wives’ as in Ezr 10:44; 2Ch 11:21 ; 2Ch 13:21.

the holy seed ] i.e. the race set apart and consecrated to God, cf. Exo 19:5-6. The term ‘the holy seed’ is found also in Isa 6:13.

have mingled themselves ] The same phrase occurs in a passage which well illustrates our verse. Psa 106:34-35. ‘They did not destroy the peoples (‘ammm) as the Lord commanded them; but mingled themselves with the nations (haggoyyim) and learned their works’.

with the people of those lands ] R.V. with the peoples of the lands, as in Ezr 9:1.

the hand of the princes and rulers ] marg. ‘princes and deputies ’. compare the same phrase Neh 5:7.

The word rendered ‘rulers’ (marg. ‘deputies’) ‘segnm’ is of Assyrian origin. It occurs in Isa 41:25, and preceded by ‘pekhah’ in Jer 51:23; Jer 51:28; Jer 51:57; Eze 23:6; Eze 23:12; Eze 23:23 as ‘governors and deputies’; in Neh 4:14; Neh 4:19; Neh 5:7; Neh 7:5; Neh 12:40; Neh 13:11 as ‘rulers’ (marg. ‘deputies’).

‘The princes’ seem to have been the chief authorities. A ruler or deputy (sagan) held under the governor a post of subordinate responsibility.

chief in this trespass ] R.V. marg. first. This is probably more correct; the chiefs and rulers had set the example of wrong-doing, ‘Trespass’ Ezr 9:4, Ezr 10:6. Compare the use of this word with reference to national sin, Jos 7:1; Jos 22:16.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 2. Hath been chief in this trespass.] They who are the first men have been the most capital offenders; so VIRGIL, AEn. ix. 783: –

Unus homo, vestris, o cives, undique septus

Aggeribus, tantas strages impune per urbem

Ediderit? Juvenum primos tot miserit orco?

“Shall one, and he enclosed within your walls,

One rash imprisoned warrior, vanquish all?

Calm you look on, and see the furious foe

Plunge crowds of heroes to the shades below!”

PITT.

The first of the Trojan youth were the chief, the most illustrious; so we say the first men of the kingdom for the nobles, &c.

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

This they had done, either,

1. In the land of their captivity, into which these people were carried as well as others, as appears from Jer 25:9, &c. Or rather,

2. Since their return, as may be gathered from Ezr 9:8,9,10,14.

The princes and rulers; who should have restrained the people from this sin by their authority and example; and, by doing otherwise, made the sin more general, and involved themselves and the nation in the guilt of it.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sorts,…. Some that were widowers not only took wives to themselves of the above nations, either when they were of Babylon, where many of these nations also were, or rather since their return; but they took for their sons also; yea, some that had wives took Heathenish ones to them, see Mal 2:13,

so that the holy seed; such as the Lord had separated from other nations, chosen them to be an holy people above all others, and devoted them to his service and worship:

have mingled themselves with the people of those lands; before mentioned, by marrying with them:

yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass; they were the first that went into it, were ringleaders of it, who should by their authority and example have restrained others; or they were

in this first trespass i; which was the first gross and capital one the people fell into after their return from the captivity.

i “in praevaricatione ista prima”, Pagninus, Montanus.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

2. Holy seed Jehovah’s chosen people. See marginal references.

Princes and rulers chief in this trespass This was the most alarming fact of all. When the rulers transgress the law the people must needs become corrupt and demoralized.

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

Ezr 9:2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

Ver. 2. For they have taken of their daughters ] Taken them for wives: which was flatly forbidden, Deu 7:3 , and a reason given, Ezr 9:4 , from the evil effect of such unblest marriages. This abuse Malachi complaineth of, Mal 2:11 ; Mal 2:13 , whom some make to be the same man with Ezra.

For themselves, and for their sons ] Whom they herein helped to a cold armful (as Lycephron calleth a bad wife, ), or rather to an unnatural heat, worse than that of a quartan ague, as said Simonides; as bad as that of an evil spirit, said another heathen.

So that the holy seed ] i.e. The children of Israel, who were all federally holy at least, Deu 7:6 , as are also all the children of Christian parents, 1Co 7:14 .

Hath been chief in this trespass ] Which they think audaciously to bear out with their big looks, to obtrude and justify to the world this most malapert misdemeanour, because it is facinus maioris abollae, the fact of a great one (Juvenal).

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

holy seed, or the sanctuary’s seed. See note on Exo 3:5 and compare Dan 2:43. Exo 19:6; Exo 22:31. Deu 7:6; Deu 14:2.

trespass = defection. Hebrew. ma’al. App-44. Not the same word as in Ezr 9:6.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

taken of their: Ezr 10:18-44, Exo 34:16, Deu 7:1-4, Neh 13:23, Neh 13:24, Mal 2:11

the holy seed: Exo 19:6, Exo 22:31, Deu 7:6, Deu 14:2, Isa 6:13, Mal 2:15, 1Co 7:14

mingled: Gen 6:2, Neh 13:3, Neh 13:23, Neh 13:24, 2Co 6:14

the hand: Ezr 10:18-44, Neh 13:4, Neh 13:17, Neh 13:28

Reciprocal: Lev 21:15 – profane Num 16:3 – all the Num 23:9 – shall not Deu 7:3 – General Jos 22:15 – General Jos 23:12 – shall make Jdg 16:1 – and went Ezr 9:14 – join in Neh 9:2 – the seed Neh 10:28 – all they Act 16:1 – but 1Co 5:2 – mourned

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezr 9:2. So that the holy seed, &c. They are called a holy seed, because of the covenant which God had made with them, whereby they were constituted a peculiar people, separated from all other nations. Have mingled themselves with the people of those lands Since their return, as may be gathered from Ezr 9:8-14. Yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass Who ought to have restrained the people from it by their authority and example; and who, by acting otherwise, have made the sin more general, and have involved themselves and the nation in the guilt of it. The case, certainly, was much the more dangerous, because the great men of the nation were the principal offenders; for through this the people would be freed from all fear of punishment, and therefore would the more readily imitate their bad example. It is probable the princes, who informed Ezra of this enormous practice, had endeavoured to reform it, but could not, because they were opposed by men as great as themselves.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

9:2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the {b} princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

(b) That is, the governors are the chief beginners of it.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes