Bible Commentary

For we [were] bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 9:9”

And now for a little space grace hath been [showed] from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 8. The period since the decree of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 9:8”

Since the days of our fathers [have] we [been] in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, [and] our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as [it is] … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 9:7”

And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. 6. A brief exordium: expression of personal shame and national guilt. I am ashamed and blush ] These words … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 9:6”

And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, 5 15. Ezra’s Confession 5. And at the evening sacrifice ] R.V. And at the evening oblation, i.e. at the time … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 9:5”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 9:4”

And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished. 3. I rent my garment and my mantle ] Ezra’s conduct betrays his surprise, his grief, and his indignation. The rending of the clothes is frequently … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 9:3”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 9:2”

Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 9:1”

And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God. 36. the king’s commissions ] i.e. especially those mentioned in Ezr 7:21-22; Ezr 7:24 which would concern the provincial administration, by requisitioning for supplies and by … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 8:36”