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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Ezra, Chapter X].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC15009.HTM">Previous</A>]
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E Z R A</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. X.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have that grievance redressed which was complained
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of and lamented in the foregoing chapter. Observe,
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I. How the people's hearts were prepared for the redress of it by their
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deep humiliation for the sin,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. How it was proposed to Ezra by Shechaniah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:2-4">ver. 2-4</A>.
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III. How the proposal was put in execution.
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1. The great men were sworn to stand to it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:5">ver. 5</A>.
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2. Ezra appeared first in it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:6">ver. 6</A>.
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3. A general assembly was called,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:7-9">ver. 7-9</A>.
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4. They all, in compliance with Ezra's exhortation, agreed to the
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reformation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:10-14">ver. 10-14</A>.
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5. Commissioners were appointed to sit "de die in diem"--day after
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day, to enquire who had married strange wives and to oblige them to put
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them away, which was done accordingly
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:15-17">ver. 15-17</A>),
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and a list of the names of those that were found guilty given in,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:18-44">
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ver. 18-44</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Ezra's Reformation.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 456.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping
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and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled
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unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women
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and children: for the people wept very sore.
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2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, <I>one</I> of the sons of Elam,
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answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God,
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and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now
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there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
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3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away
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all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the
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counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment
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of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
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4 Arise; for <I>this</I> matter <I>belongeth</I> unto thee: we also <I>will
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be</I> with thee: be of good courage, and do <I>it.</I>
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5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and
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all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word.
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And they sware.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We are here told,</P>
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<P>
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I. What good impressions were made upon the people by Ezra's
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humiliation and confession of sin. No sooner was it noised in the city
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that their new governor, in whom they rejoiced, was himself in grief,
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and to so great a degree, for them and their sin, than presently there
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<I>assembled to him a very great congregation,</I> to see what the
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matter was and to mingle their tears with his,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Our weeping for other people's sins may perhaps set those a weeping for
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them themselves who otherwise would continue senseless and remorseless.
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See what a happy influence the good examples of great ones may have
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upon their inferiors. When Ezra, a scribe, a scholar, a man in
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authority under the king, so deeply lamented the public corruptions,
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they concluded that they were indeed very grievous, else he would not
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thus have grieved for them; and this drew tears from every eye: <I>men,
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women, and children, wept very sore,</I> when he wept thus.</P>
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<P>
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II. What a good motion Shechaniah made upon this occasion. The place
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was <I>Bochim</I>--a place of <I>weepers;</I> but, for aught that
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appears, there was a profound silence among them, as among Job's
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friends, who <I>spoke not a word to him, because they saw that his
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grief was very great,</I> till Shechaniah (one of Ezra's companions
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from Babylon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+8:3,5"><I>ch.</I> viii. 3, 5</A>)
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stood up, and made a speech addressed to Ezra, in which,</P>
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<P>
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1. He owns the national guilt, sums up all Ezra's confession in one
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word, and sets to his seal that it is true: "<I>We have trespassed
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against our God, and have taken strange wives,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The matter is too plain to be denied and too bad to be excused." It
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does not appear that Shechaniah was himself culpable in this matter (if
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he had had the beam in his own eye, he could not have seen so clearly
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to pluck it out of his brother's eye), but his father was guilty, and
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several of his father's house (as appears
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>),
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and therefore he reckons himself among the trespassers; nor does he
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seek to excuse or palliate the sin, though some of his own relations
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were guilty of it, but, in the cause of God, <I>says to his father, I
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have not known him,</I> as Levi,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:9">Deut. xxxiii. 9</A>.
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Perhaps the strange wife that his father had married had been an unjust
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unkind step-mother to him, and had made mischief in the family, and he
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supposed that others had done the like, which made him the more forward
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to appear against this corruption; if so, this was not the only time
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that private resentments have been over ruled by the providence of God
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to serve the public good.</P>
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<P>
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2. He encourages himself and others to hope that though the matter was
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bad it might be amended: <I>Yet now there is hope in Israel</I> (where
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else should there be hope but in Israel? those that are strangers to
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that commonwealth are said to have <I>no hope,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:12">Eph. ii. 12</A>)
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even <I>concerning this thing.</I> The case is sad, but it is not
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desperate; the disease is threatening, but not incurable. There is hope
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that the people may be reformed, the guilty reclaimed, a stop put to
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the spreading of the contagion; and so the judgments which the sin
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deserves may be prevented and all will be well. <I>Now there is
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hope;</I> now that the disease is discovered it is half-cured. Now that
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the alarm is taken the people begin to be sensible of the mischief, and
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to lament it, a spirit of repentance seems to be poured out upon them,
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and they are all thus humbling themselves before God for it, <I>now
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there is hope</I> that God will forgive, and have mercy. The <I>valley
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of Achor</I> (that is, of <I>trouble</I>) is the <I>door of hope</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+2:15">Hos. ii. 15</A>);
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for the sin that truly troubles us shall not ruin us. There is hope now
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that Israel has such a prudent, pious, zealous governor as Ezra to
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manage this affair. Note,
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(1.) In melancholy times we must see and observe what makes for us, as
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well as what makes against us.
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(2.) There may be good hopes through grace, even when there is the
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sense of great guilt before God.
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(3.) Where sin is seen and lamented, and good steps are taken towards a
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reformation, even sinners ought to be encouraged.
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(4.) Even great saints must thankfully receive seasonable counsel and
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comfort from those that are much their inferiors, as Ezra from
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Shechaniah.</P>
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<P>
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3. He advises that a speedy and effectual course should be taken for
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the divorcing of the strange wives. The case is plain; what has been
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done amiss must be undone again as far as possible; nothing less than
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this is true repentance. <I>Let us put away all the wives, and such as
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are born of them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Ezra, though he knew this was the only way of redressing the grievance,
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yet perhaps did not think it feasible, and despaired of ever bringing
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the people to it, which put him into that confusion in which we left
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him in the foregoing chapter; but Shechaniah, who conversed more with
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the people than he did, assured him the thing was practicable if they
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went wisely to work. As to us now, it is certain that sin must be put
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away, a bill of divorce must be given it, with a resolution never to
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have any thing more to do with it, though it be dear as the wife of thy
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bosom, nay, as a right eye or a right hand, otherwise there is no
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pardon, no peace. What has been unjustly got cannot be justly kept, but
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must be restored; but, as to the case of being <I>unequally yoked with
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unbelievers,</I> Shechaniah's counsel, which he was then so clear in,
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will not hold now; such marriages, it is certain, are sinful, and ought
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not to be made, but they are not null. <I>Quod fierinon debuit, factum
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valet--That which ought not to have been done must, when done,
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abide.</I> Our rule, under the gospel, is, <I>If a brother has a wife
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that believeth not,</I> and <I>she be pleased to dwell with him, let
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him not put her away,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+7:12,13">1 Cor. vii. 12, 13</A>.</P>
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<P>
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4. He puts them in a good method for the effecting of this reformation,
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and shows them not only that it must be done, but how.
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(1.) "Let Ezra, and all those that are present in this assembly, agree
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in a resolution that this must be done (pass a vote immediately to this
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effect: it will now pass <I>nemine contradicente--unanimously</I>),
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that it may be said to be done <I>according to the counsel of my
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lord,</I> the president of the assembly, with the unanimous concurrence
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of those that <I>tremble at the commandment of our God,</I> which is
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the description of those that were gathered to him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+9:4"><I>ch.</I> ix. 4</A>.
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Declare it to be the sense of all the sober serious people among us,
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which cannot but have a great sway among Israelites."
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(2.) "Let the command of God in this matter, which Ezra recited in his
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prayer, be laid before the people, and let them see that it is <I>done
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according to the law;</I> we have that to warrant us, nay, that binds
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us to what we do; it is not an addition of our own to the divine law,
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but the necessary execution of it."
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(3.) "While we are in a good mind, let us bind ourselves by a solemn
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vow and covenant that we will do it, lest, when the present impressions
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are worn off, the thing be left undone. Let us covenant, not only
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that, if we have strange wives ourselves, we will put them away, but
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that, if we have not, we will do what we can in our places to oblige
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others to put away theirs."
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(4.) "Let Ezra himself preside in this matter, who is authorized by the
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king's commission to enquire whether the law of God be duly observed in
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Judah and Jerusalem
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+7:14"><I>ch.</I> vii. 14</A>),
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and let us all resolve to stand by him in it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>Arise, be of good courage.</I> Weeping, in this case, is good, but
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reforming is better." See what God said to Joshua in a like case,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+7:10,11">Josh. vii. 10, 11</A>.</P>
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<P>
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III. What a good resolution they came to upon this good motion,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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They not only agreed that it should be done, but bound themselves with
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an oath that they would do according to this word. Fast bind, fast
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find.</P>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_14"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into
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the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and <I>when</I> he came
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thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned
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because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.
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7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem
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unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather
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themselves together unto Jerusalem;
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8 And that whosoever would not come within three days,
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according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his
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substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the
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congregation of those that had been carried away.
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9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves
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together unto Jerusalem within three days. It <I>was</I> the ninth
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month, on the twentieth <I>day</I> of the month; and all the people
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sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of
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<I>this</I> matter, and for the great rain.
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10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have
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transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the
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trespass of Israel.
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11 Now therefore make confession unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of your
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fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the
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people of the land, and from the strange wives.
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12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud
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voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
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13 But the people <I>are</I> many, and <I>it is</I> a time of much rain,
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and we are not able to stand without, neither <I>is this</I> a work of
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one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this
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thing.
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14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let
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all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at
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appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the
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judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter
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be turned from us.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here an account of the proceedings upon the resolutions lately
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taken up concerning the strange wives; no time was lost; they struck
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when the iron was hot, and soon set the wheels of reformation a-going.
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1. Ezra went to the council-chamber where, it is probable, the priests
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used to meet upon public business; <I>and till he came thither</I> (so
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bishop Patrick thinks it should be read), till he saw something done,
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and more likely to be done, for the redress of this grievance, <I>he
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did neither eat nor drink,</I> but continued mourning. Sorrow for sin
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should be abiding sorrow; be sure to let it continue till the sin be
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put away.
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2. He sent orders to all the children of the captivity to attend him at
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Jerusalem <I>within three days</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>);
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and, being authorized by the king to enforce his orders with penalties
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annexed
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+7:26"><I>ch.</I> vii. 26</A>),
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he threatened that whosoever refused to obey the summons should forfeit
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his estate and be outlawed. The doom of him that would not attend on
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this religious occasion should be that his substance should, in his
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stead, be for ever after appropriated to the service of their religion,
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and he himself, for his contempt, should for ever after be excluded
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from the honours and privileges of their religion; he should be
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excommunicated.
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3. Within the time limited the generality of the people met at
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Jerusalem and made their appearance <I>in the street of the house of
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God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Those that had no zeal for the work they were called to, nay, perhaps
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had a dislike to it, being themselves delinquents, yet paid such a
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deference to Ezra's authority, and were so awed by the penalty, that
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they durst not stay away.
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4. God gave them a token of his displeasure in the great rain that
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happened at that time
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:9,13"><I>v.</I> 9 and again <I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
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which perhaps kept some away, and was very grievous to those that met
|
|
in the open street. When they wept the heavens wept too, signifying
|
|
that, though God was angry with them for their sin, yet he was well
|
|
pleased with their repentance, and (as it is said,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+10:16">Judg. x. 16</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel;</I> it was also an
|
|
indication of the good fruits of their repentance, for the rain makes
|
|
the earth fruitful.
|
|
|
|
5. Ezra gave the charge at this great assize. He told them upon what
|
|
account he called them together now, that it was because he found that
|
|
since their return out of captivity they had <I>increased the trespass
|
|
of Israel</I> by <I>marrying strange wives,</I> had added to their
|
|
former sins this new transgression, which would certainly be a means of
|
|
again introducing idolatry, the very sin they had smarted for and which
|
|
he hoped they had been cured of in their captivity; and he called them
|
|
together that they might <I>confess their sin to God,</I> and, having
|
|
done that, might declare themselves ready and willing to do his
|
|
pleasure, as it should be made known to them (which all those will do
|
|
that truly repent of what they have done to incur his displeasure), and
|
|
particularly that they might separate themselves from all idolaters,
|
|
especially idolatrous wives,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
On these heads, we may suppose, he enlarged, and probably made such
|
|
another confession of the sin now as he made
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+9:5-15"><I>ch.</I> ix.</A>,
|
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to which he required them to say <I>Amen.</I>
|
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6. The people submitted not only to Ezra's jurisdiction in general, but
|
|
to his inquisition and determination in this matter: "<I>As thou hast
|
|
said, so must we do,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
We have sinned in mingling with the heathen, and have thereby been in
|
|
danger, not only of being corrupted by them, for we are frail, but of
|
|
being lost among them, for we are few; we are therefore convinced that
|
|
there is an absolute necessity of our separating from them again."
|
|
There is hope concerning people when they are convinced, not only that
|
|
it is good to part with their sins, but that it is indispensably
|
|
necessary: we must do it, or we are undone.
|
|
|
|
7. It was agreed that this affair should be carried on, not in a
|
|
popular assembly, nor that they should think to go through with it all
|
|
on a sudden, but that a court of delegates should be appointed to
|
|
receive complaints and to hear and determine upon them. It could not be
|
|
done at this time, for it was not put into a method, nor could the
|
|
people stand out because of the rain. The delinquents were many, and
|
|
it would require time to discover and examine them. Nice cases would
|
|
arise, which could not be adjudged without debate and deliberation,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
"And therefore let the crowd be dismissed, and the rulers stand to
|
|
receive informations; let them proceed city by city, and let the
|
|
offenders be convicted before them in the presence of the judges and
|
|
elders of their own city; and let them be entrusted to see the orders
|
|
executed. Thus <I>take time and we shall have done the sooner;</I>
|
|
whereas, if we do it in a hurry, we shall do it by halves,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
If, in this method, a thorough reformation be made, the <I>fierce wrath
|
|
of God</I> will be <I>turned from us,</I> which, we are sensible, is
|
|
ready to break forth against us for this transgression." Ezra was
|
|
willing that his zeal should be guided by the people's prudence, and
|
|
put the matter into this method; he was not ashamed to own that the
|
|
advice came from them, any more than he was to comply with it.</P>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_32"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_33"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_34"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_35"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_36"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_37"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_38"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_39"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_40"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_41"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_42"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_43"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr10_44"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of
|
|
Tikvah were employed about this <I>matter:</I> and Meshullam and
|
|
Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
|
|
16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the
|
|
priest, <I>with</I> certain chief of the fathers, after the house of
|
|
their fathers, and all of them by <I>their</I> names, were separated,
|
|
and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the
|
|
matter.
|
|
17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange
|
|
wives by the first day of the first month.
|
|
18 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had
|
|
taken strange wives: <I>namely,</I> of the sons of Jeshua the son of
|
|
Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and
|
|
Gedaliah.
|
|
19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their
|
|
wives; and <I>being</I> guilty, <I>they offered</I> a ram of the flock for
|
|
their trespass.
|
|
20 And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
|
|
21 And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and
|
|
Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.
|
|
22 And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael,
|
|
Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
|
|
23 Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the
|
|
same <I>is</I> Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
|
|
24 Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum,
|
|
and Telem, and Uri.
|
|
25 Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and
|
|
Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and
|
|
Benaiah.
|
|
26 And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel,
|
|
and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.
|
|
27 And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and
|
|
Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
|
|
28 Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai,
|
|
<I>and</I> Athlai.
|
|
29 And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah,
|
|
Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.
|
|
30 And of the sons of Pahath-moab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah,
|
|
Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
|
|
31 And <I>of</I> the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah,
|
|
Shemaiah, Shimeon,
|
|
32 Benjamin, Malluch, <I>and</I> Shemariah.
|
|
33 Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad,
|
|
Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, <I>and</I> Shimei.
|
|
34 Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
|
|
35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
|
|
36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
|
|
37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
|
|
38 And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
|
|
39 And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
|
|
40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
|
|
41 Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
|
|
42 Shallum, Amariah, <I>and</I> Joseph.
|
|
43 Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina,
|
|
Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.
|
|
44 All these had taken strange wives: and <I>some</I> of them had
|
|
wives by whom they had children.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The method of proceeding in this matter being concluded on, and the
|
|
congregation dismissed, that each in his respective place might gain
|
|
and give intelligence to facilitate the matter, we are here told,
|
|
|
|
1. Who were the persons that undertook to manage the matter and bring
|
|
the causes regularly before the commissioners--<I>Jonathan</I> and
|
|
<I>Jahaziah,</I> two active men, whether of the priests or of the
|
|
people does not appear; probably they were the men that made that
|
|
proposal
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:13,14"><I>v.</I> 13, 14</A>)
|
|
|
|
and were therefore the fittest to see it pursued; two honest Levites
|
|
were joined with them, and <I>helped them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Dr. Lightfoot gives a contrary sense of this: <I>only</I> (or
|
|
<I>nevertheless) Jonathan and Jahaziah stood against this matter</I>
|
|
(which reading the original will very well bear), and these two
|
|
<I>Levites helped them</I> in opposing it, either the thing itself or
|
|
this method of proceeding. It was strange if a work of this kind was
|
|
carried on and met with no opposition.
|
|
|
|
2. Who were the commissioners that sat upon this matter. Ezra was
|
|
president, and with him <I>certain chief</I> men <I>of the fathers</I>
|
|
who were qualified with wisdom and zeal above others for this service,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was happy for them that they had such a man as Ezra to head them;
|
|
they could not have done it well without his direction, yet he would
|
|
not do it without their concurrence.
|
|
|
|
3. How long they were about it. They began <I>the first day of the
|
|
tenth month to examine the matter</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
which was but ten days after this method was proposed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and they finished in three months,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
They sat closely and minded their business, otherwise they could not
|
|
have despatched so many causes as they had before them in so little
|
|
time; for we may suppose that all who were impeached were fairly asked
|
|
what cause they could show why they should not be parted, and, if we
|
|
may judge by other cases, provided the wife were proselyted to the
|
|
Jewish religion she was not to be put away, the trial of which would
|
|
require great care.
|
|
|
|
4. Who the persons were that were found guilty of this crime. Their
|
|
names are here recorded to their perpetual reproach; many of the
|
|
priests, nay, of the family of Jeshua, the high priest, were found
|
|
guilty
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
though the law had particularly provided, for the preserving of their
|
|
honour in their marriages, that being holy themselves they should not
|
|
marry such as were profane,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+21:7">Lev. xxi. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that should have taught others the law broke it themselves and by
|
|
their example emboldened others to do likewise. But, having lost their
|
|
innocency in this matter, they did well to recant and give an example
|
|
of repentance; for they promised <I>under their hand</I> to put away
|
|
their strange wives (some think that they made oath to do so with their
|
|
<I>hands lifted up</I>), and they took the appointed way of obtaining
|
|
pardon, bringing the ram which was appointed by the law <I>for a
|
|
trespass offering</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+6:6">Lev. vi. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
so owning their guilt and the desert of it, and humbly suing for
|
|
forgiveness. About 113 in all are here named who had married strange
|
|
wives, and some of them, it is said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+10:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>),
|
|
|
|
had children by them, which implies that not many of them had, God not
|
|
crowning those marriages with the blessing of increase. Whether the
|
|
children were turned off with the mothers, as Shechaniah proposed, does
|
|
not appear; it should seem not: however it is probable that the wives
|
|
which were put away were well provided for, according to their rank.
|
|
One would think this grievance was now thoroughly redressed, yet we
|
|
meet with it again
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+13:23,Mal+2:11">Neh. xiii. 23 and Mal. ii. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
for such corruptions are easily and insensibly brought in, but not
|
|
without great difficulty purged out again. The best reformers can but
|
|
do their endeavour, but, when the Redeemer himself shall <I>come to
|
|
Sion,</I> he shall effectually <I>turn away ungodliness from
|
|
Jacob.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
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