Ezra 9 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Ezra 9

Ezra Prays About Intermarriage

9:1 After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race¹ has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” 3 As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. 4 Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. 5 And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God, 6 saying:

“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. 7 From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today. 8 But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold² within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery. 9 For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection³ in Judea and Jerusalem.

10 “And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. 12 Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’ 13 And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, 14 shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 15 O LORD, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.”

Footnotes

[1] 9:2 Hebrew offspring
[2] 9:8 Hebrew nail, or tent-pin
[3] 9:9 Hebrew a wall

Commentary

v1-2: Many of the people of Israel had married with Gentiles; the leaders had set a bad example; Deut 7.1-4; Mal 2.10-12. God's people had been called apart to be holy for Him (Lev 20.7).

v3-4: Ezra was sensitive to sins; he sat down appalled. He was ashamed and humiliated (Ps 143.4). He shared sorrow for sins even though he was not personally guilty (Dan 9.5). This points us to Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, but became sin for us.

Ezra and the people trembled at God's word (Is 66.5), and this led to action and obedience. Although many joined Ezra, there was perhaps the disappointment that so many were guilty, since those who had returned to Jerusalem were considered the more faithful and committed Jews.

v5-6: In prayer, Ezra identified with the people and their sins. The sin of mixed marriages had begun before they had ever entered the promised land (Num 25.1), and recurred later (Neh 13.23). The Bible repeatedly warns of sins to be avoided.

Ezra's actions and words indicate a deep sorrow; self-abasement, tunic and cloak torn, on his knees; he was "too ashamed" to lift up his face to heaven, the people's sins and guilt were serious.

v7: The nation had long been guilty, and had suffered punishment from God. The implication here is that further punishment must be expected.

v8-9: God's grace never ended, Is 54.7-8; He brought the people back from exile, opened the door of opportunity to rebuild the temple. “He has shown us kindness … He has granted us new life…” words echoed later in Ephesians. Such indeed is the grace of God towards the undeserving.

v10: In spite of God's grace, the people fell into sins; What shall we see after this?" "Shall we again break your commands?" (v14). How often God's people abuse His grace by disobedience, and by careless living! The folly of deliberate sins!

v11-12: See Lev 18.24-26; Deut 7.1-3; the land had been filled with impurity, from its previous inhabitants. The people of Israel had to respond in holiness and separation.

For the Christian in a dark and sinful world, there is a constant need to keep close to the Lord; we must be aware that sin in real, and avoid condoning it in our own lives. In particular, close relationships with unbelievers can bring us to temptation and sins.

v13-15: The Lord God is righteous; and we come to Him with no righteousness of our own. Ezra admitted that God had been merciful in His treatment of His people; He had restored them to the promised land. But they had once more turned to disobedience.