Albert Barnes Commentary Ezra 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ezra 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ezra 9
"Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples 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 Amorites." — Ezra 9:1 (ASV)
Abominations - The mixed marriages had prevented that complete separation of the people of God from the idolatrous rites, or “abominations,” which the Law required, and which was necessary for purity of religion. See 1 Kings 11:2 note.
"And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded." — Ezra 9:3 (ASV)
Plucking out the hair with the hands, so common among the Classical nations, is, comparatively speaking, rarely mentioned as practiced by Asians.
"Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty 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 plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day." — Ezra 9:7 (ASV)
Very similar in tone to this are the confessions of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 9:29–35) and of Daniel (see the marginal references). The captivity had done its work by deeply convincing of sin the Jewish nation that had previously been so proud and self-righteous.
"And now for a little moment grace hath been showed from Jehovah 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." — Ezra 9:8 (ASV)
The “little space” was more than 60 years, counting from the second year of Darius (Ezra 4:24), or about 80 years, counting from the first year of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1). This does not seem to Ezra much in the “lifetime” of a nation.
A remnant to escape – Rather, “a remnant that has escaped.” The “remnant” is the new community that has returned from the captivity.
A nail – Compare the marginal note and reference. The metaphor is probably drawn from a tent peg, which is driven into the earth to make the tent firm and secure.
"For we are bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended lovingkindness 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 ruins thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem." — Ezra 9:9 (ASV)
We were bondmen - Rather, “we are bondmen” (compare the cross-reference). The Israelites, though returned from the captivity, were still “bondmen.” The Persian monarch was their absolute lord and master.
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