Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezra 10:1-6

"Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together unto him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore. And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Arise; for the matter belongeth unto thee, and we are with thee: be of good courage, and do it. Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they sware. Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and [when] he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity." — Ezra 10:1-6 (ASV)

The covenant of repentance and amendment. Here the narrative assumes another form; and, in accordance with the solemnity of a great public transaction, Ezra adopts the third person.

Before the house of God. —He prostrated himself towards the Temple in the court, where all the people saw him and marked his distress.

Wept very sore. —The evil penetrated domestic life, and the punishment, as was already foreseen by “the women bringing the children with them,” brought special family distress.

Shechaniah. —The son of one of the transgressors (Ezra 10:2), whose action as the representative of the people gives him an honourable memorial in Scripture.

There is hope in Israel. —A noble sentiment for a reformer even at the worst of times.

Special covenants with God—general, as in 2 Kings 23:3, and in regard to particular offences, as here, and in Jeremiah 34:8—were familiar in Jewish history. And at all times of critical sin or danger, the voluntary intervention of individuals was held in honour (Compare to Numbers 25:12 and following).

According to the counsel of my lord. — Better, according to, or in, the counsel of the Lord. Ezra would hardly be called “my lord,” nor had he given any counsel.

According to the law. —Which in Deuteronomy 24:0 prescribes the terms of divorce.

Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee. —The commission given to Ezra (Ezra 7:11 and following) seems specially referred to, and the deep prostration of his spirit renders the encouragement given here very appropriate. It had its effect: as Ezra’s grief had made the people sorrowful, so their vigour made him energetic.

According to this word. —“According to” occurs three times, and each instance must be noted.

1. First, it was “in the counsel of the Lord” as God’s law, rightly interpreted, demanded this measure, however seemingly harsh.
2. Secondly, it was to be done “according to the law.”
3. And thirdly, according to the present covenant, which went beyond the law of Moses.

The chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib. —Ezra retired for fasting and prayer into one of the chambers opening on the court. It seems impossible to identify these names with the Eliashib of Nehemiah 12:10 and his grandson. Both names were common.