Matthew Henry Commentary Ezra 9:1-4

"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. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. 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. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the trespass of them of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening oblation." — Ezra 9:1-4 (ASV)

Many corruptions remain hidden from even the most careful rulers. Some of the people disobeyed the express command of God, which forbade all marriages with the heathen (Deuteronomy 7). Disbelief in God's all-sufficiency is at the root of the inadequate measures we take to help ourselves. They exposed themselves and their children to the peril of idolatry, which had ruined their church and nation.

Carnal professors may treat such connections lightly and try to explain away the exhortations to be separate; however, those who are best acquainted with the word of God will address the subject differently. They must anticipate the worst from such unions. The evils excused, and even pleaded for, by many professors, astonish and cause regret in the true believer.

All who profess to be God's people ought to strengthen those who stand up and act against vice and profaneness.