91 Now when these things had been completed , the princes approached me, saying , "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands , according to their abominations , those of 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 as wives for themselves and for their sons , so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands ; indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness ." 3 When I heard about this matter , I tore my garment and my robe , and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard , and sat down appalled . 4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering .
5 But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation , even with my garment and my robe torn , and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God ; 6 and I said , "O my God , I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God , for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens . 7 " Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt , and on account of 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 and to plunder and to open shame , as it is this day . 8 "But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God , to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place , that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage . 9 " For we are slaves ; yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia , to give us reviving to raise up the house of our God , to restore its ruins and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezra 9:1-9
Commentary on Ezra 9:1-4
(Read Ezra 9:1-4)
Many corruptions lurk out of the view of the most careful rulers. Some of the people disobeyed the express command of God, which forbade all marriages with the heathen, Deuteronomy 7. Disbelief of God's all-sufficiency, is at the bottom of the sorry shifts we make to help ourselves. They exposed themselves and their children to the peril of idolatry, that had ruined their church and nation. Carnal professors may make light of such connexions, and try to explain away the exhortations to be separate; but those who are best acquainted with the word of God, will treat the subject in another manner. They must forebode 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 that appear and act against vice and profaneness.
Commentary on Ezra 9:5-15
(Read Ezra 9:5-15)
The sacrifice, especially the evening sacrifice, was a type of the blessed Lamb of God, who in the evening of the world, was to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Ezra's address is a penitent confession of sin, the sin of his people. But let this be the comfort of true penitents, that though their sins reach to the heavens, God's mercy is in the heavens. Ezra, speaking of sin, speaks as one much ashamed. Holy shame is as necessary in true repentance as holy sorrow. Ezra speaks as much amazed. The discoveries of guilt cause amazement; the more we think of sin, the worse it looks. Say, God be merciful to me sinner. Ezra speaks as one much afraid. There is not a surer or saddler presage of ruin, than turning to sin, after great judgments, and great deliverances. Every one in the church of God, has to wonder that he has not wearied out the Lord's patience, and brought destruction upon himself. What then must be the case of the ungodly? But though the true penitent has nothing to plead in his own behalf, the heavenly Advocate pleads most powerfully for him.