11 and, now, make confession to Jehovah, God of your fathers, and do His good pleasure, and be separated from the peoples of the land, and from the strange women.' 12 And all the assembly answer and say 'with' a great voice, 'Right; according to thy word—on us to do; 13 but the people 'are' many, and 'it is' the time of showers, and there is no power to stand without, and the work 'is' not for one day, nor for two, for we have multiplied to transgress in this thing. 14 'Let, we pray thee, our heads of all the assembly stand, and all who 'are' in our cities, who have settled strange wives, do come in at the times appointed, and with them the elders of city and city, and its judges, till the turning back of the fury of the wrath of our God from us, for this thing.'
15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel, and Jahaziah son of Tikvah, stood against this, and Meshullam, and Shabbethai the Levite, helped them. 16 And the sons of the removal do so, and Ezra the priest, 'and' men, heads of the fathers, for the house of their fathers, are separated, even all of them by name, and they sit on the first day of the tenth month, to examine the matter; 17 and they finish with all the men who have settled strange women unto the first day of the first month. 18 And there are found of the sons of the priests that have settled strange women: of the sons of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brethren, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah; 19 and they give their hand to send out their wives, and, being guilty, a ram of the flock, for their guilt.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezra 10:11-19
Commentary on Ezra 10:6-14
(Read Ezra 10:6-14)
There is hope concerning people, when they are convinced, not only that it is good to part with their sins, but that it is necessary; we must do it, or we are undone. So rich is the mercy, and so plenteous the redemption of God, that there is hope for the vilest who hear the gospel, and are willing to accept of free salvation. When sinners mourn for their sins, and tremble at the word of God, there is hope that they will forsake them. To affect others with godly sorrow or love to God, we must ourselves be affected. It was carefully agreed how this affair should be carried on. That which is hastily resolved on seldom proves lasting.
Commentary on Ezra 10:15-44
(Read Ezra 10:15-44)
The best reformers can but do their endeavour; when the Redeemer himself shall come to Zion, he shall effectually turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And when sin is repented of and forsaken, God will forgive it; but the blood of Christ, our Sin-offering, is the only atonement which takes away our guilt. No seeming repentance or amendment will benefit those who reject Him, for self-dependence proves them still unhumbled. All the names written in the book of life, are those of penitent sinners, not of self-righteous persons, who think they have no need of repentance.