Ezra 10

NOw when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel, a very great congregation of men, and women, and children Awakened by the words and example of this holy Priest, and great Potentate. So inexpressible is the good, which is done by the good example, and the evil, which is done by the bad example of a great Person, or of a Minister. The fame of his great passion of grief, and of his many and publick expressions thereof in the Court before the Temple, being in an instant dispersed over all the City, brought a great company together.: for the people wept very sore Being greatly affected with Ezra's prayer, and with the common sin..

And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed He says, we, either, 1. Because he was guilty in this matter. Or rather, 2. In the name of the people, and their several Families, and his own amongst the rest. For this mans name is not in the following Catalogue, but there we have his Father, Iehiel, and his Fathers Brethren, five other Sons of his Grandfather Elam, v. 26. It was therefore an evidence of his great Courage, and good Conscience, that he durst so freely, and fully discharge his duty, whereby he showed that he honoured God more than his nearest, and dearest Relations., against our God, and have taken To wit, into conjugal society with our selves. strange wives, of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing In case of our repentance, and reformation. Therefore let us not sorrow like persons without hope, nor sit down in despair, but let us fall upon action, and amend our errours, and then trust to Gods mercy..

Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God, to put away all the wives Which though it may seem harsh, yet is not unjust, if it be considered; 1. That Marriages made between some prohibited Persons, as suppose, between a Father, and his Daughter, a Brother, and a Sister, are not only unlawful, but void Marriages, and ipso facto, null, by the political laws of civil Nations. And therefore these Marriages with Idolatrous, and Heathen Women, being expresly, and severely forbidden by God, might well be disannulled. And it was one of good Theodosius his laws, that those actions which were done against law, should be accounted not only unlawful, but null. 2. That there were many peculiar laws given to the Jews concerning the Marrying, and putting away of Wives, as has been observed before in their proper places, and therefore it is not strange, if there be something more in this case, then is now usual with us. 3. Supposing the matrimonial tye had continued, yet they might be excluded from co-habitation with them, as a just punishment upon them for the willful breach of a known, and positive law of God., and such as are born of them This may seem harder than the former, but many things may be said. 1. Whatsoever evil befall either them or their Children, they had all reason to accept it as the just and deserved fruit of their own sin. 2. That Children may, and sometimes do suffer, at least temporal evils, for their Parents sins, or upon occasion of them, is most evident, both by the Scripture instances, and by the laws, and usages of Nations in some cases. 3. This may seem to have been a necessary part of severity, partly as a proper punishment of the Parents sin herein, and to deter others more effectually from the like practices: partly to prevent the corruption of their other Children by the conversation, and society of this ungodly, and Idolatrous brood: and partly, lest such Children, being continually present with them, and stealing into their affections, might at last prevail with them to take their ejected Wives again. 4. These Children were only cast out of the Families, and Commonwealth of Israel, but were not utterly forsaken, and ruined, but due care was probably taken by Authority, that they should have some provision made for them, & some care taken about their Education in the Jewish Religion, &c., according to the counsel of my lord Either 1. As thou counsellest and desirest us to do. Or 2. Let us do it in such manner as thou shalt think fit and agreeable to the Law, as it follows: for it requires great caution as being a matter of no small difficulty., and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God And of other serious and religious persons who may with thee consider and regulate the business., and let it be done according to the law This is meant, either 1. Of the matter of the business, let that be done which the Law requires, let them be put away. Or 2. Of the manner of it, which must be according to the Rules of Gods Law..

Arise, for this matter belongeth unto thee Because thou hast both skill to manage it, and Authority both from God, and from the Persian King to do it.; we also will be with thee; be of good courage, and do it.

Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel to swear, that they should do according to this word. And they sware.

Then Ezra rose up before the house of God, and went into the chamber That he with the Princes and Elders, as it follows, v. 8. might consult about the Execution of their resolution. of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem, unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;

And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation Either by Banishment: Or rather by Excommunication from the Church, and People, and House, and publick Worship of God. of those that had been carried away.

Then all the men of Judah, and Benjamin Not only of these two Tribes, as appears from the following Catalogue, where there are Priests and Levites; but all the Isralites, v. 25. who are thus described, partly because the greatest part of them were of these Tribes, though others were mixed with them: and partly because they all now dwelt in that Land which formerly was appropriated to those Tribes., gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem, within three days: (it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month) and all the people sat in the street of the house of God In that street of the City, which was next to the Temple, and within the view of it, that so they might be as in Gods presence, whereby they might be awed to a more faithful and vigorous prosecution of their work. And this place they might choose rather than the Court of the People, because they thought it might be polluted by the delinquents, who were all to come thither., trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain Which they took for a token of Gods displeasure amongst them..

And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives to encrease the trespass of Israel.

Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure You have sinfully pleased your selves, now please God by your Obedience to his command., and separate your selves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

Then all the congregation answered, and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.

But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.

Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand Let the great Council, called the Sanhedrim, be settled, and meet to judge and determine of all particular causes., and let all them which have taken strange wives To wit, of these heathen Nations such as were not proselyted to the Jewish Religion before their Marriage; or since revolted from it. in our cities, come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the Judges thereof Who are best able to inform the great council of the quality of the persons, and of all matters of Fact and Circumstances., until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter, be turned from us i. e. Until the thing be done, and Gods Wrath thereby removed..

Only Jonathan the son of Asahel, and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah, were employed about this matter To wit, to take due care that the business should be executed in the manner proposed, that the Officers and Delinquents of every City should come successively in convenient time and order, as these should appoint, and to take and keep an exact account of the whole transaction, and of the names of the Cities and Persons whose causes were dispatched, and to give notice to others... o come in their turns, and to prepare the business for the hearing of the Judges. And these two were Priests, as their Coadjutors or helpers were Levites; that so they might inform the persons concerned, if any matter of doubt did arise.: and Meshullam, and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

And the children of the captivity did so: and Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names were separated i. e. Sequestred themselves from all other business, and gave themselves wholly to this., and sate down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives, by the first day of the first month.

And among the sons of the priests, there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maasejah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedahah.

And they gave their hand i. e. They covenanted or swore by giving their hand; which was the usual gesture in those cases. Of which see Levit. 6. 2. Ezek. 17. 18., that they would put away their wives: and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.

And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.

And of the sons of Harim; Maasejah, and Elijah, and Shemajah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.

And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maasejah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelajah, (the same is Kelita) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

Of the singers also, Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.

Moreover of Israel i. e. Of the people of Israel, distinguished from the Priests and the Levites hitherto named, who before were called Iudah and Benjamin, v. 9. where see the notes.: of the sons of Parosh, Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchia, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benajah.

And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.

And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

Of the sons also of Bebai, Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adajah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.

And of the sons of Pahath-moab; Adna, and Chelal, Benajah, Maasejah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.

And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemajah, Shimeon,

Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

Of the sons of Hashum; Matanai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

Of the sons of Bani; Maadi, Amram, and Uel.

Benajah, Bedejah, Chelluh,

Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,

And Bani, and Binnui, Shemei,

And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adajah,

Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

Of the sons of Nebo; Jehiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benajah.

All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children Whereby he implies that most of their Wives were barren. Which came to pass by Gods special Providence, partly to manifest his displeasure against such matches, and partly that the practice of this great and necessary duty might not be encumbred with too many difficulties..