Ezra 9:1

“Now when these things were done, etc.] When the captives with Ezra had refreshed themselves, and weighed the money and vessels they brought, and put them into the hands of proper persons, and offered sacrifices, and delivered the king’s commissions to his lieutenants and governors, and shown his own: the princes came to me; some of the nobles of Israel, the most religious of them, who were concerned at the corruptions that were among them, though not a sufficient number to reform them: saying the people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the land: but joined with them, though not in idolatrous practices, yet by marrying with them,…”

“EZRA MOURNS FOR THE AFFINITY OF THE PEOPLE WITH STRANGERS. (Ezr 9:1-4) Now when these things were done--The first days after Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem were occupied in executing the different trusts committed to him. The nature and design of the office with which the royal authority had invested him was publicly made known to his own people by the formal delivery of the contribution and the sacred vessels brought from Babylon to the priests to be deposited in the temple. Then his credentials were privately presented to the provincial governors; and by this prudent, orderly proceeding he put himself in the best position to avail himself of all the advantages guaranteed him by the king. On a…”

“Abominations - The mixed marriages had prevented that complete separation of the people of God from the idolatrous rites, or “abominations,” which the Law required, and which was necessary for purity of religion. See 1 Kings 11:2 note. return to 'Top of Page'”

“9:1–10:44 Ezra confronted the problem of intermarriage with idolatrous foreigners. The Jewish leaders had allowed this practice, though the early settlers had committed to keep separate from pagan influences (4:1-5). Ezra interceded on behalf of the nation and helped those convicted of their sins to make things right. 9:1-2 The events that follow took place approximately four months after Ezra’s arrival (cp. 7:9; 10:9). • Intermarriage with pagan foreigners was dangerous because Israelites could end up worshiping other gods and accepting the detestable practices of other religions (cp. Ezra 4:1-5; Deut 7:1-4). • the holy race has become polluted: Literally the holy seed has intermingled…”

“the princes: Ezr 10:8; Jer 26:10, Jer 26:16 have not separated: Ezr 6:21, Ezr 6:22, Ezr 10:10, Ezr 10:11; Exo 33:16; Num 23:9; Neh 9:2, Neh 13:3; Isa 52:11; Co2 6:14-18 doing according: Lev 18:3, Lev 18:24-30; Deu 12:30, Deu 12:31, Deu 18:9; Ch2 33:2; Psa 106:35; Rom 2:17-25 of the Canaanites: Gen 15:16, Gen 15:19-21; Exo 23:23; Deu 20:17, Deu 20:18 Ammonites: Deu 23:3-5; Kg1 11:1, Kg1 11:5-7; Neh 4:3, Neh 4:7, Neh 13:1-3 Moabites: Num 25:1-3 Ezra 9:2”

“Information given of the intermingling of Israel with the heathen nations of the land by marriage ( Ezr 9:1-4), and Ezra's prayer and confession ( Ezr 9:5-15). \- Ezr 9:1, Ezr 9:2. "When this was done, the princes came to me, and said, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, do not separate themselves from the people of the lands, according to their abominations, (even) of the Canaanites; ... for they have taken (wives) of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of the lands." What now follows is placed in close chronological sequence with what precedes by the formula אלּה וּככלּות, at the time of the…”